Monday, December 22, 2014

Some holiday recipes from the Inglenook Cook Book

This well worn copy of the Inglenook Cook Book contains some recipes that are perfect for the week of Christmas. Or, at least, they were perfect for the week of Christmas a century ago.

Here's an excerpt from the preface:
"This Cook Book originated with the Inglenook magazine published by the Brethren Publishing House, at Elgin, Ill., and was first issued in 1901. With few exceptions the recipes were contributed by sisters of the Brethren Church whose names and addresses are given in every instance. ... The chief claim made is that the recipes have been tried and are recommended."
I think my family would love, by the way, that there is an entire eight-page chapter titled "Macaroni and Cheese Dishes."

Here are a few of the holiday recipes. If you make them, let us know how they turn out. (Also, include how you finish off these recipes, which are not long on details regarding baking temperature or baking time. Those would be good things to know.)

Christmas Candy Loaf
Take 2 pounds of glucose, 4 pounds of granulated sugar and 1 cup of boiling water. Boil until it will form a soft ball when dipped in cold water. Beat until cool enough to stir in beaten whites of four eggs, 2 or 3 teaspoonfuls of vanilla and 1 pound of shelled almonds. If properly stirred and then placed in a deep custard tin it can be sliced off like cake. Should be made several days before wanted. — Sister Lauren T. Miller, Elgin, Ill.

Imitation Fruit Cake
Take 3 cups of sugar, 1 cup of molasses, 1 cup of buttermilk, 2 teaspoonfuls of soda, 7 eggs, 1 cup of lard and butter and 1 level tablespoonful each of cinnamon, cloves and allspice. This make 3 large cakes. — Sister Effie Hoover, Milford, Ind.

Snow Cake
Take 1 cup of sugar, ½ cup of butter, ½ cup of sweet milk, 1½ cups of flour, 1½ teaspoonfuls of baking powder, and the whites of 3 eggs. Flavor with lemon. — Sister Suzie C. East, South English, Iowa.

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As an added "bonus," some stamps were once pasted inside the book, including on the inside front cover. These are the 1926 Christmas seals of the American Lung Association. The ALA first produced Christmas seals in 1907. See all of its seals in this gallery.

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