| Feature Recipe November 2009 “Homemaker of the Week” In 1989, Mrs. Dwight (Lila) Wuster of Walnut, Iowa was named “homemaker of the week” by the Atlantic, Iowa Journal Herald. Both she and her husband were raised in the Dawson, Nebraska area and moved to Iowa after Dwight left his work with the Dawson Bank and was hired by the bank in Walnut. Lila was known as the candy lady. She and her mother, Mrs. Pearl Ulmer, would take several days off from work and make double batches of candy for Christmas. After moving to Iowa, Lila created a money making project for the United Presbyterian Church ladies annual bazaar. Dwight enjoyed helping in the project and after the church ladies ceased to make candy to sell they continued privately to satisfy orders for friends and customers who used the candy for gifts. This year (’89) they made over 80 pounds and 40 different kinds. She made dipped candies, chocolate covered cherries, turtles, mints, fudge and candies in molds. Lilah says she uses her imagination and trys different things and kinds. The following are three of her secret recipes. Not so secret since the paper printed them! Many of her really special recipes for candy were gone when she passed away as she would not share them for fear of competition in candy sales. |
| Mother’s Candy 1 cup of sugar 1 cup of white syrup 1 ½ cups of peanut butter 1 cup of macaroon coconut 4 cups of Rice Krispies Drop by spoonfuls or roll into balls. They can be dipped in chocolate or rolled in crushed Rice Krispies. Date Dream Candy 3 cups sugar 1 ½ cups light cream or half and half Put in large pan and bring to a boil, stir until sugar is dissolved and cook to soft ball stage, 236 degrees. Remover from heat, add 1 cup finely cut dates, add 1 cup chopped pecans and put into a 9×9 buttered pan. Date Balls 5 Tbsps margarine 1 cup sugar 1 ½ cups dates, cut fine Put all together and cook until thick and 2 ½ cups or more of Rice Krispies. 1 tsp. Vanilla, pinch of salt, nutmeats, and ½ cup macaroon coconut, cool and roll in crushed Rice Krispies or coconut. (Lila said, macaroon coconut is unsweetened and cut very fine. Even people who don’t like coconut will probably not even know there is coconut in the candy. |
