Bird’s Nest Pudding Recipes for Bird’s Nest Pudding, or Crow’s Nest Pudding as it was sometimes called, were popular in the late 18th century. In the fall when apples would be readily available to housewives, they would make fresh apple pie, apple sauce, apple butter, and recipes like this one. Extra apples might be stored […]
This recipe for Lemon Minced Pie comes from Maria Rundell‘s 1808 cookbook, A New System of Domestic Cookery. This recipe makes a delicious pie with a bright taste. It’s easy to make as long as you can find the rendered suet (the beef tallow from the cow’s kidney area). I purchased some online from James Townsend & Sons. […]
A local story of the Revolution contributed by Tim LaPierre It can sometimes seem like history is dominated by famous, distant figures: generals, politicians, scientists, and the like. On occasion we hear of what life was like for the average commoner. But the opportunity to learn about the lives and stories of real people from […]
It is root vegetable season in the historic Phoenix Mill House and our garden has produced an abundance of beets this year. The following are two 19th century recipes that describe ways to serve beets in ways that I doubt many of us use today. Dressed Beets from Boil two good-sized beets tender; when cold […]
Our local history museums are looking back 100 years this summer to the time when the U.S. entered World War I. At the Monadnock Center, we are featuring an exhibit, 1917: Looking Back 100 Years, which explores what life was like here and the ways our communities supported the war effort. The exhibit includes vintage […]
This past February we held an event called the Presidential Plate. The dinner featured the favorite foods of former Presidents John Adams, Frank Pierce, Teddy Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Based on that night’s menu, I’ve decided if I could travel through time and join one of these presidential families for dinner, I’d pick eating […]
This watercolor of the Davidson House is one of my favorite pieces in the Monadnock Center’s museum collection. The Monadnock Center has nine paintings by artist Charles Franklin Pierce (1844-1920) in its painting collection. Pierce was born in Sharon to John and Phila Pierce and grew up on his family’s farm in Peterborough. At the […]
Without a doubt one of the strangest foods I have ever prepared during a hearth cooking demonstration was forced cucumbers. The word “forced” implies these are stuffed cucumbers which isn’t that unusual. But it’s the technique used in preparing them that was so unique; you actually end up sewing the cucumber with a needle and […]
We have a huge photograph collection at the Monadnock Center. Having the opportunity to see so many historic photographs is one of the things I like most about my job. I thought others might enjoy seeing some of my favorites from the collection so I will be posting “Michelle’s faves” from time to time. To […]
This month’s recipe is for Cup Cake should not be confused with modern cupcakes. Cup Cake is so named for the ingredients, 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar and so on. At a recent hearth cooking demonstration in the Phoenix Mill House, we tried out a new piece of kitchen equipment that my demonstration partner […]
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