The Settlement Cook

Back-to-basics book, filled with hundreds of hearty, simple recipes -- everything from griddle cakes, shrimp Creole and mulligatawny soup to cheese fondue, oyster a la poulette, and a variety of ethnic dishes.

"The New Settlement Cookbook" updates the "heirloom" recipes used by our mothers and grandmothers since the original was first published in 1901. New recipes reflecting contemporary American tastes have been added to the traditional ones to make this book every cook's kitchen bible. Dozens of basic cooking techniques are explained and illustrated. Recipe variations follow with suggestions to make the cooking process quicker and easier using the microwave, food processor and other modern kitchen equipment.

Published in 1903, this was the original "way to a manis heart," featuring authentic American recipes, European cooking, and Jewish favorites. It was put together by the cooking students at the Milwaukee Settlement House and was an important staple of the American kitchen for more than fifty years.

"In this stunningly illustrated book, Camellia Panjabi takes the reader on a journey through the sights, smells, and tastes of the centerpiece of the Indian meal, the curry." -- inside cover.

Imparting all the warmth and fragrance of an old-fashioned, turn-of-the-century kitchen, The Settlement Cook Book was originally devised as a cooking and homemaking primer for newly arrived immigrants. Filled with hundreds of recipes for good eating, this back-to-basics book is also good reading. A blend of hardy, old-fashioned dishes and simple recipes that will fit today's demanding lifestyles, the text covers everything from making roast chicken (with chestnut dressing) to the best way to dust a room. Clearly detailed, easy-to-read directions tell how to create such tasty fare as griddle cakes, shrimp Creole, and mulligatawny soup; cheese fondue, oyster a la poulette, and other Continental specialties; as well as ethnic foods such as gefilte fish and matzo ball soup. Sections on preserving, canning, and pickling are interspersed with quaint "lessons" on how to sterilize milk, build a fire, and discern fresh eggs from stale ones. A delightful culinary education from the days before convection ovens and "dream kitchens," The Settlement Cook Book is a treasury of Americana, a delightful sampling of cultural history that will enchant lovers of old cookbooks and well-prepared foods.

"This book is dedicated to YOU, a busy homemaker who gladly prepares three meals a day for your family, and who delights in doing it" on dedication page.