Vintage Homemaking

Thanksgiving Corn Cake
Sift together two cups of corn meal, two cups of white flour, four heaping teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one level teaspoonful of soda, one teaspoonful of salt, and one-half a cup of sugar. Add one cup of sour milk (gradually), three-fourths cup of sour cream, four eggs and one-third a cup of melted [...]

Although we know that the first Thanksgiving was not full of endless eating and savory meats and sauces as we celebrate today we nevertheless love to look at it in the romantic light of the Victorian era. Here below are a few suggested Thanksgiving menus (depending on how many guests and servants you had) taken [...]

As per
Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers
by Elizabeth E. Lea, 1875
…The materials for making cake should be of the best quality, as your success very much depends on it.
Flour should be dried and sifted, sugar rolled fine, spices pounded and sifted. Where brown sugar is used, it
should be [...]

Some basic choice recipes from a compilation by
Elizabeth Ellicott Lea
Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers
I specifically like these vintage recipes because they are simple which was her intent. Not to overwhelm with scientific information.
Enjoy…
To Brown Flour for Gravy, &c.
Put some flour in a dutch-oven and set it over some hot coals; keep
stirring [...]

In Pioneer days (1700’s) the homemaker had no refrigeration and had to be prepared and preserve foods for the coming winter.
Skills such as salting, drying, smoking, pickling, and preserving were a necessity rather than an interest as may be the case for some of us today.
This hardworking cook was also not as blessed with [...]