No other time of the year is there as many homemade confectionery delights to sample as during Christmas.
Today there are many choices at the candy warehouse. It is a literal big rock candy mountain. Here are some examples: Pay Day and CHoward's Mints & Gum and Nonpareils.
Although cocoa was grown as early as 1287 BC, candy undoubtedly started much earlier as a simple coating of honey on fruits and nuts as well as flowers and seeds. The honey not only gave the fruits and nuts an extra sweetness, but it helped to preserve them.
In Colonial America, candy made from molasses and maple syrup as well as brittle were well known. Some early medicines eventually took the form of candy - marshmallows, licorice, peppermint and hard candies for example. Early American cookbooks actually include recipes for candies and other sweets like Iced almonds (iced with sugar) and Lemon flavored rock candy and Red quince marmalade.
Here is a sample recipe of one:
"Apricot Sweetmeats 1 pound dried apricots, ground 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup orange juice pecan or walnut halves, or almonds superfine granulated sugar Combine apricots, granulated sugar and orange juice in a saucepan. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper. When cool, place a pecan or walnut half or an almond in the center, rolling apricot mixture around it. Drop each ball into superfine granulated sugar to coat completely. Pack in a tightly covered container to store. Makes 3 dozen." ---A Cooking Legacy, Virginia T. Elverson & Mary Ann McLanahan [Walker and Company:New York] 1975 (p. 166)
Try it, you and your loved ones will probably be surprised at how good it is.
Sweeten your Christmas gatherings with some of the most delicious and easy to make candies and rich decedent fudge you have ever tasted!
Here are some of my favorite resources that I'd like to share with you for this holiday season.
http://claireds.wordpress.com/claireds-recommends/
With these great tools, you'll have plenty of time to send gifts to your loved ones before Christmas.
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