An 18th-century cookery book: acquired in 1963
In 1963 the National Library of Scotland acquiried a relatively early cookery book.
'A Large Collection of Choice Recipes for Cookrie, Pastrie. Milks, Sauces, Candying, Confectionating, and Preserving of Fruits. Flowers, etc' is dated 1722 and comes from Dumfries. Our image shows a number of suggestions for milk dishes.
However, recipe books were rarely devoted only to food. As was typical at that time, household and medical recipes have been noted on the end papers. In the best tradition of cookery books, the author indicates that these items were given by friends in London and Edinburgh over the years.
Entries range from recipes 'for worms in children', and another 'to destroy Ratts effectively', to a method of 'taking out stains from Linnen or woollen cloaths'.
The earliest 'recipe list' in the Library dates from the 14th century.