December 2 - 4, 1953 Sasanobori and Christmas Goodies

Diary Entry:  Dec. 2,1953

"Mrs. McKnight brought wood carvings I had ordered.  B went to prayer meeting.  Teruko-san finished my blouse.  Ann sick & Bob has such a cold.  Spent day making cover for futon."

Diary Entry:  Dec. 3, 1953

"Ann o.k. but Bob really sick with a cold.  Made batch of fondant & Xmas rolls today.  Wrote Xmas cards to O.H. & Dr. Cline."

Diary Entry:  Dec. 4, 1953

"Bob still sick.  Made potato candy & mixed cookies.  Doorbell rang all day.  B went to faculty sukiyaki party."

Fondant

Mix together 3 c white sugar and 1 c water.  Heat and stir over low flame until sugar dissolves.  Be sure to wipe down sides of pan with a damp towel so that sugar doesn't stick to pan.  Cook to soft ball stage, no more than 240 degrees.  Pour the syrup onto a large pan, add a bit of red or green coloring to create a pale color and peppermint flavoring, if desired.  Beat at a high speed until fluffy then pour onto a buttered surface to cool.  

Christmas Rolls

Dissolve 1 package yeast in 2 T warm water.  In a large bowl beat 2 eggs then add 1 c. warm milk, 1 stick butter (melted in milk), 1/2 c sugar and 1 tsp. salt.  Stir in yeast.  Beat in 4 c. flour.  Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hrs. or overnight.  Divide dough into 2 parts and roll into rectangles.  Brush with melted butter, sprinkle liberally with brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon.  Roll in jelly roll fashion and slice.  Put sliced side down in buttered baking pans, spacing about 1" apart.  Let rise till double then bake at 375 for about 15 minutes.  Prepare frosting as follows:  Mix 2 c powdered sugar, 4 T melted butter, 2 T cream cheese and 1 T cream or whole milk.  Beat until smooth, then add a little at a time, light rum or brandy to make the icing easy to pour.  (Can thicken if desired with more powdered sugar.)  Add 1/2 c chopped maraschino cherries.  Pour over rolls and let cool.

Potato Candy 

Peel and mash a cooked potato.  Add 1 t vanilla and enough powdered sugar to make a firm dough.  Knead until smooth.  Roll out to about 1/4 " on a sugared surface.  Divide if necessary in order to create rolls about 1-1/2" across.  Spread with peanut butter.  Roll up and slice.  

For more of Bonnie's easy Christmas candy recipes from earlier posts, use these links:  http://annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/04/december-15-1945-olives-make-party.html

http://annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/02/december-18-1943-flu-epidemic-waiting.html