Useful Tips from the Kitchen Staff at Simons Mansion

From the official BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony."

 

In the 1890’s, books such as Miss Beecher’s domestic receiptbook: designed as a supplement to her Treatise on domestic economy, first published in 1860, were the kitchen Bibles of many Victorian cooks.

Since no good cookbook is complete without a few “helpful hints” the following, adapted from that receiptbook, are some the kitchen at staff at Simons Mansion and Mrs. Bertha Parks, housekeeper to the Reverend Galien Marseilles, might have utilized from time to time.

 

Lard and Drippings must be kept in a dry, cold place and should not be salted. Usually the cellar is the best place for them. Earthen or stone jars is the best place to store them in.

 

Rye should be bought in small quantities, say forty or fifty pounds at a time, and be kept in a keg or half barrel with a cover.

 

Salt must be kept in the driest place that can be found. Rock salt is the best for table salt. It should be washed, dried, pounded, sifted, and stored in a glass jar and covered close. It is common to find it growing damp in the salt stands by the table. It should then be set by the fire to dry, and afterwards, be reduced to fine powder again. Northing is more disagreeable than coarse or damp salt on a table.

 

Coffee is best to buy by the bag, as it improves by keeping. Let it hang in the bag, in a dry place, and it loses its rank smell and taste.

 

The most perfect way to keep Hams is to wrap and tie them in paper and pack them in boxes or barrels with ashes. The ashes must fill all the interstices, but must not touch the hams, as it absorbs the fat. It keeps them sweet and protects them from all kinds of insects. After smoked ham is cut, hang it in a coarse linen bag in the cellar and tie it up to keep out flies.

 

Codfish  is improved by changing it, once in awhile, back and forth, from garret to cellar. Some dislike to have it in the house anywhere.

 

 

 

Happy cooking!

 

Remember all proceeds from cookbook sales benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties (www.bbbswillgrundy.org).

 

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