Taffy Dreams with Nut Centers
Place in a saucepan two pounds of granulated sugar, one cup of water and one-half teaspoonful cream of tartar or a tablespoonful of lemon juice. Boil to the hard ball stage. Place some nut meats in a bowl and pour enough of the syrup over these so that they will be well coated. Set these in a cool place while pulling the remainder of the taffy. Put the syrup over the fire and boil until nearly the crack stage, then remove and flavor with vanilla or almond, or any flavoring desired. Pour over a large platter or a marble slab. Cool quickly, and then dip your hands in corn-starch and pull the candy until white. Form into a sheet about six inches wide while still warm. Lay on a tin or slab and spread the nut mixture in the center. Fold the edge of sheet over, pinch the edges together so that the nut part cannot be seen. Now stretch the candy by pulling it gently and quickly through the palms of both hands. Cut into pieces with a sharp knife and lay on waxed paper. Nut and fruit combined can be used for the centers, or fruit alone. In this case pour the syrup over them to make them stick together as above.
CHAPTER IV
FUDGES AND CARAMELS
Fudge is one of the most easily made, and one of the most popular of all the home-made candies. Caramels are also a favorite. These candies can be made a great variety of ways.
Chocolate Fudge
Take two cupfuls of sugar, two ounces of chocolate, one cup of good milk, and one tablespoonful of butter, or if you wish a richer fudge use two tablespoonfuls of butter. Bring the sugar, milk and butter to a boil and cook until it threads or to 235 degrees. Add the chocolate which should be melted or shaved fine. Stir it in well, then add a teaspoonful of vanilla, and beat up until creamy. The secret of good fudge lies in the beating. Some stir constantly from the time it is removed from the fire until it turns creamy, while others let it stand until nearly cool, and then beat up until creamy. Pour into buttered pan or mold, and when cold cut into neat small squares.