Playing "Old-Fashioned Girl"

It seemed that every nineteenth century book I read as a child, from An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott to Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder referenced some form of molasses candy.

So of course when writing Bryony, I referenced it, too, and put an authentic recipe (i.e. one that doesn't contain corn syrup) into the office BryonySeries cookbook, Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

Yesterday, Rebekah Baran and I made some, but we started too late to to post it. Here's some of the highlights.

Try the recipe HERE.

What did I think of the my first bite of nineteenth century candy? It's not very sweet; I could see why some recipes call for "nutmeats" (if anything to keep the teeth from sticking together); and I kept Almonzo's pig in mind and ate only very tiny pieces at one time.

Molasses boiling on the stove. This was the longest part of the process.

Molasses lightens in color after saleratus (baking soda) is added.

Molasses nearly cooled enough to pull and shape.

The finished product.

Molasses Candy

Always wanted to try this, ever since I read Louis May Alcott's An Old-Fashioned Girl when I was nine. Saleratus, by the way, is sodium bicarbonate: baking soda

 Melissa, as Bryony, had a close relationship with the housemaid’s little daughter, Anna, much to John’s chagrin. They shared spiced hot chocolate at bedtime, and Melissa looked the other way when Anna sneaked candied orange peels.

 Of course, once John was gone, the fun began in earnest. Melissa would hijack the kitchen to make molasses candy with Anna or share an entire boiled fruit pudding with the little girl for supper.

Molasses Candy

1 quart molasses

1 teaspoon saleratus, dissolved in a little warm water

Boil molasses until a small amount, when dropped into cold water, becomes crisp. Add saleratus and beat well. Pour into a buttered pan. Let cool 5 minutes, butter fingers, and pull until tan in color. Cut into sticks.

From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. www.bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html.