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Presents:
The Candy Cook Book
By
Alice Bradley
(1917)
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NUTS
Almost all kinds of edible nuts are used in candy-making. They
contain protein, fat, and carbohydrate in varying proportions, and
are excellent sources of energy. Some, like peanuts and black
walnuts, almonds and pignolias, are so rich in protein that they may
be used as meat substitutes. Their digestibility is increased by being
finely ground. Most nuts may now be obtained shelled at about the
same cost for the edible portion as in the shells. For some purposes,
broken nut meats are quite satisfactory; they cost less than the whole
kernels. Nuts, when used in candies, increase the bulk and food
value, detract from the sweetness, and improve both appearance and
flavor.
Almonds and English walnuts are the nuts chiefly grown in this
country. There are both sweet and bitter almonds; the latter are used
sparingly to give flavor to almond confections. Jordan almonds are
the finest almonds grown, and are for sale out of the shell, as are also
other smaller and shorter varieties.
Almond paste may be made at home of finely ground almonds,
but it is more satisfactory to purchase it ready for use in one and five-
pound packages.
Brazil nuts are large three-cornered nuts, with a hard shell and a
brown skin. The latter should usually be removed before the nuts
are used in candy.
Beechnuts and butternuts are not often found in the market, but
if obtainable may be used in recipes that call for walnuts or pecans.
Cashew nuts are small crescent shaped nuts, and are usually sold
with the shells removed.
Chestnuts should be of the large Spanish variety. They are rich in
starch, and when boiled in syrup are a delicious confection. They
may be purchased in bottles as "marrons " in vanilla or brandy-
flavored syrup, and used for centers of fancy bonbons, chocolates, or
glaces.
Cocoanut may be purchased desiccated in packages, or as
“desiccated”, “long”, “short”, or “macaroon”, in bulk from
wholesale confectioners. The very long shreds of cocoanut are
desirable in some candies. Fresh-grated cocoanut should be used for
cocoanut cakes if obtainable.
Cocoanut oil is a very hard fat, for sale as nucoa and used in
chewing-candy.
Filberts are round, about the size of a marble, and rich in fat. They
are usually purchased in the shell.
Hickory nuts are like small walnuts, but the meat is difficult to
remove whole from the shell, although delicious when obtained.
Peanuts are grown in larger and larger quantities in the United
States, and furnish a nutritious and inexpensive food product, rich in
protein and fat. They may be obtained raw or roasted, in or out of
the shell. Raw peanuts are desirable in some recipes for peanut
brittle.
Peanut butter is made by putting roasted peanuts through the
finest cutter of the meat grinder, and may be prepared at home, or
purchased in jars or in bulk by the pound.
Pecans are a particularly crisp, well-flavored nut. If they are first
soaked for five hours in cold water, and then allowed to stand until
dried off on the outside, the nut meats can be obtained whole. They
may be purchased shelled, whole, or broken.
Pine nuts and pignolias grow on pine cones of large pine trees.
They have an agreeable flavor, are rich in fat and of considerable
food value. They require no other preparation than picking over.
Pistachio nuts are small of a bright green color, with a purplish skin
and a hard shell. The unshelled nuts have been boiled in salt water.
They usually are not of such brilliant color as the nuts that may be
purchased already shelled. They are expensive but not heavy, and a
few of them add much to the attractiveness of candies without
adding materially to the expense. They will keep a long time in a
covered glass jar.
Walnuts of the English variety are obtainable almost everywhere.
Being rich in fats they are an exceedingly nutritious food, and when
used in candies help to overcome the cloying sweetness while
increasing the food value. They may be obtained in or out of the
shell.
Black walnuts are not as common as the English varieties but
most satisfactory in all candies that call for walnuts.
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