I'm currently putting together our Christmas Day menus and procuring the needed foods. This morning I headed over to Fred Meyer and took advantage of the 97 cent/lb half-ham deal. So I know I have a ham I can work with for brunch and/or dinner.
While poking around on the Internet Archive site (archive.org) the other day, looking for Christmas menus from times past, I came across a gem of a cookbook from over 100 years ago, The White House Cook Book; A Comprehensive Cyclopedia of Information for the Home, by Hugo Ziemann and Mrs. F. L. Gillette. The original copyright was from 1887. The publication date from the edition on archive.org was 1913.
This cookbook was written for the general public as both a practical guide to cookery/housewifery and a source of interesting information about White House hospitality during the later 1800s. There are menus for everyday meals, holiday celebrations, and also state occasions. There’s a menu for Gen. Grant’s birthday dinner, Mrs. Cleveland’s Wedding Lunch, and a menu for a 1,000-guest buffet. On the practical side, there are suggestions for teething children, making poultices, and a cure for ringworm.
Would you like to know how to seat 50 people around the table? Here's what the layout would have looked like at a White House state dinner.
There was in fact a page of Christmas menus.
Here's the Christmas Day Breakfast Menu (found on page 500):
Oranges
Boiled Rice
Broiled Salt Mackerel
Poached Eggs à la Crème (poached eggs smothered in a warm thin white sauce)
Potato Fillets (sounds a lot like French fries, sliced into 1/4-inch sticks, fried twice, until puffed)
Feather Griddle Cakes (yeast leavened pancakes)
Wheat Bread
Coffee
How about you? Have you begun planning your holiday meals for later this month?
Hi, Lili -- Fun stuff! I love old menus and recipes. Have you ever seen the old American Heritage Cookbook with menus and recipes from past Presidents' families, traditional regional cooking, etc? My mom had a big hardbound copy when I was growing up, and I found a two volume set used years later, where the history and the recipes are separated. If you ever run across a cheap copy, I think you'd love it. The recipes are top-notch, and the historical reference is fascinating. As for holiday meals, yup, I'm planning, too. But no mackerel for us, for breakfast, for sure! (wink) Sara
ReplyDeleteHi Sara,
DeleteI haven't seen that cookbook. I'll look for a copy or see if the Internet Archive has it on file. Thank you for the suggestion!
Yeah, I don't think I could stomach mackerel in the morning!
I wonder if mackerel was common at special breakfasts or just a favorite of whoever was president at the time? We will have a simple breakfast here with my sons while opening presents, then head over to my FIL's for a big Christmas lunch. That will be a group effort. So far we are bringing ham, cranberry sauce and relish, and drinks. As others choose their dishes, we may fill in more. But one things for sure, no one will go hungry. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteIt's a curious thing about mackerel for a holiday breakfast. I'll have to look around for more information on how that came to be a thing in the White House.
Your plans for Christmas Day meals sound good. I try to keep things simpler with just a brunch and a dinner. I leave the branch foods out for the day and we snack as we like. I hope nobody goes hungry, here, either.
So interesting to read how menus have changed over the years. Personally, I'll skip the mackerel, although perhaps it would be a good technique to prevent overeating (I've gotta think the odor would be off-putting to me). As for our Christmas morning menu, our tradition is homemade cinnamon rolls and eggs (for a little protein kick with all the carbs).
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
DeleteI laughed out loud when I read your comment. Yes, the odor would be off-putting and maybe keep me from eating very much.
I'm the same way, I plan some protein to balance any starchy and sweet treats we have for breakfast/brunch. Your breakfast tradition sounds wonderful.