Cook Book
Title
Cook Book
Description
This sixteen-page cookbook comes from Mayfair United Church in Saskatoon, which still exists today. It is clearly compiled by a predominantly English community: recipe donors have names such as Goodwin, Fraser, and Swift, and a number of the recipes are traditionally English, such as “Seed Loaf” made with caraway seeds; “Beefsteak Cake” made with raisins, nutmeg, and molasses; “Carrot Pudding”; and “Christmas Pudding.”
Many community cookbooks contained “recipes” for friendship or a peaceful marriage or, as in this case, “How to Cook a Husband.” In terms of food, community cookbooks tended to emphasize baking, particularly of squares and cookies, over cooking recipes, perhaps because of its social aspect. Many of these recipes also used special ingredients, such as canned pineapple, candied cherries, and coconut, that were novelty items in the first half of the twentieth century; women would have relied on one another’s experience to incorporate these new items into their cooking.
Many community cookbooks contained “recipes” for friendship or a peaceful marriage or, as in this case, “How to Cook a Husband.” In terms of food, community cookbooks tended to emphasize baking, particularly of squares and cookies, over cooking recipes, perhaps because of its social aspect. Many of these recipes also used special ingredients, such as canned pineapple, candied cherries, and coconut, that were novelty items in the first half of the twentieth century; women would have relied on one another’s experience to incorporate these new items into their cooking.
People
The Happy Hustlers of Mayfair United Church, Saskatoon
Date
1933
Files
Collection
Citation
The Happy Hustlers of Mayfair United Church, Saskatoon, “Cook Book,” Bruce Peel Special Collections Library Online Exhibits, accessed May 3, 2024, https://omeka.library.ualberta.ca/items/show/1552.