Manuscript Location

Folger Shakespeare Library, Manuscripts

Place of Origin

England

Date of Composition

ca. 1725

Description

Titled on the verso of the front endleaf, this 162-page cookbook is in a single handsome cursive hand. Notwithstanding the title, there prove to be few recipes for pastry other than the Pitty Patties on page 9 (little forcemeat tartlets used as garnishes in the eighteenth century), almond and lemon tarts, and at least four cheesecakes (pages 55, 82, 99, and 148). Recipes for fruit preserving are particularly well represented as are recipes for wines, waters, and other drinks such as shrub, punch, mead, ratifia, and usquebaugh, which occupy pages 105 through 123 and are found elsewhere in the book as well. There are also recipes for meat and fish dishes, puddings, sauces, breads, dessert creams, and cakes. An unusual "Persian Dish" is outlined on page 155. It calls for seasoning pounded mutton leg with salt, pepper, and a little onion, rolling the meat out like dough and cutting it into cakes, and then frying the cakes in butter.

The following note appears at the end of the book: "This ancient book was discovered at Walton House in the year 1875 & was immediately submitted to the authorities for inspection. After careful examination they declared it to be extremely ancient & gave it as their opinion that it was written before spelling was invented. Vid. [Vide] The receipt just above this note." (There is a Grade II listed "Walton House" in Tewkesbury, Gloustershire.)