Put into a copper basin two quarts of Honey, and the whites of two dozen Eggs; beat to a staunch foam; set on a very gentle fire, made so by covering it with ashes; now, with a long-handled egg-beater stir continually for two hours; when time is about up, cook eight pounds of Sugar with a large spoon of cream tartar to a Hard Crack, or 290°; then put the basin, containing the eggs and honey, on a barrel, and while one person stirs, let another pour in slowly the syrup just cooked; when thoroughly mixed, stir in about three pounds of Pistache nuts, or Pistache and blanched Almond nuts mixed, or all blanched Almonds, (the nuts must be well dried after blanching), then pour out into a starch tray, previously prepared, by lining it with ordinary paper; then again with wafer paper; spread the batch of even thickness with a palette knife; then cover the top with wafer paper, and set away to cool—this will require about ten or twelve hours in summer; when cold, cut with a sharp knife into pieces about three or four inches in length, and wrap in wax paper.
MISCELLANEOUS.
FRUIT CAKE.
Ten pounds of Sugar, two quarts of Cream, one spoon of cream tartar, or two pounds of glucose; cook to a Soft Ball, stirring all the time; pour on a damp slab, and when cold, cream it; then work into it three or four pounds of French Fruits; mold it in large cake pans, and set away a few hours to harden; cut it into slices as sold.
NUT CAKES.
Are made in the same way, except use Nuts instead of Fruit; Walnuts or Hickory-nuts are the best.
CREAM PEPPERMINTS.
Take of Cream, such as is prepared for dipping purposes, about three or four pounds; put this into a small basin inside of another basin containing hot water; stir until dissolved; then set off and stir into it a few ounces of pulverized Sugar, and flavor with Mint Oil; now, with a funnel dropper, run the Cream into drops on sheets of tin, the size of a silver quarter; in a few moments they will be dry and may be slid off the tins easily by turning them sidewise and bending once or twice backward and forward; they may also be run in starch prints if desired.