Mary Addyman (University of Warwick) This post forms part of the JVC Bake off in aid of Comic Relief. You can sponsor all our bakers efforts here. When I read about this Bake Off, I knew exactly where to head to find a recipe – my mother’s book shelf. Since starting to volunteer in the Victorian kitchen at Charlecote Park a couple of years ago, she has developed a keen interest in nineteenth century cooking, and her book collection has expanded accordingly.
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Carrot pudding, Carrot Cake: Same difference?
Beth McConnell (LJMU 3rd year student) I chose to bake a carrot cake because not only is it my specialty, but it also appears to be a quintessential Victorian bake. I managed to find the recipe from Mrs Beeton’s very own cookery book (1861), although she called it ‘Carrot Pudding’. The thought of making this cake without using any modern electrical appliances was initially very daunting! Once I got into it I found that it was worth the challenge. However,
Read moreMargaret Sim’s ‘Solid’ Vinegar Cake (1883)
Claire Furlong Flicking through Margaret Sim’s Cookery,[1] a recipe book dating from 1883, I catch sight of the Vinegar Cake and am immediately intrigued. I am more than usually fond of vinegar, but even I will admit that as a cake flavouring it’s unorthodox. One minute of googling teaches me that it’s not meant to be a flavouring; it is a raising agent and should leave behind no trace of acidity. This dispenses with my biggest concern about baking a
Read moreSally & Dex’s Gingerbread Cakes, or rather treacle thin cakes
Sally Holloway This post forms part of the JVC Bake off in aid of Comic Relief. You can sponsor all our bakers efforts here. While completing my PhD at Royal Holloway on the material culture of romantic love between c. 1730 and 1830, I discovered that gingerbread cakes were one of the most popular gifts given from a man to a woman in the early stages of courtship. This inspired me to try and recreate these tasty romantic treats for the JVC
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