Corporal Si Klegg and his "pard"... was written by Wilbur F. Hinman from Ohio, who enlisted in 1861 as a sergeant. He wrote about the common life of recruits. So this Memorial Day we remember those who put up with incredible hardships, poor food, and the many who lost their lives so we can be free. Corporal Si Klegg and his "pard". How they lived and talked, and what they did and suffered, while…
Cambridge "yard butter" was described in 1727 as long rolls put in long baskets, hung in the cool well and cut when at market. It's quality was described over a hundred years later as: "The Cambridgeshire butter is produced from cows that feed one part of the year on chalky uplands, and the other on rich meadows or fens, which alternation is thought to explain its excellence." 1727 "…weighed into…
Many methods to preserve eggs are given in this excerpt of Sidney Morse's Household Discoveries encyclopaedia. Also instructions to pickle eggs and how to make dried eggs. Zoom talks: 2 on Rev War rations, Breadfruit, Macaroni and Cheese, What Mrs. Fisher Knew (1881 ckbk by a former slave). "More hens' eggs are laid during the months of March, April, May, and June than during the other 8 months of…
These are very long ovens with the flue at the back that then crossed over the top of the oven, like a squirrel's tail, so the smoke and heat could exit into the chimney in front. First example is at Rose Hill Manor in Frederick, Maryland. Many in PA, and a few in NC. Zoom talks on Sugar & porcelain, Ice, Coffee, Pigs, Anchovy, Medieval Arab Kitchens, Egypt, Spain, Ireland and more. Frederick,…
Four libraries with renowned culinary collections are holding their Great Library Pie Bake-off. This year's theme is Bite the Hand (Pie) that Feeds You on March 12 at 3:00 PM. For those who know your Pi - 𝞹 - it is a little early due to the libraries schedules. Pi is 3.14159... so official date is March 14, a Saturday. " 'Hand Pies': hand pies, pasties, pocket pies, samosas, empanadas, meat (with…
Farmers in the German (Pa. Dutch) parts of Pennsylvania and the east would get some hope if the groundhog did not see his shadow. But. This year we are not getting a break... the varmint saw his shadow in single digit temps. So below are some 100-150 year old writings on the tradition. 1880 was also a very cold year, and a reporter wrote that the groundhog "saw his shadow today; we shall see."…
Three snowy scenes on the trade cards for Beatty steam bakery, since many parts of the US are dealing with a large amont of snow and sleet. 19th-century Ice Boats, Toboggan/long sled and Sleigh. James Beatty (1833-1913) owned the thriving Beatty bakery using steam at Nos. 92, 94, 96 Dugan's Wharf, shown in the Sachse map of 1869. They made Ship Biscuit, Cracker & Cake . His grandfather James…
Flour barrels everywhere - “I shall have no visitors.” Jan 6 - Five years. Never forget the horrific attack on the police and the Capitol building in 2021. I never will. Staff included the teenage pages - one of my sons was a page during the summer some years ago. I spent several years researching the Civil War bake ovens in the Capitol and wrote a booklet in 2014. During the first days of what…
Years ago I was intrigued by roasting butter on a spit. An Irish woman in Ellis's 1750 book made it many times over Christmas "to accommodate a Friend with a Slice or two, as we do Cakes or minced Pies here." Hannah Glasse had it roast over oysters, then when done "lay it on your oysters." After some recipes is a descripton of wooden spits, Ivan Day's attempt to roast butter (which convinced me…
The winter scene in a horn is from a Baltimore company's trade card (3x4 1/4in.). Patented on Feb 12, 1889, this is more recent than the steam kitchens I have studied. Christmas foods and other Dec. food history zoom talks are listed below. The Beveridge Automatic Cooker This cooking apparatus has four vessels, three cooking compartments and a lower vessel holding water. When placed upon a stove…
John Davis Billings (1842-1933) from Massachusetts, was a soldier during the Civil War. Later he wrote a book about Army life, first published in 1887. For another Veteran's Day. Thank you all who served or are serving. My father fought all the way up Italy in the mountains against fascists, so that is why I try to compile a post for Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. Food History talks and…
Since many apples were required to make apple butter by the Germans in Pennsylvania, the neighbors would gather to help with the work. Snitz (dried apple slices) was added to cider and cooked down into apple butter or eaten as delicious Schnitz un knepp. Click images to enlarge. "Apple Butter" in The Farmers' Cabinet. Philadelphia: 1838-- Being at the house of a good old German friend in…
William Pitt Clotworthy (1829Ireland-1902) of Baltimore created and patented Patapsco Baking Powder. The following excerpt from Howard's The Monumental City [Baltimore] 1873, is about its contents and unnamed earlier competitors – Bird (1843), Horsford (Rumford 1859) and Royal (1866). Virtual talks: Anchovies; OPA rationing in WWII USA; Henry Orr, a Black Caterer in Federal DC; Appalachia (NC)...…
Cattle - and pigs and turkeys - were walked to towns or cities to provide meat for consumers. Ice cooled railroad cars later in the 1800s enabled the beef to be butchered in Chicago and elsewhere then shipped east. "Ice tank" loaded from top. It was so hot this week, I chose to write about ice. The cattle would not have been butchered in 96+ degree temps. For centuries, 'beef on the hoof' would be…
Actually, I missed it at one million... and now its over 1 1/2 million... since I rarely look at the stats (or the comments which I am woefully behind uplifting to the posts). Five years ago (Covid lockdown) I had to cut back on doing intensive posts each week, since I was spending so many hours (counted 50 hours on a slow week) on my Calendar of virtual food history talks HERE (hundreds of talks…
Fred Waring (1900-1984) was a popular band and choral leader (The Pennsylvanians). He invested in Fred Osius's blender and changed the name to “Waring Blender.” Although it could be used to make many things, the blender became very popular to make cocktails, rather than using the shaker, then straining the ice. Booklets with recipes were sold for the "Waring Mixor" (24p, 1955) and "8 push button…
Memorial Day Never forget that many gave their lives over the last 250 years for us to live in a free democracy. Cruikshank's 1820 image showed what was needed to outfit a very young midshipman (in blue), including food and drinks. “Fitting out” from The Progress of a Midshipman exemplified in the career of Master Blockhead in seven plates & frontispiece by Captain Frederick Marryat (1792-1848),…
...and an upcoming zoom talk on May 18. Just got an email from CHAA about their pepper pot talk, and wanted to get the word out. I did a post on various pepper pot recipes and six different images of pepper pot vendors HERE . Being raised in eastern PA, I have enjoyed many bowls of the soup. Enjoy the talk! Tape of talk HERE May 18 Sun 4 Pepper Pot Stew and Black Female Street Peddlers in…
Many well known chefs who taught students in their homes or at cookery schools wrote cookbooks containing their recipes: Hannah Wooley (c1622-1675), Edward Kidder (c1665-1739) and John Thacker (1758 book) to... Mrs. Goodfellow [Elizabeth Baker Pierson Coane Goodfellow, 1767–1851, Philadelphia], Lida Ames Willis [Baltimore], Juliet Corson [NYC], Maria Parloa, Mary J. Lincoln, Fannie Farmer [Boston…
Although the ice house image and description are nice, the second paragraph is intriguing. Ice piled on the ground, covered with a layer of firewood, then a layer of straw, then thatch as the outer layer. It should be on "dry ground (the north side of a hill being preferable), in a conical form, of a considerable size, in winter during a hard frost..." Arrangements about an Ice-House—Economical…
The first "Jelly Cake" using cake in an English language cookbook was in the third edition , of Philadelphian Eliza Leslie’s Seventy-five Receipts , 1830, in the Appendix. Almost thirty years later, Miss Leslie (1787-1858) updated her Jelly Cake recipe. Jelly Cake 1830 Stir together till very light, a pound of fresh butter and a pound of powdered white sugar. Beat twelve eggs very light, and stir…
Described by a ten year old boy in 1895, the practice was called old fashioned in a 1914 magazine article. New Year's Eve popcorn growing and with candy in 1895 - One day Willie said to Harry, “let us get some pop-corn from papa and plant it.” They did so and they took great care of it, for they wanted to have some popcorn on New Years Eve, and they wanted their sister Minnie to made some candy…
Wonderful illustrations accompany this 1870 description of corking and tying to a bottle. Wooden topped corks from Beeton 1863 book. Blog post HERE American Agriculturist for the Farm, Garden, and Household . August 1870: Bottling and Corking. Among household operations that of bottling, including the most important part, corking, is usually carelessly done. With many liquids their preservation…
General Regulations for the Army included instructions for quartermasters to inspect the bakery and officers were to read articles on "Baking" in..... encyclopaedias. Printed in Phila. Thanks to all those in the military and veterans. Today: 11/11/11 - WWI Ceasefire at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month (Nov) - Armistice Day, Remembrance Day (UK), Veteran's Day (US) 1. Bread and soup are the…
Paul Sandby (1731-1809) made several pen and watercolor images of this kitchen which included an indoor water pump onto a stone sink, shaping butter pads, and large tubs to wash dishes. All pictures are held in the Royal Collection Trust. Click to enlarge pictures. Stone sink c1752 Water pump Butter pads 1754 Washtubs and hearth c1752 Sandpit Gate, exterior c1780-1800 Paul visited his brother…