LADIES’ COLUMN.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 691, 9 December 1921, Page 5

LADIES’ COLUMN.

(By “Ru-ru.”) ICINGS FOR CHRISTMAS CAKES.

Almond Icing.

All rich cakes should have a good thick layer of almond icing before the white icing jis put on. This ensures the white icing being a good besides being a delicious icing.

The following recipe is a good and easily made one :

14418. castor sugar, lib ground almonds. Mix in a bowl, then break two eggs iinto mixture, adding 7 drops of essence of almonds. Knead thoroughly and when sufficiently mixed and pounded place on a pastry board and roll out a strip as wide as the cake is high, (using icing sugar as you would flour in rolling out pastry). Then place on cake and cut quite evenly with top of cake. Roll out the remainder of almond , paste into round, for top, and. press the edges together (but do not wet them with water). When the cake is all nicely and evenly covered set aside for a couple o.f days Mo dry before applying; the royal icing. Royal Icing.

1141 b. icing sugar, whites of two egg's. 3 drops of ordinary 'blue, 1 tablespoonful of lemon (strained). Mix well with wooden spoon. The amount of egg will hardly seem sufficient,'but with good kneading and working, it will be enough unless the eggs are small. This ici,ng is more easily spread if mixed a couple of days before being used. For applying : Have a broad dinner knife (which should be well polished on the knife board), and spread evenly over top and sides of cake, and when (this is done, add a little (ve'ry small quantity) of white of egg, to make a little Softer, in order to squeeze through the paper tubes, to make the flowers, berries and' leaves,. This icing must be kept airtight in a preserving jar or other jar with closefitting lid, if mixed beforehand, Cjr otherwise it will get dry and be spoilt Chocolate Icing. 2oz. grated chocolate, 441 b icingsugar, 44 teaspoonful essence vanilla, 3 Itabilespoonfuls warm water. Put all into a saucepan, and melt over fire, until of the consistency of thick cream. Have a very' gentle heat, or it will be spoilt. Then pour over cakes.

Vienna Chocolate Icing.

To %lb. icing sugar ad/d *4.lb fresh butter, Mib finely-powdered chocolate, 14 wsne-glass of brandy or whisky. Mix all together with wooden spoon for about 15 minutes. When'it becojneS a creamy appearance, and it is ready for use.

.Caramel Icing.

1 tea cup of cream, 2 tea cups of brown sugar, 1 tablespconful jf butter, % teaspoonful of 'essence vanilla. Tut all the ingredients except vanilla ..into a small saucepan. Stir,over fire till the sugar is dissolved, then boil quickly, stirring every now and then, till it is thick and leaves, the sides of saucepan. Take off fire and add vanilla. Stand the pan in a basin of cold water, and stir gently till the icing is a little thicker. This is a soft icing, and can be used also to spread between cakes. Coffee Icing. y 2 lb icing sugar, 1 tablespoonful ox water, (to melt sugar. Mix well and spread. pwfm m wy adtrtm lou faaf foff f f Economical Milk Icing. Put 1 cup (half pint size) of ordinary white sugar in enamelled! pot, add %oz. fresh butter, and small half cup (same size) of milk,. Boil eight minutes, stirring well. Flavour with any essence, and bea£ till thick as cream. Spread over cake with a knife ; it will be white when cold. If the icing shouldl be sugary, add a little more m(ilk. Cook >in a good sized saucepan—it is apt to boil ovei. Bambury Mincemeat. 3oz. bulftei\ 3oz. brown sugar, 3oz. bread crumbs, lyjjoz candied peel, half teaspoonful cinamon, soz currants, 3oz raisins, a little nutmeg. Melt the butter and sugar in saucepan, then mix all the either ingredients together. Let it get quite cold before using. YULE-TIDE GIFTS. A great deal of pleasure is derived from making little gifts to one’s friends at Christmas time. The pleasure is two-fold, as it is just as delightful to give as to receive, and gifts made by the hands of friends are far and away more valued! than those purchased in a shop. The hanging pin cushion and scent sarchet described below are simply and easily made, and look very dainty when completed. Hanging Pin Cushion. A square cushion, any size desired, covered with blue, pink, or green sateen, coveied with muslin, on which mark, or, (transfer design in embroidery, at each of the four corners a

bow on rosette is sewn, and this forms a loop to hold a curtain ring, which should be crochet over ready to take the safety pins (a ring for each corner). The cushion is hung up by one of these rings. The cushion may be made of silk or satin, and then does not need the covering of muslin. This is both dainty and useful.

Scent Satchet.

Any pretty ribbon can be used, say two pieces each 244 inches wide, and 6V2 inches long. Sew 344 inches of each side together, leaving 144 inch at each end unsewn, and sew it across, where the stitching ends. Insert; / (before stitching the last end) scent powd|er laid between wadding, or levender beads, dried' rosemary, pot pourre, etc. Fray out ’the ends of ribbon with a pin. Paint, embroidery, on stencil on spi&ys of lavender and the words “For Remembrance.”

Bandeau for the Hair,

Bandeaux for the hair are so much worn just now and especially for evening wear are very dainty. Take the length and. width of net required. Wire each end. Then ornament with beads as a border. Butterfly wings of net are also covered,; and sequins and’ beads sewn on in pattern for the coronet and wings. The body of the butterfly its formed of small round or flat beads. For black net, beaded steel; gold or bronze beads, or in white, beaded gold an pearls, this ornaments is very effective., \ ' THINGS TO LAUGH OVER. A Clerical Error. A man travelling in the We sit and anxious about his home affairs, wished to write to hs wife bo that she would answer immediately. He knew an appropriate Bible verse, but did not have a Bible handy to see if he had the right reference. However, trusting to his memory, he wrote, “Dear wife: Proverbs xxv., 241” He received no answer to this, and when he got home he asked his wife why she had not written to him. She got and showed the verse to him. “Good heavens V* he said, “I “Ic ought to have been Proverbs xxv., 25.” i 6

A Fish Story.

A lively young fisher, / named Fisher, Fished for fish from the edge of a

fissure, A fish with a grin, Pulled Ithe fisherman in, ; ,J Now they’re fishing the fissure for Fisher j '

A Little Girl’s Essay on Men.

Men are what women marry. They drink and smoke and swear, but don’t go to church'. They are more logical than women, and also more zoological. Both men and women spring from but the women spring further than the men.