Call Number:

Ms. Codex 2388

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1 volume(s)

Language:

English

Date:

1872-1901 (inclusive)

Form:

Cookbooks and Codices (bound manuscripts)

Abstract:

This cookbook contains 40 recipes and was written and compiled by an unidentified individual in Trenton, New Jersey between 1872 and 1901.

This volume contains recipes from Mrs. Rorer's cooking lectures, which likely refers to the Philadelphia Cooking School, which was founded by Sarah Tyson Rorer in 1882. Rorer was an American food writer, early dietician, and leader in the domestic science field.

She studied cooking at the New Century Club in Philadelphia and pharmacy at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania. She became the cooking instructor at the club before completing pharmacy school and, upon completing school, became the instructor of dietetics as well. After founding the Philadelphia Cooking School, she remained in charge for 18 years and offered classes in cooking, cooking for health and illness, and chemistry.

Rorer was also a columnist for Table Talk Magazine, Household New, Ladies Home Journal, and Good House Keeping. She additionally published 32 cookbooks.

This cookbook contains 40 recipes and was written and compiled by an unidentified individual in Trenton, New Jersey between 1872 and 1901.

The volume is a composition style notebook with a brown paper cover and damage to the binding. The latter portion of the volume is blank (p. 60-118) and there are 13 leaves laid in (p. 44-45, 56-57).

Several of the recipes in this volume are attributed to individuals such as Mrs. Lewis Perrine, likely referring to Harriet Adelaide (Slack) Perrine (1859-1926) of Trenton, New Jersey (p. 29), and Lolly Page (p. 55). There is letterhead laid in belonging to N.R. Montgomery of Trenton, New Jersey (p. 56-57). There are also recipes from Mrs. Rorer's cooking lectures (p. 13, 20) and a weekly chore schedule titled, "The Cook's Work" (p. 119-120).

Examples of recipes in this volume include Mamma's receipt for gelatine jelly (p. 1), small nut cakes with rum icing (p. 5), balloon pudding from Waynesville, North Carolina (p. 11), Spanish croquettes (p. 24), rice pudding for the baby (p. 32), mayonnaise dressing from The Cosmopolitan (p. 35), and chili sauce (p. 58).