[918.] Garnishing.— The articles which are mostly used in garnishing are:—Lettuce, cresses and hard boiled eggs (either cut into slices or quarters or chopped fine, the yolks and whites separately, and laid alternately in small clusters all over the salad); or cut green pickles in slices and lay them in a circle around the salad with small clusters of finely chopped beets and chopped eggs; small girkins, capers, olives and very small, white pickled onions are also used for garnishing. Another way is to cut boiled carrots, white turnips and beets into fancy shapes, such as half moons, stars, leaves and roses, with a vegetable cutter; anchovies are also largely used in garnishing. They are freed from skins and bones and then rolled up and laid in a circle around the dish with small white onions, pink horseradish and olives or girkins.
[919.] Horseradish for Garnishing.— Remove the outside black skin from a large root of horseradish and wash it clean; then shave it off with a knife in long narrow strips so they curl up; color ½ the shavings with prepared cochineal and leave the other ½ white; then use for decorating dishes of meats or salads by laying it in small clusters around the dish.
[920.] Cocoanut for Garnishing Salads.— Grate cocoanut and sprinkle it over the top of salad. Especially nice over chicken, shrimp and fish salads; also on potato, tomato and egg salads. Grated cocoanut lends a handsome appearance to any salad.
[ ICES AND GLAZES.]
[921.] How to Use Icing.— Over large cakes pour the icing by spoonfuls near center on top of cake and spread it with a broad-bladed knife dipped in cold water all over the cake as smoothly as possible; set it in a cool oven for a few minutes, then in a dry, airy place, free from dust, to dry. Some icing does not need to be put in the oven, as it dries immediately, as will be seen from the directions given in following recipes. Small cakes are dipped into the icing or into glaze and then laid on paper or tins to dry. If the cake is to be ornamented make a paper funnel as follows:—Take a piece of brown paper, not too thick, or white tea paper 12 inches square and cut it through on the bias in two pieces from one corner to the other; take one piece in your right hand, the bias side from you, roll with the left hand, the bias side towards you, and form the paper into a funnel; bend the end where it closes near the top over to the inside, clip a small piece from the end of funnel with a scissors and slip a small tube inside it to the end opening; then put in the icing and bend the top of funnel in all around the same way as ¼ pound tea is put up in those small funnel-shaped bags; next press the icing down towards the end and commence to squirt it onto the cake. The cake may be ornamented with a border and a harp in the center, or an anchor or any kind of a pattern that may be desired. Flowers and leaves may be bought at any confectionery and pasted on with a little icing.
[922.] White Icing.— Sift ½ pound powdered sugar into a bowl, add the whites of 2 eggs and stir 20 minutes; add a few drops lemon juice while the stirring is going on; drop a little icing onto paper; if the icing stands without running it is stiff enough; if it shows the least tendency to run more sugar must be added. This icing is used for ornamenting cake and serves as a kind of paste to stick flowers and leaves onto top of cake.
[923.] Clear Icing.— Sift ½ pound powdered sugar into a bowl, add the whites of 2 eggs and stir for 5 minutes; add a few drops lemon juice and stir 5 minutes longer; then spread it over the cake; set the cake for 2 or 3 minutes in a cool oven, take out and let it dry for a few hours in a dry place which is free from dust.
[924.] White Icing with Wine or Liquor.— Mix ½ pound sifted powdered sugar with the white of 1 egg and add 3 tablespoonfuls maraschino, Madeira or sherry wine, kirsch, rum or brandy; before this icing is put on cover the cake with a layer of jelly; then put the icing over it and set the cake for 1 minute in the oven; then set it in a dry place which is free from dust to dry. To make pink icing add a few drops prepared cochineal or strawberry syrup. Yellow icing is made by adding prepared saffron. Essence of lemon or the grated rind of 1 orange may be used instead of vanilla flavoring.
[925.] Almond Icing.— Pound 3 ounces blanched almonds with the white of 1 egg in a wedgewood mortar to a paste, mix them with ¼ pound powdered sugar, the white of ½ egg and ½ teaspoonful vanilla extract and stir for 5 minutes; dip small pieces of cake into the icing; pour and spread it over whole cakes with a broad-bladed knife. Hazel nuts and walnuts may be used the same way as almonds, as can also pistachio nuts. To the latter add a few drops spinach green.
[926.] Fruit Icing.— Mix ½ pound sifted powdered sugar with the white of 1 egg and add 3 tablespoonfuls fruit juice—either raspberry, strawberry, currant, pineapple or peach; if lemon or orange juice is used add a little grated rind; spread the icing over the cake and set it for a few minutes in a cool oven; then set it in a dry place which is free from dust to dry.