Posted on by missminamurray

March 10

03-10
Southdown Soup
Crisp Crackers
*Cadillac Chicken
Creamed Sweet Potatoes
Escalloped Corn
Praline Ice Cream
Sponge Drops

In 1914 March 10 was a Tuesday.

Southdown Soup is a lamb broth with green beans and rice. Southdown is a breed of sheep, so I’m presuming that’s to what the name refers.

To dress a chicken for broiling, Fannie Farmer says “Singe, wipe, and with a sharp-pointed knife, beginning at back of neck, make a cut through backbone the entire length of bird. Lay open the bird and remove contents from inside. Cut out rib bones on either side of backbone, remove from breastbone, then cut through tendons at joints.” In other words, spatchcock it. It will lay flat and cook more evenly.

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

March 6

03-06
*Somerset Smelts
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Escalloped Tomatoes
Lettuce and Radish Salad
Cheese Sandwiches
Wine Jelly
Chocolate Cake
Café Noir

In 1914 March 6 was a Friday. And we’ve got fish!

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

February 22, Washington’s Birthday Dinner

02-22
Oyster Cocktails
Pimiento Consommé
Bread Sticks
Maryland Chicken
Hominy, Virginia Style
Corn à la Southern
Huntington Salad
Brown Bread Sandwiches
*Frozen Pudding
Sponge Cakes
Toasted Crackers
Cheese
Café Noir

In 1914 February 22 was a Sunday. It’s also a holiday, so we have a special, elaborate menu today in honor of the first president.

As Washington was a son of Virginia, the menu skews southern. Or, at least, a New England version of southern cooking… We get a very Bostonian salad and sandwich.

Hominy, Virginia Style might be the same as Hominy, Southern Style.

It’s interesting that there’s no cherry pie, a staple of mid-century Washington’s Birthday menus. Instead we get frozen pudding, but we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for the recipe.

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

February 13

02-13
Raw Oysters
Oyster Crackers
Creamed Salt Codfish
Baked Potatoes
Boston Brown Bread
Dressed Lettuce with Pimiento Ribbons
*Wine Jelly
Chocolate Cake

In 1914 February 13 was a Friday. We’ve got fish again!

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

February 8

02-08

Clam Soup
Toasted Johnny Cake
Stuffed Olives
Radishes
Roast Chicken, Brown Gravy
Paprika Potatoes
*Corn Croquettes
Manhattan Pudding
Devil’s Food Cake
Crackers
Cheese
Café Noir

In 1914 February 8 was a Sunday.

I haven’t found a recipe for Johnny Cake yet, but it’s like a corn cake.

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

February 1


02-01

Duchess Soup
Bread Sticks
Roast Tip of Sirloin, Brown Gravy
Yorkshire Pudding
Franconia Potatoes
Creamed Cauliflower
Celery and Nut Salad
Brown Bread Sandwiches
Coffee Ice Cream
*Mock Angel Cake

In 1914  February 1 was a Sunday.

As long as you’re boiling potatoes for Franconia Potatoes, boil enough for the German Potato Salad tomorrow.

It’s a Mock Angel Cake because it only uses 2 egg whites; an actual Angel Cake needs 8.

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

January 30

01-30
Creamed Oysters with Celery
Imperial Sticks
Boston Baked Beans
Mustard Pickles
Boston  Brown Bread
*Washington Pie
Coffee

In 1914 January 30 was a Friday. Guess what? Fish again! That’s every Friday for a month. Let’s see what February holds…

I couldn’t find a specific recipe for Creamed Oysters with Celery. I would use the linked recipe and use sliced celery instead of the optional mushrooms.

Whenever Imperial Sticks come up on these menus I’m asked “Like the margarine?” In fact, they’re more like large croutons, made from buttered, toasted stale bread.

Like its descendent Boston Cream Pie, Washington Pie is not pie, but two layers of  cake with a filling — in this case, jam.

And I baked it!

How unusual! The menu calls for Coffee instead of the more frequent Café Noir

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

January 18

01-18
Caviare Canapés
Rump Beef Roast, Brown Gravy
Creamed Potatoes
Glazed Silver Skins
Lettuce and Radish Salad
Peanut Brown Bread Sandwiches
*Canton Cream
Raised Loaf Cake
Café Noir

In 1914 January 18 was a Sunday.

Silver skins are another name for pearl onions — small onions often creamed or pickled.

Canton ginger is ginger preserved in syrup. The Canton Cream  uses both the ginger and its syrup.

The Raised Loaf Cake is made with bread sponge, a mixture of yeast, liquid, and flour that’s allowed to ferment before the rest of the bread ingredients are added.

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed to continue my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!

Posted on by missminamurray

January 11

01-11
French Chicken Soup
Hominy Croûtons
*Rabbit à la Southern
Anchovied Potatoes
Endive Salad
Celery in White Sauce
Wheat Crispies
Chocolate Ice Cream
Lady Baltimore Cake
Café Noir

In 1914 January 11 was a Sunday.

Wheat Crispies are a brand of cracker made by O. B. Gilman, a Boston bakery.

The chocolate ice cream calls for squares of Baker’s chocolate. This is a brand of unsweetened chocolate still available today, originally made in a factory in Boston, right down the road from me (it’s luxury apartments now).  In Fannie’s the unsweetened chocolate came in individually wrapped squares, each weighing one ounce. Now the chocolate comes in bars, but it’s easy enough to convert squares to ounces.

M2This project is supported by my Patrons on Patreon and donations from other enthusiasts of historic cookery. With your help I can acquire the unusual ingredients and equipment and do the research needed in my quest for greater historical accuracy in my culinary adventures. Thank you so much!