lost & found cookbooks

Nasturtium Sandwiches

FIVE ROSES COOK BOOK: Bread, Pastry, etc...
1913

Scrumptious recipes and in-depth directions for tasks like baking bread and making pies make this one of my favorite old cookbooks.  While most of it is dedicated to cookies, breads, gems, scones, tarts, etc... there is delightful section devoted to "Dainty Sandwiches" which offers sandwich making tips like:

• use a cooky cutter to give odd shapes
• use one brown bread and one white bread to form the sandwich
• heat the knife to help cut thin and accurate slices
  

Sandwiches are something I can actually cook (or more accurately, assemble) and old cookbooks often devote an entire chapter with some surprising solutions. This Five Roses cookbook features sandwich fillings ranging from fig paste to fresh cocoanut, and banana to mushrooms. The "Peanut Sandwich" includes a creative mixture of eggs, pepper, brown sugar, vinegar and peanuts.

I was most charmed by the idea of the "Nasturtium Sandwiches" which sound so lovely -- like food for fairies. Nasturtiums are easy to grow, available in many colors, and are ignored by snails. Leaves, flowers and petals are edible. Plant now and you should have these dainty delights by August.

[earlier post about the 1913 Five Roses Cook Book]

[buy Five Roses Cookbook at OldCookbooks.com]

[old cookbooks with sandwich recipes]

American Heritage Cookbook

American Heritage Cookbook: An Illustrated History of American Eating and Drinking
Editors of American Heritage, 1964

I am boning up on cookbook history and this treasure makes my list for one of the "must haves" if you are interested in American culinary and cookbook history. Part I is massively illustrated with period packaging, engravings, paintings, and photos with exceptionally interesting essays on everything from Apple Cider to Hasty Pudding. Entire chapters are devoted to American food pioneers like Sylvester Graham (yes, the Graham Cracker) and  Fannie Farmer and are punctuated with tidbits of culinary history, from the origin of butter to the making of tortillas. Part II contains menus and recipes for historic American meals each with anecdotal info about the origin and tradition of the recipe. Entertaining and educational.

[more books about food and cookbook history]

[buy American Heritage cookbook at OldCookbooks.com]

Watkins Checker Board Cake

Watkins Cook Book
1936-1945

Having your own business is like having a two year old. It is lots of fun, but usually completely out-of-control and demands all of your time. So, I rarely get out to do the treasure hunting that inspired the business in the first place! I'm not complaining, the benefits outweigh the negatives. Last weekend we were tired of real work and went to an estate sale. I found this wonderful set of Watkins Checker Board Cake Pans in their original box, inspiring this post. The recipe and directions are on the box and do not appear in any of the Watkins cookbooks we have.  I can see this charming cake made with two slightly different white cake batters-- very pretty.

Watkins is based in Minnesota and sold directly to the consumer by local salesmen. One of our customers, who lived on a farm in Nebraska, tells us they looked forward to visit from the "spice peddler".  Watkins' pepper, spice and medicinal bottles are popular collectibles, as are their almanacs and cookbooks.

Cookbooks have a checklist of all Watkins products as well as color photos of some of the packaging. Since each printing has different product listings, you will need all the editions for a complete information. None of the cookbooks mention this set. It is quite rare to find this set in the original box. I need to get out more often!

Watkins still exists, they even have a museum of their own products.  You can read their history at www.watkinsonline.com.

[see watkins cookbooks]

[buy the cake pan set]

Recipes, Formulas, Cures and Advice

"WOMAN'S FAVORITE COOK BOOK"
1902

I said "ouch!" a few days ago when a customer wanted to sell us her "antique" cookbooks, which turned out to be cookbooks from the 1970's. That makes me a pterodactyl. Technically, an antique book is one that is over 100 years old. Anything younger is just "old".

Shown here is a 1902 "Woman's Favorite Cook Book", from an era when cookbooks often contained directions for everything from raising children to killing cockroaches. (Don't get those two mixed up.)

Recipes are simple and not overly helpful, lacking in-depth directions like oven temperature and giving measurements like "a handful"  or "half a teacup". The appeal for me lies in the unusual dishes, references to obscure cooking utensils [see "spider"] and formulas for cosmetics or tinctures. Often the remedies are accompanied by dubious advice like "scalp massage will arrest falling hair" and "sprinkle toast with salt instead of butter" to loose weight. A section on pimple cures extols the virtues of bathing in salt water, adding that "grubs and worms have a mortal antipathy to salt"...  Huh?

A section entitled "Toilet Suggestions and Recipes" does offer this timeless advice on beauty: "Breathe deeply, bathe daily -- think joy, not sorrow -- eat wisely and never speak unkindly". Truth, Ruth.

[recipe for sachet powder]

[buy this at OldCookbooks.com]

[more antique cookbooks]