Warm Sugar?

[cjs]

I have a niece who has just become a part of an old southern family and she passed on a recipe for beans from his family with the question - what is warm sugar??

The name of the dish is - I love this - "No Name-Just Bean Dish"

burger
link sausages
baked beans
onion, green peppers
mustard
molasses
1/2 cup warm sugar
chili powder
tabasco
garlic powder

I'm assuming this must mean brown sugar - but what's so interesting is, have any of you heard of it called this? I googled it, but couldn't come up with any info.

[spiceguy]

I think it means sugar syrup...maybe like Karo syrup. Looks like a good ole timey recipe!

[ChefJen]

Jean the only time ive seen warm sugar is where you heat up sugar granuals in a microwave etc.. for cookies it helps melt the butter

[grendlesmoder]

I've also seen recipes for jam where they say to heat the sugar in the oven first, though i have no idea what possible use that can be since it all heats up anyway. Maybe they used to believe warm sugar was better.

[murphed]

I dont believe it means Brown sugar as the recipe also calls for molasses. Since there are no cooking instructions included it's hard to tell, but I would guess it means a "simple syrup" so the sugar is melted before being added. IMHO

PS Why if its a "just bean" recipe does it call for burgers and links?

[grendlesmoder]

I have even old cookbooks that talk about syrup, and syrup is syrup, or sirup, but never warm sugar. I really do think they want you to warm the sugar. Perhaps in those days sugar came in lumps, or loaves, as it probably did, and maybe warming it was a way to make it break up more easily?

[cjs]

" Perhaps in those days sugar came in lumps, or loaves, as it probably did, and maybe warming it was a way to make it break up more easily? "

That sounds like the most logical...

Thanks everyone. I didn't bother with the instructions, 'cause it just mentioned adding it along with everything else.

[Derek Cooks]

Jean, you induced me to do a thorough Google search this morning, and the only thing that comes remotely close is warm simple syrups - repeatedly. I'm sure whatever you did came out just peachy...

[jeanmarie]

It's kind of sad, though, that a simple ingredient has been forgotten, in less than 100 years. It's always possible that warm sugar was just a regional thing, known by a few. So more easily explained.

[cjs]

"It's kind of sad, though, that a simple ingredient has been forgotten, in less than 100 years. It's always possible that warm sugar was just a regional thing, known by a few. So more easily explained."

Yes, Jeanmarie, I like that -

Derek, that's what I found also. I did just have a thot, , when I can remember the name of the gal who is the brain behind Alton Brown(e?), I think I'll try to email her and see if she knows. Now, to get my mind working.

[moselle]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest and alternative answer to this puzzle; could it possibly be that the handwriting is hard to read and it says “brown” sugar-not “warm” sugar?
Brown sugar would make sense in this context...just a thought.

[CPPCS]

"I have a niece who has just become a part of an old southern family and she passed on a recipe for beans from his family with the question - what is warm sugar??" Has your niece asked his family? Just curious.

[cjs]

good question....

[Quietwolf]

Jean, are you talking about Shirley O. Corriher

[jeremyj]

I think i heard something about warming sugar in the oven to remove some excess moisture maybe??? But i think that was more along the lines of baking.