Hello everyone and WELCOME to the inaugural edition of my new series: THROWBACK THURSDAY. In case you missed the introduction, here’s a quick summary.
“I am a firm believer in whole food cooking, the way our grandparents and great-grandparents used to prepare. So, I set out on a mission to find old cookbooks from the early to mid 1900’s. I found six cookbooks that fit the bill, with copyrights ranging from 1896 to 1954.
I have decided to work my way through each recipe, one by one, book by book, and share my experiences with you along the way. So, on the 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, I’ll be sharing another “THROWBACK THURSDAY” recipe!”
Before I get into the recipe, I wanted to share 3 other books I’ve received since the introduction 2 weeks ago:
HOUSEHOLD DISCOVERIES:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL RECIPES
AND PROCESSES
BY: SIDNEY MORSE
AND
MRS. CURTIS’S COOKBOOK:
A MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION IN
THE ART OF EVERYDAY COOKERY
BY: ISABEL GORDON CURTIS
COPYRIGHT: 1908
The first book is actually 2 books in one. HOUSEHOLD DISCOVERIES and MRS. CURTIS’S COOKBOOK. This book came with a HUGE bonus-jam packed with old newspaper clippings from the 1920’s, mostly recipes. There were also a few hand written recipes. (I’ll be including these recipes as a part of this series as well) The first book, which encompasses the first half, appears to be a house wife’s guide to daily living. There’s everything from house decorating, to daily routines, to soap making and more. I had to laugh, because there’s 3 chapters just on doing laundry! I could do a series just on this part of the book. (And, I might do that at some point when I have more time.) The second part is the cookbook, and the aspect of the book on which I will focus.
GOOD THINGS TO EAT AND HOW TO PREPARE THEM
COPYRIGHT: 1913
This book appears to be an advertisement of sorts from a company called LARKIN, in which they show how to use their products in different recipes.
WOMAN’S HOME COMPANION COOKBOOK
COPYRIGHT: 1943
This book has an introductory note that says:
“Every recipe in this book has been tested by the Woman’s Home Companion Home Service Center.”
I’ll be working my way through each book. I’ll try to do every recipe, but may end up skipping some. I’ll have to see how it goes.
NOW…onto the first book and recipe!
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING EVERYDAY COOKBOOK
COPYRIGHT: 1903
As a reminder, the first book I’m using is the GOOD HOUSEKEEPING EVERYDAY COOKBOOK from 1903. (Pictured above) It is an interesting book. As you can see, it’s somewhat small, the recipes aren’t written as we do today and there aren’t any oven temperatures. This is to be expected since they used wood stoves at that time. The first few pages consist of “A few rules”, which discuss the measurements in the book.
The second section of the book is general remarks, which discusses:
- classes of food
- pantry care
- washing dishes
- using stale bread
- how to combine ingredients
There are 20 food sections in the book, which include:
- Baking powder breads
- Beverages
- Breads made with yeast
- Cake, cookies, doughnuts, etc
- Cereals
- Cheese
- Cold Desserts
- Eggs
- Fish
- Frozen desserts
- Hot desserts
- Invalid cookery
- Meats and poultry
- meat and fish sauces
- Pastry and pies
- Sandwiches and canapes
- Salads of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit
- Shellfish
- Soups
- Vegetables
I’ll be starting with the first section, Baking Powder Breads, and the first recipe:
POPOVERS
Here’s the recipe as it is printed in the book: (Yes, that’s it!)
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
- Gem pan – I used a cast iron muffin pan. My research suggests that a gem pan is similar to a muffin pan, but more decorative.
- Dover beater (Hand beater) – I purchased an antique one from Ebay (see photo) which I attempted to use. It worked…sort of. After this attempt, I found a new hand beater on Amazon, which I’ll use from now on. I’ll find a fun way to display the antique (Circa 1875).
- Bowls measuring, cups, etc
INGREDIENTS: (This is what I used)
- 1 cup 100% Organic All Purpose Einkorn Flour – sifted
- 1 Cup cream top (creamline) milk (non-homogenized)
- 1 pasture-raised egg – slightly beaten
- 1/4 Tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- Butter for greasing the pan
STEPS: (Here’s what I did)
-
Grease muffin/gem pan
-
Add sifted flour and salt to a bowl and mix.
-
Gradually add in milk and egg.
-
Mix for two minutes with a dover beater
-
Pour batter into greased pan
- Bake in a “FAST” oven for 30 minutes. (Remember – no oven temperatures.) My research indicates that a FAST oven translates to between 400 and 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I baked these at 425 for 30 minutes and it was perfect.
- Remove from pan immediately and serve hot. Easier said then done! Here’s a photo of me ATTEMPTING to remove them from the pan!
They did come out, but got a bit squished. I was SO tempted to use muffin liners or parchment paper, but decided they PROBABLY didn’t have that back then. 😉 Here’s the result!
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
This was fun! Part of the excitement for me was just receiving the books and going through them. It’s fun reading the recipes and tips from back then. The popovers were very easy to make and very tasty, with butter and homemade jam. Despite my gluten allergy, I did taste them. I made a decision, when I began this series, that I would taste everything! I decided my itchy skin and other symptoms were worth it!
Next time on THROWBACK THURSDAY:
Batter Cakes
COOKBOOK SOURCE:
This was such a fun post Tamara! I love cookbooks so it was great to see some of your collection. Your popovers look great, and I’m sure they were tasty. I’m looking forward to going on the rest of this adventure with you! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I apologize for the delay in replying to your comment. I was working on an assignment and tons of reading for school. Thank you for your comment. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite articles. I just made my item for this coming Thursday and will be making one other tomorrow morning. Thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to it! Hope your schoolwork is going well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
The popovers I know of can be filled with a chocolate, or vanilla filling. Do you do this with your popovers? They are old-fashioned goodness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the first time I ever made popovers. The only recipe I had was the one I posted above. That said, I LOVE THE IDEA of filling them. It absolutely makes sense to till the “empty” space with yummy filling. I’m sure this book has a custard recipe. I’ll have to try it in these.
I apologize for the delay in replying to your comment. I was working on an assignment and tons of reading for school.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re fine. I hope you have enjoyed the popovers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLike
A Dover beater! I used to own one of those many years ago 🙂 I have been on a baking blitz lately, using some of Mum’s favourite recipes. My Finnish cookbook, about 45 years old now, is falling apart on the spine. Had to fix it with cloth tape to keep it from falling apart. It’s full of stains – I’m obviously a messy cook!
LikeLike
The dover beater I used here was very hard to use. I actually bought a new one on amazon.
Are you from Finnish ancestry? My paternal grandfather’s side of the family was from Finland. do you post recipe on your site?
I apologize for the delay in replying to your comment. I was working on an assignment and tons of reading for school.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was born in Finland and migrated to Australia with my parents as a child. Speak, read and write Finnish. Yes, I do post recipes and other stuff about Finland from time to time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you have a recipe for bread? I remember it as a child, but don’t have a recipe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do, but which bread are you referring to? Sourdough rye?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t remember that it was rye, it was a round, sort of flat loaf, but I seem to remember that it was white, not rye. The recipe may have been altered by my relatives. I really don’t know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Could have been wholemeal bread. Finns did not have white bread even when I was growing up in the 1950’s. It was either wholemeal or rye, leavened or unleavened. Rieska comes to mind – http://scandifoodie.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/finnish-bread-puolivahva-and-rieska.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
That looks like it, from the photos. It was flat like that, even had the indentations on the top. Thanks for looking and finding this. 🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
You stab it with a fork 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you very much also for this posting. Great to see such old recipe-/ cookbooks. Its always nice to read them to see, the world wasnt re-invented this times. 😉 Best wishes for the weekend. 😉 Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! It has been so fun so far, just looking through them. thank you for your comment Michael. All the best!
I apologize for the delay in replying to your comment. I was working on an assignment and tons of reading for school.
LikeLike