February 26

02-26
*Oysters Louisiane
Pot Roast with Dumplings
Dressed Lettuce, Russian Style
Canton Sponge
Cream Sauce

In 1914 February 26 was a Thursday.

We’ve had Dressed Lettuce often as a salad, but how to serve it “Russian Style” remains a mystery for now. Maybe it’s served with Russian Dressing instead of French.

The dessert, a steamed pudding made with preserved ginger in syrup, and its sauce are listed a separate items instead of the usual format of “Canton Sponge, Cream Sauce”. A design choice for the card or an indication how it should be served?

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 25

02-25
Clam Bisque
*French Fried Potatoes
Baked Macaroni, Tomato Sauce
Moulded Spinach, Egg Garnish
Dressed Lettuce
Cheese Croquettes
Saltines
Apple Pie
Coffee

In 1914 February 25 was a Wednesday. It’s also Ash Wednesday, which may be why it’s a meatless menu.

For a simple dish, that macaroni involves consulting a number of recipes. You’re supposed to cook it like Baked Macaroni, but with tomato sauce. The Baked Macaroni  recipe tells you to start with Macaroni with White Sauce. Going to that recipe sends you to Boiled Macaroni.

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!

February 21

02-21
Pork Chops
Escalloped Tomatoes
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Lettuce and Radish Salad
Butter Thins
*Steamed Ginger Pudding, Vanilla Sauce
Café Noir

In 1914 February 21 was a Saturday.

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 18

02-18
Baked Stuffed Haddock, Hollandaise Sauce
Julienne Potatoes
Dinner Rolls
*Cole Slaw
Macedoine Jelly
Toasted Crackers
Pimiento Cheese
Café Noir

In 1914 February 18 was a Wednesday.

I haven’t found a recipe for Macedoine Jelly. I think it’s a dessert, although the Boston Cooking-School Cook Book glossary defines Macédoine as A mixture of several kinds of vegetables. A New Book of Cookery has a recipe for Macedoine of Fruit, in which the fruit is suspended in gelatin.

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 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!

I made the Wine Jelly! See how it turned out…

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 7

02-07
Julienne Soup
Souffléd Crackers
Salt Codfish Balls
Cole Slaw
*Boston Brown Bread
Charlotte Russe

In 1914 February 7 was a Saturday.

I tried making Boston Brown Bread!
Boston Brown Bread complete

It’s not the usual cylinder, because I didn’t have a brown bread mold, nor any of the other traditional items for shaping – a melon mold, a one-pound baking powder can, a five-pound lard can, or even the modern coffee can. I really need to up my mold game. That’s what the bread looks like when steamed in a pudding basin.

You can see the process and a taste test in the video below.

It’s a bit different from the kind you can get in a can.

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 6

02-06
Fish Chowder
Pickles
Beefsteak Pie
Pastry Triangles
Paprika Potato Cubes
Dressed Lettuce
*Squash Pudding
Café Noir

In 1914 February 6 was a Friday.

Unlike Fridays in January, we do not only have fish on the menu, we’ve got beef as well.

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 5

02-05
*Vegetable Soup
Baked Chicken
Corn Fritters
Potatoes en Casserole
Fruit Salad
Cream Wafers
Assorted Nuts and Raisins
Coffee

In 1914 February 5 was a Thursday.

The fruit salad is part of the salad course, rather than dessert, since it’s served with crackers. There are a couple of recipes for savory salads, like this one.

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 4, Vegetable Menu

02-04
French Fried Potatoes
*Corn Soufflé
Spinach à la Béchamel
Dressed Lettuce with Pimiento Ribbons
Baked Indian Pudding
Wafer Crackers
Cream Cheese
Café Noir

In 1914 February 4 was a Wednesday.

An all-vegetable meal must have been so unusual that it got its own special day.

Wafer Crackers were whole wheat crackers made by the Johnson Educator Food Company in 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!