Thursday, June 23, 2011

Mrs. Borer's Philadelphia Cook Book, A Manual of Home Economies


Note: Bear with me. I have uncovered about eight old books from my family library and I must share.

This book is a 1914 Cook Book (also called Philadelphia Cook Book). The preface reads:

"To offer to the American Housewives a new cook book may appear to many an unnecessary labor, considering the country is already provided with elaborate works on the subject; but upon referring to many of them, I have often detected an obscurity in directions in recipes which, in the hands of the amateur, would lead to failure, and have in the following recipes endeavored to avoid this by making them so plain, that a beginner may successfully make, with few exceptions, any dish contained herein, and I may add, all these recipes have been prepared over and over again by pupils under my supervision."

NOTE: That was ONE Sentence!

I thought I would give you an idea of the recipes in this compilation.

Under Meats:

Larded and Spiced Tongue
Soused Pig's Feet
It does tell how to prepare about any meat, cut of meat or process (how to cure a ham, etc.)

Under Poultry and Game:

Pigeon Pie
Salami of Wild Duck
Wild Turkey
Bear Meat
Fricassee of Rabbit

There are tips on preparing Buffalo, Opossum, Raccoons and Skunks!

This book has sauces, soups, vegetables, desserts, breads, etc.

Here is one example of her advice:

Wild Pigeons

"Wild pigeons may be prepared and cooked the same as tame ones. Roasted or baked, they make a very nice garnish for a wild turkey. After the turkey is dished, arrange six or eight pigeons around it; fill the vacant spaces with curly parsley. This makes a very sightly dish."

563 pages

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

PS: There is an add in the back of the book for "KC Baking Powder - 25 ounces for 25 cents - in continuous use since July 1890"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to mention that it is Rorer's and not "Borer's" ;o)