Page:The Boston cooking-school cook book.djvu/613

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LMOND paste for making macaroons and small fancy cakes may be bought of dealers who keep confectioners’ supplies, although sometimes a resident baker or confectioner will sell a small quantity. Almond paste is put up in five- pound tin pails, and retails for one and one-half dollars per pail. During the cold weather it will keep after being opened for a long time.

1g Ib. almond paste Whites 3 eggs
 * 34 lb. powdered sugar

Work together almond paste and sugar on a smooth board or marble slab. Then add whites of eggs gradually, and work until mixture is perfectly smooth. Confectioners at first use the hand, afterwards a palette knife, which is not only of use for mixing but for keeping board clean. Shape, using a pastry bag and tube, on a tin sheet covered with buttered paper, one-half inch apart; or drop mixture from tip of spoon in small piles. Macaroon mixture is stiff enough to hold its shape, but in baking spreads. Bake fifteen te twenty minutes in a slow oven. If liked soft, they should be slightly baked. After removing from oven, invert paper, and wet with a cloth wrung out of cold water, whem macaroons will easily slip off.

Sprinkle Macaroons, before baking, with almonds blanched and shredded, or chopped.