The “Purviance Family Papers” at Duke University’s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library contain a near syllabus of early U.S. History: “Revolutionary War activities”, “Civil War veterans’ activities”, “U.S. relations with Napoleon.” They also contain some of the oldest Maryland cooking manuscripts – two small books filled with handwritten recipes, remedies (my favorite…
In 2018 I’m hoping to branch out to some of the interesting archives and historical collections in other parts of the state outside of Baltimore. The Historical Society of Harford County has Saturday hours once a month so I nervously planned a visit. As a “not a real scholar” I often feel out of place…
“Mr. W. B. Burke of this city has the reputation of preparing the very best spiced oysters which leave our market, and if all are like the can which he left with us on Tuesday, his reputation is well deserved. They are truly a delightful article… He will forward them according to order to any…
There are some very appealing options in the Old Line Plate database for an “Irish” theme. In “Domestic Cookery”, Elizabeth Ellicott Lea suggests a hearty Irish Stew of mutton chops with onions, potatoes, black pepper and mushroom catsup for extra umami. (No, she did not use that word but that’s what it’s there for!) “A…
A quick internet search reveals that most of the popular recipes these days have brief, memorable names. The exceptions are generally branded like “Cheesecake Factory Beef Wellington” or things that list their contents ala “Cheese, Potato, Sausage, Black Pepper, and Pimento Casserole.” I do a lot of examination of the ways in which recipes get…