Here's one from the August 1900 issue of The National Baker, a trade magazine for bakers...
This issue had mostly cakes and tarts...
RATAFIA LUNCH CAKE
One ounce of ground bitter almonds, half a pound of blanched ground sweet almonds, 2 pints of suar, one pint of eggs, one pint of yolks of eggs, one quarter pint of warm water, one pound and three quarters of flour, one basting-spoonful of vanilla, half a ound of bright red French cherries cut in halves, one quarter a pound of Angelique, 1/4 pound Sultana raisins, 1/4 pound currants. Beat sugar with the eggs and yolks and water, over a slow fire in a bright copper kettle with an egg whisk very light, as for sponge cake.
When thick, beat until cold; sift sweet and bitter almonds with the flour and mix this with the above, add the fruit last. Line two square, greased pans with paper. Divide mixture in both of them and bake in a moderate oven about one hour and a half. When cool, ice with fondant icing and flavor with essence of bitter almonds. Decorate with split, blanched Jordan almonds, angelique and cherries.
Queen's Shortbread
Mix 4 pounds of flour, 2 of granulated sugar, 2 of butter together; add 6 eggs and some lemon extract, make all into a smooth paste. Roll out to about half an inch thick. Cut into shape and sizes and bake on greased tins in moderate oven. When cold ice with water icing and decorate with fruit or varigated Scotch comfits.
One from the 1904 White House cook book:
Cucumber Catsup
Take cucumbers suitable for the table, peel and grate them, salt a little and put into a bag to drain overnight. In the morning season with salt pepper and vinegar to taste. Put in small jars and seal for use in the winter.
A Brine to Preserve Butter
First work your butter into small rolls, wrapping each one carefully in a clean muslin cloth, tying with a string. Make a brine, say 3 gallons, having it strong enough of salt to bear up an egg. Add half a TEACUPFUL of pure white sugar, and 1 tablespoonful of saltpetre, boil the brine, when cold strain carefully. Pour it over the butter rolls so as to more than cover them, as this excludes the air. Place a weight over all to keep rolls under the surface.
The book also has cures, household tips, hints, formulas and such. Here's an interesting one...
RELIEF FROM ASTHMA
Get a muskrat skin and wear it over their lungs with the fur side next to the body. It will bring certain relief. Or soak a blotting paper in saltpetre, then dry, burning at night in patient's bedroom. Another excellent recipe: Take powdered liquorice root, powdered elecampane root, powdered anise-seed, each one drachm, powdered ipecac ten grains, powdered lobelia ten grains; add sufficient amount of tar to form into pills of ordinary size. Take 3 or 4 pills on going to bed.
Need I say please don't try the above formula?
Fascinating stuff! Pity my White house cook book is falling apart.
