A Little Cook-Book for a Little Girl

Caroline French Benton - 1905

Although this is an American cookbook, originating as a semi-literary series for Good Housekeeping, this particular copy belonged to Albertan Lilian Leversedge (1913–2001), perhaps the daughter of Anglican minister Walter Leversedge and his wife Kate Ramsey (Hills of Hope 121–27). Notably, the candy and dessert pages are well worn, while the recipe for broiled sardines is untouched. The handwritten recipe for maple fudge (containing no maple syrup, sugar, or extract) on the back page displays Leversedge’s juvenile hand, as well as the tendency for written-in recipes to be for desserts. The book includes early nods to prepared foods, including boxed gelatine and Baker’s brand chocolate, while “butter the size of a hickory nut” and “10 cents’ worth” of almonds might have meant little on the Canadian Prairies.