Take four Dozen and a half of the largest Apricocks, stone them and pare them; cover them all over with four Pound of Sugar finely beaten; put some of the Sugar on them as you pare them, the rest after: Let them lye four or five Hours, ’till the Sugar is almost melted; then set them on a slow Fire ’till quite melted; then boil them, but not too fast. As they grow tender, take them out on an earthen Plate ’till the rest are done; then put in those that you laid out first, and let them have a Boil together: Put a Paper close to them, and let them stand a Day or two; then make them very hot, but not boil; put the Paper on them as before, and let them stand two Days, then lay them on earthen Plates in a Stove, with as little Syrup on them as you can; turn them every Day ’till they are dry, and scrape off the Syrup as you turn them; lay them between Paper, and let them not be too dry before you lay them up.
[ To dry Apricocks in Quarters or Halves.]
Take four Pound of the Halves or Quarters, pare them, and put to them three Pound of Sugar fine beaten; strew some on them as you pare them, and cover them with the rest; let them lye four or five Hours; afterwards set them on a slow Fire, till the Sugar is melted; then boil them, but not too fast, ’till they are tender, taking out those that are first tender; and putting them in again, let them have a Boil together; then lay a Paper close to them, scald them very well, and let them lye a Day or two in the Syrup: Lay them on earthen Plates, with as little Syrup to them as you can, turning them every Day ’till they are dry; at last, lay them between Paper in Boxes.
[ To make Paring-Chips.]
As you pare your Apricocks, save the clearest Parings, and throw a little Sugar on them; half a Pound is sufficient to a Pound of the Parings; set them on the Fire, let them just boil up, and set them by ’till the next Day; drain the Syrup from them, and make a Syrup with a Pound of Sugar and almost half a Pint of Water; boil the Sugar very well, and put as much to the Chips when it is cold as will cover them; let them stand in the Syrup all Night, and the next Day make them scalding hot; and when they are cold, lay them out on Boards, sift them with Sugar, and turn them on Sieves.
[ To preserve Apricocks.]
Take four Dozen of large Apricocks, stone and pare them, and cover them with three Pound of fine beaten Sugar, strewing some on as you pare them; let them stand, at least, six or seven Hours, then boil them on a slow Fire ’till they are clear and tender; if some of them are clear before the rest, take them out, and put them in again when the rest are ready. Let them stand, with a Paper close to them, ’till the next Day; then make Codling-Jelly very strong: Take two Pints of Jelly, two Pound of Sugar, boil it ’till it jellies; and whilst it is boiling, make your Apricocks scalding hot, and put the Jelly to your Apricocks, and boil them together, but not too fast. When the Apricocks rise in the Jelly, and they jelly very well, put them into Pots or Glasses, with Papers close to them.
[ To make Apricock Clear-Cakes.]
Take about three Dozen of Apricocks, pare them, and put thereto a Pound of fine Sugar, and boil them to Pieces; then put to them two Quarts of Codling-Jelly, boil them together very fast for a Quarter of an Hour; run it thro’ a Jelly-bag, and to a Pint of Jelly put a Pound and half of Sugar, sifted thro’ a Hair Sieve; while the Jelly boils, shake in your Sugar, and let it scald ’till the Sugar is melted; then put it thro’ a thin Strainer, in a broad earthen Pan; fill it in Pots, and dry it as other Clear-Cakes. If you would have some with Pieces in them, cut some of your dry’d Quarters small; and when the Strainer has taken off the Scum, take some of the Jelly in a Pan, put in the Pieces, make it scalding hot again, and fill it out.