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| White House Cook Book from 1929 the start of the Great Depression |
At the beginning of 1929 my Grandmother Grace was working at the Lincoln Electric Company as a secretary after completing her education at Peru State College. Being single and earning a good income she felt she could afford herself the luxury of adding some silver to her hope chest.
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| Ad for Loftis Bros. & Co. |
While on a shopping spree to Omaha with some girlfriends, she purchased a chest of silver from the Loftis Bros.& Co. at a jewelry store and received this White House cook book as a gift. It was passed to me while clearing out my parents house.
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| Handsome First Lady Lou Henry (click to enlarge) |
From what I can find, the very first White House cookbook was published in 1887 becoming a pet project for the first lady. The tradition has remained to this day, although I was a bit dismayed to find that Michelle Obama’s version of the cookbook can be downloaded in PDF format. Anyway……Fulfilling her duty as first lady, Lou Henry Hoover worked with her publisher at the Saalfield Publishing Company to create her edition. This 605 page book contains a wealth of information including chapters covering biscuits and bread, cakes and cookies, canning, eggs, icings, health suggestions, cures for illness, measures and weights, sauces, menu ideas, toilet recipes and ideas, as well as the management of a state dinner at the White House. Many of the recipes are adjusted to serve from 2 to 1,000 people.
I especially enjoy the Prize Recipe for curing hams and bacon that begins, “For each hundred pounds….”
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As Lou Henry describes, “Without exception, the finest puff paste I have ever seen.”
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Proper seating and etiquette for state occasions, something we all should know.
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Page 512 offers menu suggestions for 12, 24, or 1000 covers.
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Page 530 describes cures for Growing Pains and Diphtheria.
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If you happen to stumble across one of these rare cookbooks, take a moment to look through it. I think you will find it to be a very interesting slice of American history.
Happy Presidents Day
