Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1901 — CANDY FOR THE HOLIDAYS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CANDY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A gift of a fancy bedecked box of candies is at all times a most welcome gift, and as bonbon candles are very expensive to purchase in large quantities and are so easily made,a few recipes for Christmas goodies may be useful to our readers. Years ago people believed that candy was harmful, but that notion was set aside; and it is declared really beneficial—of course, when eaten at the proper time, in proper quantities and made of pure materials. Home-made candies are always pure, the best materials are used and the cost is much less than is paid for the same grade in the stores. It is a nice plan to make your own Christmas candies, and you can send boxes away to your friends who will prize things made for them much mors than anything bought. To send candies away they should be made to look as dainty and pretty as possible. Fancy basket's can he cheaply bought that will be pretty after the candy is used, and lined with waxed paper over a fringed inner lining or some delicate colored tissue paper. In packing place waxed paper between the layers, and when the basket is filled wrap the edges ol the lining paper over the top so that the candles are covered, then gather the fringed tissue paper into a rosette, and tie with baby ribbon. In making peanut candy, to every half pint of shelled and blanched peanuts use one cupful each of molasses oj sugar. Boil together until the mixture is brittle when dropped into cold water; then stir in the half pint of peanuts before taking from the fire. Pour into buttered pans and mark off into squares or lengths before it cools. Hickory nuts, English walnuts or almonds may be used in place of peanuts. To blanch nuts is to remove the fine skin which covers the nut under the shell. This will easily rub off in peanuts, but other nuts require different -treatment. After removing the shell cover the nuts with boiling water, and let them Btand until the dark skin will easily rub off, then put them into cold water. Dry between towels.