Historic Cookery

The other day, I heard a supposed “expert” proclaim that people in earlier centuries never drank any water because it was polluted, that if they did they’d get sick and/or die, and so they drank beer instead. Well, I was miffed, to say the least. I squirmed in my seat, struggling not to leap up [...]

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As I mentioned previously, I’ve been reading up on the role of food during Hampton Court’s Tudor years in The Taste of the Fire. I’ve discovered a treasure trove of fascinating information. For instance, Hampton Court’s multi-room kitchen complex was built in 1530. Its staff, numbering at more than two hundred, worked tirelessly to prepare [...]

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In Eliza Leslie’s The House Book (1843), she writes that it is “the usual custom in America” to thoroughly clean one’s house, “top to bottom,” in late spring and early autumn. Yes, just twice each year! In addition, she offers this advice: It is a good rule not to commence house-cleaning in the spring until [...]

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Several weeks ago, the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum was featured on an episode of “Sunday Arts,” a weekly program produced by New York City’s PBS station, WNET-Thirteen. Click here for your own up close and personal look at a true treasure, namely Wyckoff, the City’s oldest house and its first designated Historic Landmark. HUZZAH to the [...]

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Once again, the “Remember the Ladies” weekend event will be held this year at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ. The dates are June 12 and 13, 2010. It’s a fun get-together with other like-minded folks interested in all things 18th century. I encourage one and all to mark your calendars now and sign [...]

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Finally, what everyone’s been waiting for…the chickens in bladders being prepared for serving. HUZZAH! Ladies and gents, our lovely birds encased in bladders: A little delicate surgery: Carefully removing the bladder: The spent bladder: Now the other one: Mmmmmmm…chicken: Hungry, yet? Then LET’S EAT! To recap, all our dishes were made using these 18th century [...]

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The chickens in bladders are done. HUZZAH! They’re taken off the fire. First one: Then the other: Don’t they look lovely?! Like two rubber balls. And yes, they DO bounce! (How do I know? Well…one fell to the floor and…yep.) Here’s our instructor Clarissa posing with the bladders: The chickens will be “sent to table,” [...]

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I registered for Deb Peterson’s Historic Foodways Symposium back in December (2009). It’s today (Saturday). I also signed up, and paid extra, to participate in an open hearth cooking workshop on the Friday prior (yesterday). Then came the threat of yet another snowstorm. An e-mail was sent this past Wednesday to all attendees stating that [...]

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