Brooklyn New York late 1800’s through the early 1900’s

Summer Fruit Cake                     

Mrs. Brooks

1 lb. fine flour dry sifted – (?rubbed) into 6 oz. butter, then add ½ lb. pulverized sugar, ½ lb. currants, ½ chopped raisins – 3 oz. mixed chopped peel – beat 3 eggs completely with a gill of milk – stir into cake, then add ½ teaspoonful mixed spice stirred into 3 tablespoons brandy.  Beat all well together – bake in moderate oven, 2 hours. 

And another fruit cake from the same cookbook.    

1 lb. flour – After flour has been sifted, take out a cupful to mix with the fruit.

1 lb. butter

1 lb. sugar

10 eggs

2 lbs. raisins

2 lbs. currants

1 lb. citron

1 oz. cinnamon

½ oz. mace

½ oz. cloves is 1 tablespoonful

3 nutmegs

1 teacup molasses

1 wineglass brandy, more will not hurt

Bake 2 hours in slow oven.  I often put orange and lemon peel, ¼ lb. of the two mixed.

INGREDIENT REFERENCES and MEASUREMENTS

I have found several references that explains the equivalents to our modern measurements.  Just a few examples are;

Gill – Pronounced Jill; equal to a quarter of a pint; or four fluid ounces which equals ½ cup.  

Lump of (something) the size of a Turkey’s egg – equals 4 ounces

Lump of (something) the size of a chicken’s egg – equals 2 ounces.

Lump of Butter the size of a walnut – equals 1 ounce. (can also be 1 rounded tablespoon)

A Victorian measurement of a wine glassful, will not be the wine glass we think of today.  They were much smaller, about ¼ cup to ½ cup.  So, when using a recipe that askes for a wine glass full be sure to use a lot less than you would think about using from today’s size of glass.

Quite a few of these recipes call for; a coffee cupful. A teacup full, and a wineglass full. 

A coffee cupful = 1 cup.

A tea cupful = 1/3 cup, I have also found it to be ¾ cup.

A wine glassful = ¼ cup, ½ gill or 4 T.

A Tumbler = ½ pint or 1 cup

Basic measurements

The measurements may sometimes call for a “pinch” or a “dash” of something, they have never really been defined other than a pinch or a dash are both less than 1/8 of a teaspoon.  I have actually seen a measuring spoon set that has them measured out; I am sure you could find them if you really want a set.   I usually define them as; a pinch, equals what you can “pinch” between your thumb and forefinger.  A dash equals one “shake” of a container with holes in the lid, such as a salt shaker. 

Teaspoons are often listed with just a small letter “t”; also tsp. And many other versions all starting with a small t.

Tablespoons are often listed with just a capitol “T”; also Tbsp. And many other versions starting with a capitol T.

A cup is often listed as a “C” or a “c”.

An ounce is often listed as “oz.”

A pound is often listed as “lb.”, lbs. and sometimes as “#”.

3 teaspoons equal 1 Tablespoon.

4 Tablespoons equal ¼ of a cup.

5 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon equals 1/3 cup.

8 Tablespoons equal ½ cup, and 16 Tablespoons equal 1 cup.

2 Tablespoons make one fluid ounce.

1 half pint equals 1 cup.

2 cups make a pint

4 cups, or 2 pints, equal a quart.

4 quarts make a gallon.

It takes 8 quarts to make a peck and 4 pecks to make a bushel. 

4 Tablespoons or ½ a gill equal one wine glass

2 wine glasses or ½ cup equals 1 gill

2 gills equal a coffee cup full

2 coffee cups full equal 1 pint

2 pints equal 1 quart

2 Tablespoonsful liquid equals 1 ounce

1 Tablespoon of salt equals 1 ounce

16 ounces equal 1 pound, or a pint of liquid

1 rounded Tablespoon of flour equals ½ ounce

3 cupful’s of corn meal equals 1 pound

4 coffee cupful’s sifted flour equals 1 pound

1 quart unsifted flour equals 1 pound

1 pint granulated sugar equals 1 pound

2 coffee cupful powdered sugar equals 1 pound

1 pint brown sugar equals 13 ounces

2 ½ cupful’s of powdered sugar equals 1 pound

Oven temperatures are seldom given in the old books and recipes; most times the only say something like a slow oven or quick oven.  These are the equlivent to today’s oven temperatures;

A very slow oven equals 250 to 275 degrees.

A slow oven equals 300 to 325 degrees.

A moderate oven equals 350 to 375 degrees.

A hot or quick oven equals 375 to 400 degrees.

A very hot oven equals 400 to 450 degrees. 

Visit my ebay store to find some great kitchen utensils and collectables to go along with these vintage and antique recipes.

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