Manuscript Location

New York Public Library, Schwarzman Building - Manuscripts & Archives Division

Place of Origin

England ➔ Durham ➔ Ryton

Date of Composition

1824

Description

This cookbook is signed and dated on flyleaf: Elizabeth Wilson Ryton 6th April 1824.The book is divided into eight sections: "Made Dishes & Pies"; "Soups & Broths"; "Pastry & Puddings etc"; "Sauces etc"; "Preserves etc"; "Game"; "Pickles"; "Wine & Liqueurs"; "Essences." "Game" and "Wines" comprise only two recipes each, "Pickles" one recipe, and "Soups" none at all; the remaining sections comprise eight to twelve pages of recipes each. Most of the recipes are written with the same squib and in the same handwriting mood as the headings, suggesting that most of the book was copied at the same time. However, the author clearly planned to add more recipes over time, for she numbered all of the pages of the notebook and left many blank pages between the sections. There are a few medical recipes at the end of the book, which seem to be in a different hand.