Manuscript Location

Cornell University, Kroch Library, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections

Place of Origin

United States

Date of Composition

ca. 1825-1845

Description

This small recipe book contains thirty-nine recipes, each written in a single calligraphic hand. On the verso of the second leaf is written: "A. Allens B." Although this probably refers to the author of the manuscript, it may be an attribution for the recipe on the same page. The recipes on the last page are said to be by Dr. Benjamin Anthony. Although the handwriting style appears to be of the eighteenth century and many of the recipes were current as early 1750, some of the recipes in the book, such as Composition Cake and Cup Cake, did not emerge until the 1820s. 

The recipes include A Rice Pudding, To make a baked Indian pudding, A Custard Pudding, A boiled Potato Pudding, A Bread Pudding baked, A Poor Man's Pudding, To make Currant Wine, Composition Cake, Pound Cake, Cup Cake, Beer, Raspberry Vinegar, Small beer cheaply and quickly made, and Shrewsbury Cake.