Transcriber's Note

The original text used both symbol and numbered footnote markers. This text maintains the distinction. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of corrections is found at the end of the text along with a list of inconsistently spelled words.

[Decorative illustration]

We may live without poetry, music, and art; We may live without conscience and live without heart; We may live without friends; we may live without books; But civilized man cannot live without _cooks_. He may live without books--what is knowledge but grieving? He may live without hope--what is hope but deceiving? He may live without love--what is passion but pining? But where is the man who can live without _dining_? OWEN MEREDITH'S "LUCILE."

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A POETICAL COOK-BOOK.

BY

[Illustration: Author's initials]

"I REQUEST you will prepare To your own taste the bill of fare; At present, if to judge I'm able, The finest works are of the table. I should prefer the cook just now To Rubens or to Gerard Dow."

PHILADELPHIA:

[Colophon]

CAXTON PRESS OF C. SHERMAN, SON & CO. 1864.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864,

BY MARIA J. MOSS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

DEDICATION.

"What's under this cover? For cookery's a secret."--MOORE.

When I wrote the following pages, some years back at Oak Lodge, as a pastime, I did not think it would be of service to my fellow-creatures, for our suffering soldiers, the sick, wounded, and needy, who have so nobly fought our country's cause, to maintain the flag of our great Republic, and to prove among Nations that a Free Republic is not a myth. With these few words I dedicate this book to the SANITARY FAIR to be held in Philadelphia, June, 1864.

March, 1864.

Through tomes of fable and of dream I sought an eligible theme; But none I found, or found them shared Already by some happier bard, Till settling on the current year I found the far-sought treasure near. A theme for poetry, you see-- A theme t' ennoble even me, In memorable forty-three.

Oh, Dick! you may talk of your writing and reading, Your logic and Greek, but there is nothing like feeding. MOORE.

Upon singing and cookery, Bobby, of course, Standing up for the latter Fine Art in full force. MOORE.

Are these the _choice dishes_ the Doctor has sent us? Heaven sends us good meats, but the Devil sends cooks. That my life, like the German, may be "Du lit a la table, de la table au lit."--MOORE.

TO THE READER.

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: A Poetical Cook-Book by Maria J. Moss
• 2: That cook to American palates is complete
• 3: Xi 2 Crowd not your table
• 4: It preserves its flavor and color
• 5: The shank bones of mutton should be saved
• 6: When the callipee and the callipash are perfectly separated
• 7: In a stewpan with a quart of water
• 8: Basting frequently with the marinade strained
• 9: A small quantity of beaten nutmeg and mace
• 10: And serve them with the fried breadcrumbs in a dish
• 11: Between beef a la Psyche and curls a la braise
• 12: Make the haggis bag perfectly clean
• 13: And about half as much of saltpetre
• 14: Make forcemeat sufficient for the head
• 15: Make a forcemeat of grated bread
• 16: The capon fat delights his dainty wife
• 17: Your rabbits fricaseed and chicken
• 18: And then roll them in breadcrumbs
• 19: And when wanted fill it with a white fricasee of chicken
• 20: A couple quarts of double ketchup
• 21: Those who are for superlative ketchup
• 22: Cranberry sauce is eaten with roast fowl
• 23: And putting them in their pods into a keg
• 24: And the potatoes will be perfectly dry and mealy
• 25: Lay the asparagus upon the toast
• 26: And pour it boiling over the mangoes
• 27: Carefully take off all the scum
• 28: Stew the pineapple in the sugar and juice till quite soft
• 29: And place it over the fried eggs
• 30: And red cherries only should be used for pies
• 31: A quarter pound loaf sugar pounded and sifted
• 32: Suet pudding was seen upon the board
• 33: And mince fifteen French rennet apples
• 34: Dip the moulds into lukewarm water
• 35: The jellied cream or custards
• 36: Knead the mixture into a stiff dough
• 37: Two tablespoonfuls of fresh brewer's yeast
• 38: Two tablespoonfuls of cinnamon
• 39: Half an ounce of ginger sifted
• 40: And cut the cracknels into such forms as you think proper
• 41: Put pounded cinnamon and nonpareil comfits
• 42: Twelve bushels of malt to the hogshead for beer
• 43: But juleps the drink of immortals became