Something Good for Saturday

Ethyl Underwood Meeker - "Auntie"

My mother never liked to cook but at this time of year she did like to make candy. So in her honor I am going to post some candy recipes from now until Christmas. Here is a recipe she did not make but I remember "pulling the taffy" at the place North of town one time when my grandmother made it.  The recipe is from my great-aunt Ethyl Underwood Meeker who is pictured   in these two pictures one from 1896 and the other from 1973.  I remember when the "Twist" was popular we got her to dance it and she was in her 80's.  She also drove across country in her 80s. She mad the statement "Intelligence is at the wheel." What a woman!  A lifelong Christian Scientist she lived to be in her 90's.

Vinegar "Taffy" candy

"I don't remember ever eating or seeing this candy. The instructions have me thinking it was taffy;" Ginny

2  T.      Butter 2  Cups  Sugar

½  Cup  Cider vinegar

Procedure

1   Grease plates.

2   Melt butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat.

3   Add sugar and vinegar.

4   Stir until sugar is dissolved.

5   Wash down sides of pan periodically with pastry brush dipped in cold water.

6   Continue cooking until mixture reached 256° F on candy thermometer.

7   Remove from heat.

8   Pour onto well greased counter.

9   As mixture cools fold over itself into the center using a greased spatula.

10 When mixture is cooled enough to handle, grease hands with butter.

11 Pull candy until it is creamy white.

12 Pull into long strips and into inch long pieces with scissors.

13 Put on greased plates to cool.

14 Wrap pieces in waxed paper.

Source: Ethel Underwood Meeker 

Ruth Cole Jackson "Mom"

Mom liked to make this fudge - (and we loved it) You can read Ginny's explanation from the cook-book. 

Penuche Fudge

"Mom didn't really like to cook but she loved making candy. She was a wizard making candy annually for Christmas. I never tried to make candy until the Christmas after she died in 1995. The first 2 batches I made were like concrete. The third time I succeeded and I felt like mom was with me again!" Ginny

2  Cups  Sugar (or 3 cups) 2  Cups  Brown sugar  (or 3 cups) 1  Cup    Half and Half cream (or 1½ cups)

3        T      Butter or (4½ tablespoons) 1 1/2  tsp    Vanilla (or 2¼ teaspoons) 1        Cup  Chopped pecans (or 1½ cups)

Procedure

1   Grease pan.

2   Put sugar and half and half in pan.

3   Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until mixture begins to boil.

4   Continue cooking without stirring until mixture reaches "soft ball" stage.

5   Remove from heat.

6   Cool to lukewarm.

7   Add butter and vanilla.

8   Beat until mixture loses it's gloss.

9   Add nuts.

10 Pour quickly into pan

Yield: 9" x 9"

Source: Ruth Cole Jackson