Recipes from Colonial Times

Lifestyle in the Colonial times was different from what we do today. Food, for instance, was prepared using a cooking style quite unlike that of today. The Colonial people used the same knife that they used for cutting the wood to cut vegetables and meat. It took quite a long time for cooking, and there were no grocery shops.

Cheese and butter were made at home. People in the Colonial times loved corn. They also ate lots of vegetables and fruits. People living by the sea used to eat clams, lobsters and other seafood. They used to drink milk, beer and cider made from apples and pears. In Colonial times, recipes were known as 'receipts'.

Flavoring in Colonial baking included rose water, molasses, coconut, almonds, lemon and Caraway seeds. Spices were dried by the fire, then powdered and sifted before use. Take a look at some delightful and easy food recipes from the Colonial times, and try them out this weekend.

• Sifted flour, 1½ cup
• Eggs, 1 (whipped)
• Shortening, ½ cup
• Light brown sugar, 1 cup
• Raisins, ½ cup
• Baking soda, ½ tsp.
• Cinnamon, 1 tsp.

• Vanilla, 1 tsp.
• Salt, ½ tsp.

In a small mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Then add vanilla and beaten egg. Sift together all the dry ingredients and mix them well. Next, add raisins. Prepare small balls of the mixture. Place them on greased cookie sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes at 375°F.

• Flour, 2 cups
• Eggs, 1 (whipped)
• Shortening, 1 cup
• Brown sugar, 1 cup
• Raisins, ½ cup
• Sour cream, ½ cup
• Baking powder, 2 tsp.
• Raisins, ½ cup

• Nuts, ½ cup (chopped)
• Nutmeg, ½ tsp.
• Baking soda, 1 tsp.
• Salt, ½ tsp.

In a large bowl, mix together shortening, sugar, nutmeg, egg and salt. Then add flour, sour cream, baking powder and soda. Mix it well.

Add nuts and raisins in this mixture. Drop a spoonful of mixture onto a greased baking sheet, one at a time, and bake at 325°F for about 12-15 minutes.

• Beef, 16 oz.
• Potatoes, 2
• Tomatoes, 10
• Carrots, 6
• Peas, 1 cup
• Corn, 1 cup
• Beans, 1 cup

• Celery stalks, 5
• Water, 5 cups
• Garlic cloves, 5 (minced)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Brown the beef. In a soup pot, mix together all vegetables. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour water. Add meat and stir; reduce the heat. Allow it to simmer over low heat for about one hour.

• Flour, 1⅓ cups
• Eggs, 1 (whipped)
• Shortening, ½ cup
• Light brown sugar, 1 cup
• Apples, 1 cup (unpeeled, chopped)
• Nutmeg, ½ tsp.

• Baking soda, ½ tsp.
• Salt, ½ tsp.

In a mixing bowl, combine together shortening and sugar. Add beaten egg. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the mixture. Beat it, until mixed well. Add chopped apples to this mixture. Shape the mixture in small balls, drop these balls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake them for about 12-15 minutes at 375°F.

Try these old-age recipes, and add a vintage touch to your food menu. All the best.