A large lot of notebooks filled with handwritten recipes from 1940’s through 1950’s.  Several are in shorthand and it includes a lot of life lessons and advice.  These are from Columbus, Wisconsin, written by a Mrs. Corinne Christians.

From a large book on Christmas traditions and customs; my guess is from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. 

From Lady Barbara Fleming’s Manuscript Receipt Book (1673)

To make another kind of gingerbread

Take a quart of honey, put it into a great skillet on the fire and when it begineth to seeth, put thereto a pint of strong ale, & scum it clear, then put soo much grated bread as will make it like unto dow and put thereto halfe a pound of Liquorish, as much Aniseeds, and a quarter of a pound of ginger being finely searced with two ounces of graines, then take it out of your skillet and worke it on a table as you doo flower to dough to make it stiffe, then make it in cakes, put powder of Liquorish and Aniseeds upon your moulds so it cleave not and so lay them upon a board till they be dry, then lay them up in boxes.

Historical Notes

“Lady Fleming’s gingerbreads are very strong of spice and are extremely potent. Their original medicinal origin, to aid digestion and to ward off cold were probably foremost in her mind. In the North of England, particularly in the Lake Counties where Lady Fleming lived, a strong gingerbread tradition has survived. Since at least the early nineteenth century it has been customary to give children little gingerbreads at Rush bearing ceremonies in various Cumberland and Westmorland villages.”

I am going to start with cookies that need a bit of seasoning, or taste better after a few days.  Most of these types of cookies actually improve with age. Let them sit in airtight container for a week or so and the flavor develops. They will often last for months or a year, as long as they are in an airtight container.

I Love Springerle Molds/Cookies boards, and between my Roommate and myself, we have a large collection of them.  They take a bit of work, commitment and time to let them set, (usually overnite)  But they are worth it!

If you have ever had a German springerle, they are made with baking ammonia, also known as hartshorn. It is a type of leavening that takes a bit of getting used to, and using with caution! Do not open the oven door and inhale, it releases a gas when hot that is bad for you, but is ok once it has cooled.  Ammonium carbonate is actually the alkaline chemical leavening agent that is extensively used in the baking industry. Usually, it is used in place of baking powder and baking soda. Ammonium carbonate is usually used to add light texture and crispiness to baked goods.  If you look for that in a specialty food store or online you may find it easier to look for hartshorn than as the ammonia. Make sure it is BAKING ammonia, and not just regular ammonia!

Hartshorn – Ammonium carbonate is made by dry distillation of oil of hartshorn, which is made by the destructive distillation of male red deer horns.  (Can be used as smelling salts) Also known as Baker’s ammonia, it is still used in baking some old-world cookies such as Springerle, a favorite Holiday treat that can be kept for long periods of time without hardening and retains the intricate molded designs.  It can be used for thin, dry cookies and crackers as it releases ammonia and carbon dioxide, but not water.    

It was mainly used in the 17th and 18th centuries, before baking powder.  It can be very pungent with the smell of ammonia when baking, and thinner cookies will allow the smell to dissipate.  

As a safety concern; use with care!  The amino acids in some fruits, nuts and whole grains (asparagine) react with the ammonia released while baking to form acrylamide, which is a carcinogen.   Do Not breathe in the fumes of the baked goods using baker’s ammonia when removing from the oven!   

Substitute 1 teaspoon of baking powder for ½ teaspoon of hartshorn. 

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

https://www.ebay.com/str/ozziesattic720?_trksid=p2047675.l2563