Dr. Chase's Recipes; or, Information for Everybody

Dr. Chase's Recipes; or, Information for Everybody: An Invaluable Collection of About Eight Hundred Practical Recipes, for Merchants, Grocers, Saloon-Keepers, Physicians, Druggists, Tanners, Shoe Makers, Harness Makers, Painters, Jewelers, Blacksmiths, Tinners, Gunsmiths, Farriers, Barbers, Bakers, Dyers, Renovaters [sic], Farmers, and Families Generally, To Which Have Been Added A Rational Treatment of Pleurisy, Inflammation of the Lungs, and other Inflammatory Diseases, and also for General Female Debility and Irregularities: All Arranged in their Appropriate Departments by A.W. Chase, M.D., copyright 1866 (my copy is the 38th edition
Molasses Candy, page 58
Prepared January 15, 2008

Part of dessert in our Molasses Disaster Memorial Dinner, this candy was delicious. I used some fun little molasses pulled-sugar curlicues as a garnish on our ice cream.

Dr. Chase was a very opinionated doctor (all you need to do is read the full sub-title of his book to see that). He self-published this book to as a great service to mankind. During the 19th century, his books were well-known throughout America; it's estimated that over copies of this book were sold.

That said, some of his cooking ideas were a bit cockamamie. Check out the instructions on checking the candy's progress: "... when you have dipped your hand in cold water and passed one or two fingers through the boiling candy and immediately back to cold water ...". Then turn immediately to page 110 for informatino on the treatment of burns.

Since the sugar syrup is supposed to get to 300 degrees, I used a thermometer and the glass of cold water to measure temp - not my fingers. Dear Lord. Kids, do not try this at home.