An Inclusive Litany

4/11/94

From the Pentagon's twenty-two page recipe for fudge brownies, file MIL-C-44072C:

  • The texture of the brownie shall be firm but not hard.

  • Pour batter into a pan at a rate that will yield uncoated brownies which, when cut such as to meet the dimension requirements specified in regulation 3.4f, will weigh approximately 35 grams each.

  • The dimensions of the coated brownie shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches by 5/8 inch.

  • Shelled walnut pieces shall be of the small piece size classification, shall be of a light color, and shall be U.S. No. 1 of the U.S. Standards for Shelled English Walnuts. A minimum of 90 percent, by weight, of the pieces shall pass through a 4/16-inch-diameter round-hole screen and not more than 1 percent, by weight, shall pass through a 2/16-inch-diameter round-hole screen.
According to a similar document, acceptable fruitcake requires that the presence of vanilla "be organoleptically detected, but not to a pronounced degree." In other words, one should be able to both taste and smell the vanilla in a fruitcake. The specifications further state: "When the cooled product is bisected vertically and horizontally with a sharp knife it shall not crumble nor show any compression streaks, gummy centers, soggy areas, be excessively dry or overprocessed."