A Historical Cooking Challenge

March 30, 2020

On the last day we were in our offices at IHS before Gov. Holcomb issued a Stay At Home order for the state of Indiana in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I took the opportunity to dip into the stacks (the secure area where we keep our collections) and snap some images from a few of the cookbooks in our holdings in the event that our friends and patrons might enjoy joining me for some historical inspiration for cooking at home.

I tried to select recipes to speak to all different moods and culinary needs as well as to draw from a range of time periods. Won’t you join me on this culinary adventure? If you make one of the recipes shown here, please make sure to post it in the comments at the end of the blog or tag us (@IndianaHistory) on your favorite social media channel so we can see the results!

For those with a sweet tooth:

Oatmeal Cookies, in rhyming form:

One Egg Cake, if you are running low or trying to prevent a trip to the grocery store:

Both these recipes come from Favorite Recipes Compiled by The Ladies of the Cosmos Society of the Bradley Methodist Episcopal Church, Greenfield, Indiana, ca. 1920s

Or perhaps comfort food is what you need. Don’t worry, we’ve got that too, in the form of carbs and dairy products:

Cheese Pudding, Scalloped Cheese

From the New Harmony Cook Book of Tested Recipes, St. Stephens Episcopal Church Guild, 1927

Noodle Kugel

From the “Prize” Cookbook, Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood, Evansville, 1962

It’s five o’clock somewhere and you need a drink?

A variety of beer recipes:

From Mrs. Bradley’s Housekeepers Guide: or A new, plain and economical cookbook, containing the greatest variety of new, valuable and approved receipts ever published in one work, Cincinnati, 1853

A morning or afternoon punch for a crowd:

From the “Prize” Cookbook, Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood, Evansville, 1962

Moonshine, “A nice summer drink.”

From the Terre Haute Receipt Book, compiled by the Ladies Congregational Church containing many choice and carefully tested receipts of practical value to every housekeeper, Terre Haute, 1872

And finally, in the mood for a culinary skills and taste bud expanding adventure?

A Midwestern historical cooking challenge cannot be complete without involving some sort of mold!

From the “Prize” Cookbook, Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood, Evansville, 1962

Where will you get started? As for me, I’m really looking forward to scalloped cheese products. Happy cooking or baking, and please remember to leave a comment or tag us on your favorite social media channels @IndianaHistory with photos or videos of your creations.

Maire Gurevitz is an archivist at IHS. In her free time she can be found at the yoga studio or working on her Hoosier themed romance novel.

Share this post:

<Previous Blog Post Pandemic History Lesson: Keep Calm and Carry On — Separately, In Your Own Homes

>Next Blog Post Entertainment for the Great Indoors

Facebook Comment