Cassell's dictionary of cookery

Waters, Iced Fruit.— These are very agreeable beverages, in their season, for evening parties. Currants, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, or apples, may be used for making them. To make strawberry water, take a pottle of strawberries — let them be scarlet strawberries, if possible, on account of the beautiful colour they impart to the syrup — pick them carefully, and put them into three pints of very weak syrup ; bruise the strawberries in it, and boil them up; strain the water through a jelly-bag without any pressure, which would make the water thick. Ice the water, and keep it in a cool place till wanted. To make currant and cherry waters, a stronger syrup must be used than for strawberries, but the exact strength of the syrup must be determined by taste. Weaver Pish. — The great weaver, or the sea-cat, of Sussex, generally measures about twelve inches in length, swims near the bottom, and is remarkable for living a long time after it is taken out of the water. It is also armed with very sharp spines, which inflict wounds WEB ( 1105 ) WEI difficult to heal, unless one uses friction with oil. The fishermen consequently cut off these spines previous to bringing the fish to market. They are a sort of marine perch, and are excellent. The lesser weaver is more common on oui- coasts than the great weaver, and, having the faculty of striking with its sharp spines, is often called the sting-fish. — Webster and I'arkcs. Webster Cakes. — Beat half a pound of fresh butter to cream. Add haK a pound of powdered white sugar, three-quarters of a pound of sifted flour, a tablespoonful of orangeflower water, a table-spoonful of brandy, four ounces of picked and dried currants, and five well-beaten eggs. Beat the mixture till it is very light. Line some shallow tins with buttered paper, pour in the mixture to the depth of half an inch, and bake the cake in a brisk oven. Before serving the cake cut it into squares or oblong pieces with a sharp knife. Time to bake the cake, a quarter of an hour. Probable cost, Is. 8d. for this quantity. Wedding Cake, Excellent.— A wedding cake is an expensive article to purchase, and if it is not wanted very large, may be made at home without much difficulty, and with a great saving of expense. It will improve with keeping — indeed, confectioners do not use their cakes until they have been made some months ; and if a cake is cut into soon after it is made it WEDDING CAKE. will crumble. To make a wedding cake, first procure the following ingredients : — One pound and a half of flour, one pound and a half of butter, half a pound of candied lemon, half a pound of candied orange, half a pound of candied citron, one pound of dried cherries, one pound and a half of dried currants (if the cherries cannot easily be procured, they may be omitted, and two pounds and a half of currants used instead), eight ounces of almonds, eight eggs, the rind of four oranges or of two lemons rubbed upon sugar, half an ounce of spices, consisting of powdered cinnamon, grated nutmeg, and powdered cloves in equal proportions, a tea-spoonful of .salt, and a small tumblerful of brandy. If objected to, the brandy may be omitted, and another egg may be added. Wash,