An interesting e-book
On my KINDLE recently, I downloaded an interesting & FREE book. It was written in 1878 by Juliet Corson. It’s entitled: Twenty-Five Cent Dinners For Families of Six. Interesting! Here are some of her comments, she starts off with this:
TO ECONOMICAL HOUSEWIVES: The wide publicity which the press in different sections of the country has given to my offer to show workingpeople earning a dollar and a half, or less, per day, how to get a good dinner for fifteen cents, has brought me a great many letters from those who earn more, and can consequently afford a more extended diet. (spelling and punctuation as written) Interesting again!!
Here are some one-liners:
The cheapest kinds of foods are sometimes the most wholesome and strengthening…
Good food, properly cooked, gives us good blood, sound bones, healthy brains, strong nerves, and firm flesh, to say nothing of good tempers and kind hearts.
No hungry man will spend money for what he knows will not satisfy his appetite, and a natural appetite can always be trusted.
I wish to call your attention to the following important fact. The hardy and thrifty working classes of France, the country where the most rigid economy in regard to food is practised (as spelled), never use tea or coffee for breakfast, and seldom use milk. Their food and drink is BROTH. Not the broth from fresh meat, for they do not often eat that; but that which is made from vegetables and perhaps a bit of bacon or salt pork.
In order to be healthy we must eat some fresh vegetables; they are cheap and nourishing, especially onions and cabbages.
Homemade bread is healthier, satisfies hunger better and is cheaper that bakers’ bread. Make bread yourself if you possibly can.
A good allowance of bread each day is as follows; for a man 2 pounds, costing six cents; for boys and women one pound and a half, costing five cents; for children a pound each, costing three cents.
Anyway… I could go on and on.. it’s a great book and I really want to try some of the recipes.
Anita says:
those are hilarious. i love the bread allowance
Jesseka says:
interesting that the veggies mentioned are onions and cabbage. Those have very little nutrition! The French had it right with the veggie broth.
Linda Klimas Burns says:
Love reading your blogs. Recipes are fantabulous and very creative. Love the frugality type of lifestyle. I have a couple cookbooks that I obtained from somewhere, not sure, might even have been a gift from your mom, for $1 each on sale during the early 80′s that emphasize frugality and are called: “A Collection of Common Sense Cooking” and “Homemaker To Moneymaker the Easy Way”, both written and compiled by Ruth McDaniel. If you can find them, they are worth the time to read and use especially the second one. Some of the chapter headings are “Tired of high food costs?” and “How to save money on food you eat everyday” “Miracle mixes” and “Potpouri of money saving ideaa and homemaker’s secrets.” I tweek the recipes to suit our family tastes. Bon Apetit!
Linda Klimas Burns says:
Downloaded the cookbook at your recommendation. What a great read! And bonus, it’s free! Great job ladies!
pearsonsprogress says:
Thanks Linda!
pearsonsprogress says:
Keep up the good work!! I’m a goal-setter and being frugal helps me attain them!
pearsonsprogress says:
Yeah… of course I guess they all worked more physically than we do today.