News and views from the Domestic life in 1878
While working in the University Library's book sale booth at yesterday's Book Market @ the Square event, I made a couple of purchases myself. I bought Jenny June's Cookbook, published in 1878. No lie. Though it's falling apart, it's full of all sorts of culinary gems and domestic advice. Some examples:
In making pancakes or puddings, snow is an excellent substitute for eggs.
Bill of fare for breakfast:
1. Broiled chicken, toast, omelette, and Guava jelly.
2. Broiled mutton chops, stewed tomatoes, fried potatoes, and Graham drop biscuit.
3. Broiled lamb chops, rice cakes, warmed over potatoes, and marmalade.
4. Cold corned beef, cabbage chopped fine, and warmed over with vinegar and a little beef fat. French bread, and boiled Indian mush.
Plus 25 other tempting meal plans...
And my favorite:
Label Children
Into the crowns of the hats or bonnets of little children, sew a square of writing paper, stating age, and residence. This will save them from any danger of being lost.
In making pancakes or puddings, snow is an excellent substitute for eggs.
Bill of fare for breakfast:
1. Broiled chicken, toast, omelette, and Guava jelly.
2. Broiled mutton chops, stewed tomatoes, fried potatoes, and Graham drop biscuit.
3. Broiled lamb chops, rice cakes, warmed over potatoes, and marmalade.
4. Cold corned beef, cabbage chopped fine, and warmed over with vinegar and a little beef fat. French bread, and boiled Indian mush.
Plus 25 other tempting meal plans...
And my favorite:
Label Children
Into the crowns of the hats or bonnets of little children, sew a square of writing paper, stating age, and residence. This will save them from any danger of being lost.
2 Comments:
Hey, now, let's not make fun of the old-style breakfast. Remember that these were usually served after the agriculteurs had already spent two to three hours doing early morning chores, and needed to be sustained heavily until the afternoon dinner. Of course, if we ate like that now we would all be bloated blobs, but sustenance balanced by physical labour was essential. I love old cookbooks and domestic tip books - they give one invaluable insights into the real life of earlier household situations.
Now instead of labeling children we attach GPS systems to them.
- Abe Robinson
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