The primary author of this book was Mary Burton Augusta (Bolling) Banister (1789-1853), who kept the book in Petersburg, Virginia, between 1818 and 1821. However, the book also contains several hands other than the principal author’s. This book is written in a bound volume with combed marbling on the cover. The initial pages of the volume are loose and the back cover is missing.
The book begins with a collection of recipes written on unnumbered pages, under the heading “Culinary Receipts.” These recipes include: A boiled plumb pudding, Chicken pudding, To make ginger bread, To make Turnbridge cakes, How to make cyder, To make drop-biscuits, To roast pigeons, To make a carrot pudding, To make strawberry cakes, To make floating island, to make India pickle, To preserve cucumbers, To dress Irish potatos, Baked mutton chops, To make sellery sauce, To make mackeroons, To make Shrewsbury cakes, Mince pies, Puff paste, Philadelphia buns, Pickling, Walnut liquor, Wine, Honey comb, and cordials. Some of the puddings are attributed various individuals, including Mrs. Shipwith, Mrs. Blair, and Mrs. Nicholas. The name A.B. Harrison is written beneath A Receipt for making Tavern Biscuits. A later page gives the same name, with a date: Anna B. Harrison September 1818.
Much of the middle of the book is blank except for a few medical recipes, including for the cure of sore eyes, Stroughton’s bitters and fever powder, and Trusty eye salve. Then begins a section headed “The Weaver’s Draft Book,” which includes weaving instructions and various draft charts. There are also recipes for fabric dyes. The last page of the book contains “Mrs. Botts method of putting pictures on boxes.”
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