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i
THE
PHILADELPHIA HOUSEWIFE,
OR,
Family Receipt Book.
BY
AUNT MARY.
PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1855.
ii
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1855,
By J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court, in and for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania.iii
PREFACE.
As the health of a family depends moreupon the quality of their food than upon anyother cause whatever, it is a public benefactionto give good advice upon this subject.That this advice may be most widely beneficial,it should have reference to the materialand the preparation of food; and in boththese respects, regard should be had to economy.The rich, who are able to provide themost choice and expensive articles of diet,frequently fail in having them prepared forthe table in an agreeable and healthful manner;and the poor, and even those in moderatecircumstances, are not only not generallywell informed as to healthful and nutritiousarticles of food, which may be purchased atmoderate expense, but when procured, theymore generally err in the healthful preparationof them, mistaking high seasoning andrich mixtures for delicious and wholesomefood. It is to aid the family in procuringivand preparing their food according to theirmeans, and with a view to elegance, taste,and health, that the authoress of this bookhas been induced to publish these receiptsand the accompanying advice and reflections.She does this at the solicitation of manyheads of families, and with the confidence ofknowledge founded on long personal experience.This is the only source of reliableknowledge on the subject of procuring andpreparing healthful food, in good taste, andwith elegance and economy.
But proper materials may be obtained forfood, and the cook may understand how toprepare them; yet she will fail if she doesnot have the kitchen furnished with properarticles for culinary purposes. Each of thesearticles should be kept in its proper place,and scrupulously clean, while every thingshould be done with exactness, and at theproper time.
The authoress has the greatest confidencethat the circulation of this book will promoteelegance and comfort in wealthy families, andeconomy and health in families of moderatemeans.9
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