Yesteryear Cooking Today

Drunken Sausages: A Recipe for Restoration Era Meat Lovers

Yesterday, I discussed the dynamics of the aristocratic diet and common ingredients, using the backdrop of boiled sausage, an upper class recipe. My husband was delighted to try this and actually spearheaded the cooking process. Before I start, let’s return to the original: To boil Sausages. Take two pounds of Sausages, and boil them with…

Meat and Vegetables: A Tale of Two Classes

I’m not a meat eater, though I indulge in the occasional fish and shellfish. Meat just rages on my stomach. But my dear husband on the other hand, is an avowed and dedicated carnivore. So, when I explored “The Queen-like Closet” by Hannah Wolley, it was full of meat overload. Meats were an essential staple…

Parsing Culinary History: Infused Salmon Edition

Tomorrow’s recipe took a bit more work than my first foray into Sugar Cakes. Hannah Wolley’s recipe of Infused Salmon has no specific measurements, temperature, time, or even what spices and herbs are required. This is extremely common for the time period, as most people learned via application and oral tradition. Rarely prior to the…

Ye Olde Tyme Blemish Removal Recipe

Hannah Wolley was not only a talented writer, she was a keen and intelligent doctor. As I go through the recipes for food, I am often taken aback and fascinated by the cough syrups, medications, and herb remedies used for illnesses and maladies of the time. One of the most interesting I’ve come across is…

A Look at Hannah Wolley’s Old Sugar Cakes

In the mid 1600s, Hannah Wolley was one of the premier names in household management and cooking. At The Beautiful Dame, I’ve written about Aphra Behn, one of the first women to make a living as a writer. Today, I’m going to look at the life of Hannah Wolley, another woman to make her living…

Anti’s Favorite Hash, A Challenge of the Past

In my research, I’ve been perusing The Suffrage Cook Book compiled by Mrs. L. O. Kleber and published in 1915. The recipe book was released at a time of great upheaval for women and some of the recipes reflect the women’s right’s movements views and aims. Though not strictly food recipes, these tidbits from history…