Lemon Snaps From Practical Housekeeping, 1881 {Editor's note: In Sunday emails, I've been writing in the voice of my "living history project" alter-ego, Florence. It's the approach you'll find on most of the blog posts, and I'm trying it on for size here in the Sunday edition of our daily newsletter. You'll hear from me like usual tomorrow. Until then, Anna} My dear Hattie - Received your letter this week, and smiled to hear you so warmly remember the cookies I served, during your last visit...
over 2 years ago • 3 min read
Composition Cake From the Snow White Cookbook, 1892 Hey there, all - Composition Cake seems to have been, in many ways, a bit like today's chocolate chip cookies. Every cookbook has a recipe for it, and they're all a little different. Let me tell you, the Composition Cake I made yesterday, from an 1892 recipe, deserves a country fair blue ribbon. It is just that good. Slightly crackly on the top, a nice crumb throughout, and with a lovely combination of spices and raisins. I hope you enjoy it...
over 2 years ago • 3 min read
Blackberries as Medicine From The American Frugal Housewife Hi Friends - Welcome to our first go at a 'Tuesday Tips' email. I thought it would be fun to punctuate our daily recipes with a nineteenth century housekeeping or gardening tip each week. Yesterday, as I was searching for a recipe, I was amused to find a recipe for Blackberry Jam in a cookbook chapter titled, "Medicinal Department". Then a short while later, I came across a paragraph written by Mrs. Child in 1832, extolling wonderful...
over 2 years ago • 2 min read
Fried Ham and Eggs From The Compendium of Cookery and Reliable Recipes {Editor's note: This is the first Sunday email I'm sending in the voice of my "living history project" alter-ego, Florence. It's the approach you'll find on the blog posts, and I'm trying it on for size here in a once-weekly Sunday edition of the email. You'll hear from me like usual tomorrow. Until then, Anna} My dear Hattie - In your last letter, you asked for some of my favorite breakfast dishes to make, wanting to vary...
over 2 years ago • 2 min read
Hot Chocolate From Common Sense in the Household Dear friends - Yesterday we got about 7 inches of heavy, early-morning snow, followed immediately by rain. The result, of course, was slushy, ankle-deep snow soup. I found that everything from feeding the ducks, to getting the car out of the driveway, ended up feeling an awful lot like one long, cold and wet, patience-building exercise. How comforting to settle in at the end of that day, with a strong cup of this 1800's "drinking chocolate"....
over 2 years ago • 3 min read
1800's Pea Soup From the New England Cook Book, 1887 Hi there, friends! Here in Maine, it's a snowy, frigid day, and this cozy pea soup is just the thing. (I actually made this a couple of days ago, and I'm relishing the last of the leftovers right now!) This is frugal, hearty, 19th century eating at its best. Don't be tempted to skip the stale-bread croutons, because oh my heavens--they are just so good! Hope you enjoy this delightful soup recipe as much as I have. ~ Anna Pea Soup From the...
over 2 years ago • 2 min read