“‘But punch, my dear Copperfield,’ said Mr. Micawber, tasting it, ‘like time and tide, waits for no man.'” -Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, 1850.
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Author: Little Dorrit
Zimmetsterne (Cinnamon Stars)
Zimmetsterne (usually spelled Zimtsterne today) are a traditional German Christmas cookie. The name means “cinnamon stars;” although of course you can make them any shape, they are traditionally made with a star cutter.
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German New Year’s Cookies (Springerle)
Springerle are a type of traditional German cookie dating back at least to the 15th century. This particular recipe is from the 1861 American cookbook The Housekeeper’s Encyclopedia. Although the recipe is simply titled “German New Year’s Cookies,” several details such as the use of hartshorn, anise seed, wooden molds, and drying the cookies for 24 hours before baking clearly identify these as classic Springerle.
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Mock Turkey
Vegetarianism has a long history in the United States, although the word “vegetarian” was not in common usage until around the 1850s. By the 1880s, vegetarian meat substitutes that were meant to mimic the look and taste of meat helped bring vegetarian foods to a wider audience, and vegetarianism was widely promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle.
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Mae West’s Pumpkin Pie
This variation on pumpkin pie comes from actress and writer Mae West. It appears in a 1933 community cookbook published by the Assistance League of Southern California, alongside contributions from several other Hollywood stars such as Carole Lombard, Norma Shearer, Constance Bennet, Marion Davies, and Cary Grant.
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Halloween Cookies
Ice box cookies, also known as refrigerator cookies, became popular in the 1930s as electric refrigerators appeared in more and more homes. The dough is formed into a roll, then chilled in the refrigerator. When it’s time to bake, the cookies can simply be sliced off the roll and popped into the oven.
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Gingerbread Pudding
I love gingerbread in pretty much any form, and I am beginning to develop a love of steamed puddings – so naturally I had to try this 1875 recipe for a steamed gingerbread pudding.
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Pear Butter
Historic cookbooks usually include many recipes for preserving fruits and other seasonal produce. This recipe, with pears, apple cider, and spices, is perfect for Fall.
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Buttermilk Biscuits
Buttermilk and baking soda biscuits are a classic, and with good reason. The acid in buttermilk reacts with baking soda, producing carbon dioxide gas and giving the biscuits their characteristic puffiness.
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Lazy Daisy Cake
Lazy Daisy Cake, sometimes also spelled Lazy-Dazy Cake, was a popular recipe in the 1930s. Just by searching in one collection of community cookbooks, I found seven nearly identical versions of the same recipe!
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History in the Making 