From The Ladies of the M.E. Church

I picked up this antique cookbook at an antique show in Paso Robles a few weeks ago.

It's the 1912-1913 addition of the church ladies cookbook.  The Grayville Cook Book.  What a little gem.  I love old books.  Especially ones that originally cost 75 cents and I talked the lady down to $10. 

I present the opening passages here for your inspiration, amusement, astonishment or perhaps for your horror.  Really I'm OK with any of the above responses.

(Click on the image for the enlarged view.)

It says (I'm not not making this up):

The old Anglo Saxon idea of the lady or the loaf giver still holds good, though conditions have changed; there is no higher avocation than being priestess of the home, looking to the health and happiness of the family.  The quotation "Whom God hath joined in matrimony, ill-cooked joints and ill cooked potatoes have very often put asunder," is very apt.

In giving this book to the public, we, the members of this committee have endeavored to assemble tried and tested recipes that would meet all the needs of the most discriminating housewife.  We desire to express our gratitude to the friends who have contributed to the success of this work by responding to promptly to our requests for recipes.

Mrs. George Mathews
Mrs. J.B. Jolly
Mrs. S.P. Ronalds
Mrs. Charles Melrose

The next page says:

"See that your kitchen fire be bright,

And your hands be neat and skilled,

For the love of man oft takes its flight

If his stomach be not well filled."

And with that, I leave you to go put supper on.