Next comes the "ball" (240° F. to 250° F.) Dip the finger and thumb first into cold water, and then into the syrup, the latter then can be rolled into a soft ball between the finger and thumb. A little longer boiling gives the hard ball. This in turn is succeeded by the "crack" (290° F. to 300° F.) To test this, drop a little of the syrup into cold water; if it then breaks off sharp and crisp it has reached the crack. The final stage is the "caramel" (350° F.) which comes very quickly after the crack, the syrup becoming first a pale yellow, and then a rich golden brown, and finally black or burnt. When it first reaches this stage the pan should be removed from the fire, a little lemon juice or water added, and then the whole reboiled to the proper stage or shade. To prevent granulation, it often is advisable to add a pinch of cream of tartar, to the pound of sugar. Chocolate Fudge 1 cupful milk Pinch of salt 2 squares (2 ozs.) chocolate 2 cupfuls sugar 1 tablespoonful Crisco 1 teaspoonful vanilla extract Put Crisco, milk, sugar, salt, and chocolate into saucepan, and stir and boil until it forms a soft ball when tested in cold water, or 240° F. Remove from fire, add extract, allow to stand a minute, and beat until creamy. Pour into Criscoed tin and mark off into squares. Clear Almond Taffy 4 cupfuls sugar 1 cupful Crisco Pinch cream of tartar 1 cupful water 2 cupfuls almonds 1/2 teaspoonful almond extract 1/4 teaspoonful salt Blanch, split, and bake almonds to golden brown. Crisco a tin, and sprinkle almonds on it split side down. Dissolve sugar and water together in saucepan, add Crisco, salt, and cream of tartar, and boil until when tested in cold water it will be brittle, or 300° F. Add almond extract and pour over nuts. When firm, cut in squares. Sufficient for one large pan. Cocoanut Caramels 1 cupful dessicated cocoanut 2 tablespoonfuls glucose 1 lb. brown sugar 3/4 cupful Crisco 1 cupful water 1 cupful milk 1 cupful cream 1 teaspoonful rose extract 1 teaspoonful almond extract 1/4 teaspoonful salt Soak cocoanut in milk for twenty minutes, then put it into a saucepan with sugar, glucose, salt, and one-third of the Crisco, add second third of Crisco when it forms heavy thread, or registers 230° F., add third piece of Crisco, cream and extracts, when it again reaches 230° F. When it reaches the hard ball stage or 250° F., turn at once into a Criscoed tin. Cut when half cold. When all are cut, wrap each caramel in waxed paper. Crisco Drops 1/2 cupful golden syrup 4 tablespoonfuls Crisco 1/4 cupful water 1/4 teaspoonful salt 1/2 teaspoonful vanilla extract Put Crisco, golden syrup, water, and salt into saucepan and boil until it is almost brittle when tested in cold water, or 290° F., then add vanilla. Allow to cool down, and then drop on to Criscoed tin. Sufficient for twenty drops. Cream Candy