Summer Kitchen

When was the term "summer kitchen" first used? The separated kitchen building we refer to as the summer kitchen has been built for centuries and in many cases still remain. References can also be found in probate inventories, letters, diaries, etc. to a kitchen building separate from the house, but were simply called "kitchen." Other terms were "out kitchen" and "back kitchen." ...

Steam Kitchen

A picture of Slater's Patent Steam Kitchen, 1812.
Click to enlarge. 

Madeira

This engaging and thoroughly researched (150 pages of endnotes) work delves into all aspects of Madeira from the growing of the grapes on the Portuguese island of Madeira to the merchants, shippers, and consumers.

Potting Pots - Potted Meat, To pot a Swan

One way of preserving foods, but also for “present use” [Hale] was by potting. Many cookery books from the 18th (almost twenty) into the 20th century contained a variety of recipes - Robert Smith [1723] had eleven, and Beeton [1863] had many more. ...

Tossing the Pancake

George Cruikshank illustrated the custom of tossing the pancake on Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday, in the 1837 edition of Comic Almanac.
A description from 1867 school -

Snow Cream

The large snowfalls (45") in the mid Atlantic area has caused a sudden popularity of Snow Cream recipes on the internet, and local news.  Below are historical receipts and my interpretation, which are delicious and simple to make.

Gridirons - chalking and cleaning, broiling and basting

For centuries cooks have used the gridiron as one way to prepare meat, fish, poultry, and vegetables. Hearth cooks often misuse the gridiron, treating it like our modern grill - such as basting causing smoke, keeping the bars black, and imprinting lines on the meat. Most modern cooks don’t use chalk. or paper ...

Candy Thermometer

The candy thermometer did not become available to most housekeepers until the early 1900s when appeared in advertisements and recipes. The professional confectioner's thermometers were longer and more expensive. On the left is a patent from 1878 for a glass encased one...

Soup Tureen

Whether silver or part of a china set, the tureen is a glorious piece for the table. During the Federal period it was generally placed at the bottom end of the table for the first course with the fish platter on the top. ...

Twelfth Night Cakes

Two pictures, from 1869 and 1794, show celebrating Twelfth Night and the cakes. 

New Year's Cookies

Sometimes called New York Cookies since several New York authors, including Washington Irving, included the imprinted cookies in their fiction.  He wrote that Rip van Winkle was stamped on one side and St. Nicholas on the other of the cookies given out on January 1.

Christmas 1863

Christmas Plum Pudding

The 'Christmas' Plum Pudding during the Victorian Era became distinguished from the centuries old plum puddings. It contained rich ingredients, and many were served flaming. A few cookbook authors, such as the British chef Soyer, had a seperate Christmas section.

Egg Nogg Party

"Christmas in the South - Egg Nog Party" from Harper's Weekly, Dec. 31, 1870.  Links to recipes and literary references...

To Market, To Market ... baskets for chickens

A huge variety of baskets have been used over the centuries to take produce to market, as seen in this Market Scene from 1550 by Aertsen. Click on picture to see larger view with details of the baskets.

Virginia Hams

The James River and centuries old methods divide the Virginia hams prepared in Colonial Williamsburg from those by the Edwards’ Ham Company in Surry, Virginia, which I toured in 2008. While the basic technique of salting and smoking to preserve meat is the same, Edwards is able to make use of modern technologies to replicate the seasonal process.

Cranberry Sauce

Eliza Leslie included a recipe for Cranberry Sauce in 1840 using brown sugar.

Lydia Child's Thanksgiving connection

Although Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) today is best known for her cookbooks, most people have sung "Over the river, and through the wood" which is taken from her poem "The New-England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day" from Flowers for Children, II, 1845.

Researching at State Archives & County Courthouses

 Each state archives contains copies or original records from local courthouses and other government agencies, but the years vary with each state. Be sure to check probate inventories (left) and other records...

Cranberry harvesting (stealing) in 1864 New Jersey

Excerpt from: Edmund Morris. How to get a Farm, and where to find one. NY: 1864.