Kristin Holt's Blog, page 2

Victorian Jelly: Blanc Mange

Blanc Mange (blancmange) was a favorite throughout the nineteenth century, in the UK and in the States. Victorians thickened this favorite gelled dessert with a wide variety of articles, old and new. Vintage recipes gathered from era cook books and newspapers, along with newspaper advertisements, show the wide range of blanc manges in Victorian dining.

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Victorian Jelly: Isinglass and Irish Moss

Victorian Jellies were all the rage throughout nineteenth-century America and Victoria's British Isles.

Through mid-century, cooks relied on various gelling agents to set up their moulded creations. Two of those articles from the sea--isinglass and Irish moss--are illustrated by means of Victorian-era recipe books and newspaper advertisements.

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Victorian Jelly: Ivory Dust

Victorian-era jellies were thickened with a variety of articles--including ivory dust.

Yes, the dust created from carving and shaping ivory into things like knife handles.

Victorian-era U.S. publications tell the story.

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Victorian Jelly: Desserts

Victorians (in every English-speaking nation) adored jellied desserts.

Vintage recipes from cookbooks and newspapers (from both sides of the Atlantic) illustrate how cooks made foods gel.

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Victorian America’s Brown Betty

Victorian America's BROWN BETTY: a teapot, and an economical dessert.

A smattering of recipes from mid- to late-nineteenth century cook books and newspapers paint an image of "brown Betty." Victorian-era economy shines in these vintage instructions.

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DIY Yeast in Victorian America

Nineteenth century breads often called for "a teacup of yeast," a huge amount compared to today's recipes. Victorian-era housekeepers (e.g. wives) made their yeast. And continued to whip up fresh batches of yeast (with a touch of the last batch as a starter) well after commercially prepared yeast waited on grocer's shelves.

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Victorian America’s Oleomargarine

Oleomargarine--a Victorian invention?

Yes! But why? And how?

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Victorian-American New Year’s Etiquette

Victorian-American newspapers illustrate the rules of etiquette governing New Year's calls. Society's expectations were made public and adherence expected. What did proper decorum require on January 1?

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Victorian-American Headaches: Part 7

Beyond prescriptions (including "Doctor's Own Patent Medicine" -- we've seen a few of those in Part 4), what could osteopathic physicians and medical doctors do to alleviate their patients' suffering from headache?

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Victorian Tobacco: Cures or Kills?

Victorian Tobacco: Cures or Kills? Victorian Tobacco: Cures or Kills? . . Did the common man in the American Old West know that his cigar habit would likely cause cancer? Or myriad ailments? Was that “awareness” of risks associated with smoking tobacco in all forms reserved for the twentieth century? This question intrigues me. On […]

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