Mrs. Mary Ealess receipts | Page 5

of Rasberries put half a Pint of red Currants, boil'd with very little Water, and strain'd thro' a thin Strainer, or Hair Sieve; let the Currants and Rasberries boil together a little while: Then to a Pint of Juice put a Pound and a Quarter of sifted Sugar; set it over the Fire, let it scald, but not boil; fill it in little Pots, set it in the Stove 'till it is candy'd, then turn it out on Glasses, as other Cakes.
To make RASBERRY CLEAR-CAKES.
Take half Rasberries and half white Currants, almost cover them with Water; boil them very well a Quarter of an Hour, then run them thro' a Jelly-bag, and to every Pint of Jelly have ready a Pound and half of fine Sugar, sifted thro' an Hair Sieve; set the Jelly on the Fire, let it just boil, then shake in your Sugar, stir it well, and set it on the Fire a second Time, 'till the Sugar is melted; then lay a Strainer in a broad Pan to prevent the Scum, and fill it into Pots: When it is candy'd, turn it on Glass, as other Clear-Cakes.
To make RASBERRY-DROPS.
Mash the Rasberries, put in a little Water, boil and strain them, then take half a Pound of fine Sugar, sifted thro' an Hair Sieve; just wet the Sugar to make it as thick as a Paste; put to it twenty Drops of Spirits of Vitriol, set it over the Fire, making it scalding hot, but not to boil: Drop it on Paper it will soon be dry; if it will not come off easily, wet the Paper. Let them lye a Day or two on the Paper.
To dry APRICOCKS.
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