THE BOOK OF HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT; Comprising Information for the
MISTRESS, HOUSEKEEPER, COOK, KITCHEN-MAID, BUTLER, FOOTMAN, COACHMAN, VALET, UPPER AND UN-DER HOUSEMAIDS, LADY'S-MAID, MAID-OF-ALL-WORK, LAUNDRY-MAID, NURSE AND NURSEMAID, MONTHLY, WET, AND SICK NURSES, ETC. ETC.
ALSO, SANITARY, MEDICAL, & LEGAL MEMORANDA;
WITH A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, PROPERTIES, AND USES OF ALL THINGS CONNECTED WITH HOME LIFE AND COMFORT.
BY MRS. ISABELLA BEETON.
Nothing lovelier can be found
In Woman, than to study household good.--MILTON.
Published Originally By S. O. Beeton in 24 Monthly Parts 1859-1861. First Published in a Bound Edition 1861.
PREFACE.
I must frankly own, that if I had known, beforehand, that this book would have cost me the labour which it has, I should never have been courageous enough to commence it. What moved me, in the first instance, to attempt a work like this, was the discomfort and suffering which I had seen brought upon men and women by household mismanagement. I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife's badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways. Men are now so well served out of doors,--at their clubs, well-ordered taverns, and dining-houses, that in order to compete with the attractions of these places, a mistress must be thoroughly acquainted with the theory and practice of cookery, as well as be perfectly conversant with all the other arts of making and keeping a comfortable home.
In this book I have attempted to give, under the chapters devoted to cookery, an intelligible arrangement to every recipe, a list of the ingredients, a plain statement of the mode of preparing each dish, and a careful estimate of its cost, the number of people for whom it is sufficient, and the time when it is seasonable. For the matter of the recipes, I am indebted, in some measure, to many correspondents of the "Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine," who have obligingly placed at my disposal their formulas for many original preparations. A large private circle has also rendered me considerable service. A diligent study of the works of the best modern writers on cookery was also necessary to the faithful fulfilment of my task. Friends in England, Scotland, Ireland, France,
and Germany, have also very materially aided me. I have paid great attention to those recipes which come under the head of "COLD MEAT COOKERY." But in the department belonging to the Cook I have striven, too, to make my work something more than a Cookery Book, and have, therefore, on the best authority that I could obtain, given an account of the natural history of the animals and vegetables which we use as food. I have followed the animal from his birth to his appearance on the table; have described the manner of feeding him, and of slaying him, the position of his various joints, and, after giving the recipes, have described the modes of carving Meat, Poultry, and Game. Skilful artists have designed the numerous drawings which appear in this work, and which illustrate, better than any description, many important and interesting items. The coloured plates are a novelty not without value.
Besides the great portion of the book which has especial reference to the cook's department, there are chapters devoted to those of the other servants of the household, who have all, I trust, their duties clearly assigned to them.
Towards the end of the work will be found valuable chapters on the "Management of Children"----"The Doctor," the latter principally referring to accidents and emergencies, some of which are certain to occur in the experience of every one of us; and the last chapter contains "Legal Memoranda," which will be serviceable in cases of doubt as to the proper course to be adopted in the relations between Landlord and Tenant, Tax-gatherer and Tax-payer, and Tradesman and Customer.
These chapters have been contributed by gentlemen fully entitled to confidence; those on medical subjects by an experienced surgeon, and the legal matter by a solicitor.
I wish here to acknowledge the kind letters and congratulations I have received during the progress of this work, and have only
1
further to add, that I trust the result of the four years' incessant labour which I have expended will not be altogether unacceptable to some of my countrymen and countrywomen.
ISABELLA BEETON. GENERAL CONTENTS CHAP.
I.--THE MISTRESS.
2.--THE HOUSEKEEPER.
3.--ARRANGEMENT AND ECONOMY OF THE KITCHEN.
4.--INTRODUCTION TO COOKERY.
5.--GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING SOUPS.
6.--RECIPES.
7.--THE NATURAL HISTORY OF FISHES.
8.--RECIPES.
9.--SAUCES, PICKLES, GRAVIES, AND FORCEMEATS.--GENERAL REMARKS.
10.--RECIPES.
11.--VARIOUS MODES OF COOKING MEAT.
12.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON QUADRUPEDS.
13.--RECIPES.
14.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SHEEP AND LAMB.
15.--RECIPES.
16.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE COMMON HOG.
17.--RECIPES.
18.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CALF.
19.--RECIPES.
20.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS.
21.--RECIPES.
22.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON GAME.
23.--RECIPES.
24.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON VEGETABLES.
25.--RECIPES.
2
26.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON PUDDINGS AND PASTRY.
27.--RECIPES
28.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CREAMS, JELLIES, SOUFFLES, OMELETS, AND SWEET DISHES.
29--RECIPES.
30.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON PRESERVES, CONFECTIONERY, ICES, AND DESSERT DISHES.
31.--RECIPES.
32.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE, AND EGGS.
33.--RECIPES.
34.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON BREAD, BISCUITS, AND CAKES.
35.--RECIPES.
36.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON BEVERAGES.
37.--RECIPES.
38.--INVALID COOKERY.
39.--RECIPES.
40.--DINNERS AND DINING.
41.--DOMESTIC SERVANTS.
42.--THE REARING AND MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN, AND DISEASES OF INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.
43.--THE DOCTOR
44.--LEGAL MEMORANDA ANALYTICAL INDEX.
NOTE.--Where a "p" occurs before the number for reference, the page, and not the paragraph, is to be sought.
Accidents, injuries, &c. remarks on 2578
Agreements 2705-7
Alexanders 1108
Alkalis 2654
Allium, the genus 1129
Allspice 438
Almond, the 1219
Bitter 1220
Cake 1752
Cheesecakes 1219
Flowers 1316
Icing for cakes 1735
Paste, for second-course dishes 1220
Pudding, baked 1221
Puddings, small 1222
3
Puffs 1223
Soup 110
Tree 110, 1487
Uses of the Sweet 1221
Almonds, and raisins 1605