The Country Housewife and Lady's Director in the Management of a House, and the Delights and Profits of a FarmBradley, Richard
Science
The Country Housewife and Lady's Director in the Management of a House, and the Delights and Profits of a Farm
Bradley, Richard
Cooking -- Early works to 1800; Cooking, English
To begin the Work, put three Pounds of fine Sugar into the Bason with one
Pint of Water, to be stirr'd well together till the Sugar is wet; and boil
it gently, till the Sugar will rope from the Ladle like Turpentine, and it
is enough. Keep this however warm, upon warm Embers, that it may run.
freely in a ropy Way from the Ladle upon the Seeds.
When this is ready, move the Seeds briskly in the Bason, and fling on them
half a ladle-full at a time of the hot Sugar, keeping the Seeds moving for
some time; which will make them take the Sugar the better, and be sure to
dry them well after every covering, by moving the Bason, and stirring the
Comfits. In an Hour, you may make three Pounds of Comfits: you will know
when they are coated enough with Sugar, by their becoming as large as you
would have them. There is no certain Rule, but our own Fancies, for the
Size of them. _Note_, Till they are as you would have them, cast on more
melted Sugar, as at first, and keep them stirring and shaking in the Pan,
drying them well after every Coat of Sugar.
If you would have ragged or rough Comfits, make your Sugar so liquid, that
it will run from the Ladle; and let it fall upon the Seeds about a Foot and
a half high. Let it be very hot, for the hotter it is, the rougher will be
your Comfits; and for all that, the Comfits will not take so much Sugar as
one may imagine from their Appearance. Put on at each time only one
Ladle-full, and in ten times repeating it your Comfits will be perfectly
well coated.
For plain Comfits; let not your melted Sugar be too hot at first, nor too
thick; neither pour it on the Seeds too high: but the last two or three
Coverings may be thicker and hotter.
As for Coriander-Seeds, which are large, three Pounds of Sugar will only
cover a quarter of a Pound of them.
While your are at work, you should keep your melted Sugar in good Temper,
that it may not gather into Lumps, or burn to the bottom of the Pan; and to
prevent its growing too thick at any time, put to it a spoonful or two of
Water, gently stirring it now and then with your Ladle, keeping your Fire
very clear under your Pan. When your Comfits are made, put them upon Papers
in Dishes, and set them before the Fire, or in a declining Oven, which will
make them look of a Snow white; when they are cool, put them in Boxes, or
in crystal Bottles.
To make _Comfits_ of various Colours. From the same.
If you would have your Comfits of a red Colour, infuse some red Saunders in
the Water till it is deep colour'd enough; or else take some Cochineel, and
infuse it till the Liquor is red enough; or put some Syrup of Mulberries
with Water to the Sugar.
If of a yellow Colour; use Saffron in Water, which you are to mix with the
Sugar.
If Green; take the Juice of Spinach, and boil it with the Sugar: so will
your Comfits be of the several Colours above-mention'd.
To preserve _Orange_ and _Lemons-Peels_ in Jelly. From the same.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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