Amy Waterman - A Little Candy Book for a Little Girl

Betsey found she had time to wash her saucepan, spoon and other dishes before she needed to grease her fingers, and thus made the kitchen more tidy and attractive while she pulled the candy.

After Betsey began to think for herself she acted in such an important manner that mother smiled to see how rapidly her little daughter was advancing.

The sugar, water and vinegar were measured carefully into the saucepan, well mixed, then placed upon the stove to boil. One thing in particular that Betsey learned from her own experience was never to let any candy she was making boil too hard; an even steady boil made the candy much nicer, and, besides, it did not then "spit" all over the stove and make the unpleasant odor of burned sugar in the house.

Betsey tried the candy in cold water and just before it formed a hard ball she added the butter; when it formed a ball that was quite hard she removed the saucepan from the fire, added the lemon flavoring and poured into the buttered pan.

With fingers well greased she pulled the candy, as soon as it was cool enough to handle comfortably, until it was very white, then cut it into small pieces with a pair of scissors.

Betsey let the sugar, water and vinegar boil until a little of the syrup, dropped in cold water, formed a hard ball. The butter was added just before it was done and the orange flavoring as soon as it was taken from the stove.

Pouring the candy into the buttered pan, Betsey let it stand until she could handle it easily, then with well-greased fingers she pulled the candy white and cut it in pieces.

The sugar, water and vinegar were boiled until a little of the syrup, tried by Betsey in cold water, formed a hard ball. Just before it reached this stage Betsey slipped in the butter.

As soon as it was done Betsey took it from the fire, added the vanilla, poured into the buttered pan, let it cool until she could handle it, then greased her fingers and pulled until it was quite white and cut into small pieces.

When the sugar, vinegar and water had boiled long enough so that a little of the syrup, dropped in cold water, formed a hard ball, it was poured into a buttered pan, let cool sufficiently and pulled. It was very simple, since Betsey did not have to stir this while cooking or add anything extra.

The sugar, water and cream of tartar were put in the saucepan and well stirred, then boiled until a little of the syrup, dropped in cold water, formed the usual hard ball. Betsey found this took about twenty minutes. Then she poured the candy into a buttered pan and let it cool so that she could handle it easily.

With well-greased fingers she pulled the candy quickly, then cut into small pieces or short sticks with the scissors.

This Betsey found to be delicious. She cooked all of the ingredients together, and when a little of the candy, dropped in cold water, was quite hard, she poured it into the buttered pan. When the candy was cool Betsey marked it into squares.

Most little girls like molasses candy and Betsey was no exception; she thought the recipes that follow were the best of the kind she had ever tasted.

Betsey put all the above named ingredients except the soda into her saucepan to boil. When a little of the syrup, dropped in cold water, became brittle, she took the saucepan off the stove, and added the soda; then she poured the candy into the buttered pan.

When it was cool enough to handle Betsey greased her fingers and pulled the candy until it was a shiny golden brown, then with the scissors cut it into short sticks.

After Betsey put the molasses, sugar and butter together in the pan she let them boil until they formed a hard ball when tried in cold water, then she added the vinegar and continued cooking until it became brittle.

The buttered pan was ready with the peanuts in and the candy was poured over them. Before it became quite cool Betsey marked it in squares.

Betsey thought pulling candy the best kind of fun and after she learned perfectly how not to get all sticky, mother allowed her to invite a few of her little friends to have a "pulling bee."

This pleased Betsey and her little friends very much. One of the little girls said she knew what a "husking bee" was, for once when she was in the country at the time when the corn was full grown, all the friends and neighbors round about had been invited to come and help with the husking.

Betsey's mother told the little girl a "pulling bee" was the same idea exactly, for they were to come and help pull the candy after it was cooked.

Each little girl put on one of mother's big aprons and carefully washed her hands, then Betsey read the names of the different recipes out loud and mother said they might choose two to make.

They chose "Betsey's Orange Cream Candy" on page 22 After Betsey let the sugar and water come to the boiling point she added the cream of tartar dissolved in one teaspoon of hot water and continued to boil until a little of the syrup dropped in cold water had nearly reached the hard ball stage, then she added the butter. When it had quite reached the hard ball stage Betsey took it from the fire, dropped in the four drops of peppermint and poured the candy into a buttered pan to cool. Greasing her finger-tips just as she did for the lemon and vanilla cream candy, Betsey proceeded to pull until white and then cut it in small pieces. and "Molasses Candy" given on page 28 Molasses Candy Betsey put all the above named ingredients except the soda into her saucepan to boil. When a little of the syrup, dropped in cold water, became brittle, she took the saucepan off the stove, and added the soda; then she poured the candy into the buttered pan. When it was cool enough to handle Betsey greased her fingers and pulled the candy until it was a shiny golden brown, then with the scissors cut it into short sticks. .

Mother stayed with them in case they needed her help, although Betsey took full charge.

Betsey certainly managed well, for she kept each little girl busy doing her share, and when the candy was cooked and ready to pull the real fun started.