Manuscript Location

University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Kislak Center for Special Collections - Manuscripts

Place of Origin

United States ➔ Pennsylvania ➔ Philadelphia

Date of Composition

ca. 1841-ca. 1862

Description

This recipe book of approximately 102 pages was written by a single unknown author. Another individual later added corrections and a few additional recipes at the end of the volume. The book begins with a table of contents, which is lacking the first leaf. The library has dated the volume on the basis of a list of wages paid to household servants, dated 1841-1842, and two recipes dated 1861 and 1862. Some of the recipes may be earlier.

The book was likely compiled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for it contains a number of recipes attributed to well-known Philadelphia women. Among these recipes is Mrs. Cadwalader's recipe for Indian pickle. She is presumed to be the wife of General [George] Cadwalader, whose recipe for curing 400 lbs. of bacon is also included. (This recipe has been revised in the later hand.) A large proportion of the recipes are for preserving meats and for meat, game, fowl, and oyster dishes. There are also recipes for shad, fruits, jellies, puddings, jumbles, gingerbread, and biscuits, as well as a few medical and household recipes.