Traditional Recipes and Ideas for Meals

The best soups are made with a blending of many flavors. Don't be afraid of experimenting with them. Where you make one mistake you will be surprised to find the number of successful varieties you can produce.

If you like a spicy flavor, try two or three cloves, or allspice, or bay leaves. All soups are improved by a dash of onion, unless it is the white soups, or purees from chicken, veal, fish, etc. In these celery may be used.

In nothing so well as soups can a housekeeper be economical of the odds and ends of food left from meals. One of the best cooks was in the habit of saving everything, and announced one day, when her soup was especially praised, that it contained the crumbs of gingerbread from her cake box!

Creamed onions left from a dinner, or a little stewed corn or tomatoes, potatoes fried or mashed, a few baked beans- even a small dish of apple sauce- have often added to the flavor of soup. Of course, all good meat gravies, or bones from roast or fried meats, can be added to the contents of your stock kettle. A little butter is always needed in tomato soup.

Stock is regularly prepared by taking fresh meat (cracking the bones and cutting the meat into small pieces) and covering it with cold water.

Put it over the fire and simmer or boil gently until the meat is very tender. Some cooks say, allow an hour for each pound of meat. Be sure to skim carefully.

When done take out meat and strain your liquid. It will frequently jelly, and will keep in a cold place for several days, and is useful for gravies, as well as soups.

These traditional recipes in this section date back a hundred years or more and we hope that you can adapt them to your modern needs. However we also have recipes for refreshments suitable if you’re hosting a a baby shower, party, a weddding shower or a barbeque or would just like an idea for drinks for a get-together with family and friends we have a selection of beverages suitable for any occasion.
Everyday snacks for parties and special occasions. The recipes in this section range from being easy to make.