August 30

08-30

*Clear Mushroom Soup
Bread Sticks
Roast Leg of Lamb
Currant Jelly
Franconia Potatoes
Succotash
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Cheese Fingers
Vanilla Ice Cream with Sliced Peaches

In 1914 August 30 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!

August 12

08-12

Mock Bisque Soup
Croûtons
Baked Mackerel, Maitre d’Hotel
Potato Balls
String Beans
Cucumber Ribbons
*Roxbury Puddings with Sliced Peaches and Cream
Café Noir

In 1914 August 12 was a Wednesday.

Presumably when the mackerel is called to be dotted over with butter, one would use Maitre d’Hotel Butter.

Roxbury is one of the neighborhoods of Boston.

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!

August 3

08-03

Broiled Live Lobster
Shredded Potatoes
Toasted Corn Bread
*Allerton Salad
Wafer Crackers
Sliced Peaches with Cream
Election Cake

In 1914 August 3 was a Monday.

I was surprised that there was no recipe for corn bread to be found. Corn cakes, yes, but not corn bread.

I wonder if this is more of the election cake we had on July 31st.

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!

August 1

08-01

Mock Bisque Soup
Croutons
Veal Cutlets, Brown Gravy
Creamed Potatoes
Succotash
*Peach Fritters
Snow Pudding, Custard Sauce

In 1914 August 1 was a Saturday.

I made the Peach Fritters. You can watch the  process and results in the video below. Also footage of a naughty cat.

Spoiler: they’re very good.

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!

July 31

07-31

Steamed Halibut, *Shrimp Sauce
Riced Potatoes
Green Corn
Hindu Salad
Graham Sandwiches
Sliced Peaches with Cream
Election Cake

In 1914 July 31 was a Friday. Which is why there is fish on the menu.

There’s not a lot of internal consistency between the cards and the cookbooks or even within the books. In the 1912 edition of The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, published one year before these cards were released, today’s salad is spelled “Hindoo”.  Why it would be named that is an additional mystery. Also, the Election Cake is to be served with Boiled Milk Frosting. There is no such recipe in the cookbook. There is, however,  a Milk Frosting, which is prepared by boiling.

Steaming does not appear as an option in Ways of Cooking Fish (The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, p.160), however the recipe for Steamed Halibut, Silesian Sauce tells us: Steam by cooking over boiling water a piece of halibut weighing two pounds.

Graham Sandwiches are presumably sandwiches on Graham bread (a whole wheat bread), but I can’t find a recipe to tell me what the filing is.

Election Cake is a very old style of cake, as it’s yeast-raised and full of dried fruit. I’ve seen English recipes like this in 16th century cookbooks. In America, this cake goes back to the 18th century, with the first published recipe by  Amelia Simmons. Elections were an occasion to be celebrated in the United States and these cakes were baked in huge sizes. Fannie’s version seems more modest.

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!

July 28

07-28

*Broiled Live Lobster
Toasted Corn Cakes
Lamb Chops
Potatoes à la Maitre d’Hotel
Summer Squash
Peach Cottage Pudding, Cream Sauce

In 1914 July 28 was a Tuesday.

There are several recipes for lamb chops, corn cakes, and summer squash. It’s hard to tell which ones we’re intended to use.

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!

July 14

07-14

*Baked Lobster in Shell
Cold Sliced Boiled Tongue
Gherkins
Dinner Rolls
Sliced Peaches and Cream
Berwick Sponge Cake
Toasted Crackers
Cheese
Café Noir

In 1914 July 14 was a Tuesday.

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!