November 8

11-08

Chicken Consommé
Bread Sticks
Fillets of Halibut, Loomis
Cucumber Ribbons
Roast Duck
Hominy, Southern Style
*Orange Mint Salad
Coupe Hélène
Marguerites
Bent’s Water Crackers
Camembert
Café Noir

In 1914 November 8 was a Sunday.

No recipe for a Coupe Hélène, but there is one for Glacé Héléne, which is molded vanilla ice cream with a fruity cream center. Maybe this dessert is the ice cream served  in a coupe class, topped with fruit and whipped cream.

Bent cold water crackersI am so excited to see Bent’s Water Crackers on this menu! The G. H. Bent Company was in the next town over from me, In 1801 Josiah Bent began selling water crackers and hardtack. In fact, Bent was one of the top producers of hardtack for the Union Army. Water crackers were like common crackers, but a bit smaller or like oyster crackers, but bigger. Or so my research has shown. The bakery closed a few years ago, although one can still see the historic building.

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!

October 8

10-08

Broiled Porterhouse Steak
Baked Sweet Potatoes
*Hominy and Horseradish Croquettes
Pear Salad
Cream Wafers
Steamed Rice with Raisins, Sherry Sauce

In 1914 October 8 was a Thursday.

I will presume the recipe for Steamed Rice with Raisins is the same as Steamed Rice with  Strawberry Sauce, except you add some raisins and don’t make the strawberry sauce.

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!

June 14

06-14
Tomato Consommé
Croûtons
Fried Chicken, Southern Style
Baked Hominy
Tomato Fritters
*Lenox Strawberries
Cream Sponge Cake
Café Noir

In 1914 June 14 was a Sunday.

This was the first menu card I shared with the Mid-Century Menu Group on Facebook, joining daily menus and recipes from Meta Given’s The Modern Family Cook Book from 1948. And from there this project was launched.

Our sixth strawberry dessert this month and I tried it out!

After testing this out, I took my own suggestion. I sliced the strawberries and soaked them in the Lenox mixture, then heaped them on toasted biscuits, and topped with decorative globs of whipped cream (unsweetened, with a hint of almond extract). A delightful variation!

Although I said that the strawberries may have been named for the resort town of Lenox, MA, Mr. Scratch points out that they may have instead been named for The Lenox Hotel in Copley Square. Built in 1900, it was once the tallest building in Boston and is still operational today. This seems like more plausible source for the name since there is a recipe for Lenox Punch in the 1905 edition of The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, but not the 1896.

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!

May 24

05-24
Fruit Cocktails
Roast Stuffed Chicken, Giblet Gravy
*Hominy, Southern Style
Asparagus on Toast
Chocolate Ice Cream, Marshmallow Sauce
Wafers
Pimola Cheese
Café Noir

In 1914 May 24 was a Sunday.

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!

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!