Recipes from Colonial Times

Eager to know about cooking and foods in the Colonial times? Well, here are some easy-to-make recipes from the 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 food recipes from the Colonial times, and try them out this weekend.

Hobnails

Ingredients
1½ Cup sifted flour
1 Egg, beaten
½ Cup shortening
1 Cup light brown sugar
½ Cup raisins
½ Tsp baking soda
1 Tsp cinnamon
1 Tsp vanilla
½ Tsp salt

Preparation
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. Then, add raisins. Prepare small balls of the mixture. Place them on greased cookie sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes at 375°F.

Colonial Brown Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
2 Cups flour
1 Cup shortening
1 Cup brown sugar
½ Cup sour cream
1 Egg
2 Tsp baking powder
½-1 Cup raisins
½-1 Cup nuts, chopped
½ Tsp nutmeg
½ Tsp soda
½ Tsp salt

Preparation
In a large bowl, mix together shortening, sugar, nutmeg, egg and salt. Then add flour, sour cream, baking powder and soda. Mix it well. Then, add nuts and raisins in this mixture. Drop a spoonful of mixture, one at a time, onto a greased baking sheet, and bake at 325°F for about 12-15 minutes.

Colonial Stew

Ingredients
1 Lb beef
2 Potatoes
10 Tomatoes
6 Carrots
1 Cup of peas
1 Cup of corn
1 Cup of beans
5 Celery stalks
5 Cups water
5 Cloves garlic, minced
Pepper and salt to taste

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

Applejacks

Ingredients
1 Cup light brown sugar
1 Cup chopped, unpeeled apples
½ Cup shortening
1-1/3 Cup sifted flour
1 Egg
1 Tsp nutmeg
½ Tsp baking soda
½ Tsp salt

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

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By Reshma Jirage