AMERICAN COOKERY,

OR THE ART OF DRESSING

VIANDS, FISH, POULTRY and VEGETABLES,

AND THE BEST MODES OF MAKING

PASTES, PUFFS, PIES, TARTS, PUDDINGS,

CUSTARDS AND PRESERVES,

AND ALL KINDS OF CAKES,FROM THE IMPERIAL PLUMB TO PLAIN CAKE.

ADAPTED TO THIS COUNTRY,AND ALL GRADES OF LIFE.

By Amelia Simmons,
AN AMERICAN ORPHAN.

PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS.

HARTFORD
PRINTED BY HUDSON & GOODWIN,
FOR THE AUTHOR.

1796

PREFACE.

As this treatise is calculated for the improvement of the risinggeneration of Females in America, the Lady of fashion and fortunewill not be displeased, if many hints are suggested for the moregeneral and universal knowledge of those females in this country, whoby the loss of their parents, or other unfortunate circumstances, arereduced to the necessity of going into families in the line ofdomestics, or taking refuge with their friends or relations, and doingthose things which are really essential to the perfecting them as goodwives, and useful members of society. The orphan, tho' left to thecare of virtuous guardians, will find it essentially necessary to havean opinion and determination of her own. The world, and the fashionthereof, is so variable, that old people cannot accommodate themselvesto the various changes and fashions which daily occur; they willadhere to the fashion of their day, and will not surrender theirattachments to the good old way—while the young and the gay, bendand conform readily to the taste of the times, and fancy of the hour.By having an opinion and determination, I would not be understood tomean an obstinate perseverance in trifles, which borders onobstinacy—by no means, but only an adherence to those rules andmaxims which have flood the test of ages, and will forever establishthe female character, a virtuous character—altho' they conform tothe ruling taste of the age in cookery, dress, language, manners, &c.

It must ever remain a check upon the poor solitary orphan, that whilethose females who have parents, or brothers, or riches, to defendtheir indiscretions, that the orphan must depend solely uponcharacter. How immensely important, therefore, that every action,every word, every thought, be regulated by the strictest purity, andthat every movement meet the approbation of the good and wise.

The candor of the American Ladies is solicitously intreated by theAuthoress, as she is circumscribed in her knowledge, this being anoriginal work in this country. Should any future editions appear, shehopes to render it more valuable.

[Illustration]

DIRECTIONS for CATERING, or the procuring the best VIANDS, FISH, &c.

How to choose Flesh.

BEEF. The large stall fed ox beef is the best, it has a coarse opengrain, and oily smoothness; dent it with your finger and it willimmediately rise again; if old, it will be rough and spungy, and thedent remain.

Cow Beef is less boned, and generally more tender and juicy than theox, in America, which is used to labor.

Of almost every species of Animals, Birds and Fishes, the female isth

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