Mrs Cook's Book of Recipes: For Mariners in Distant Seas - Hardcover

Dunmore, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1847241689 ISBN 13: 9781847241689

Publisher: Quercus Publishing, 2007

Synopsis

Stewed albatross, rat casserole, turtle soup, breadfruit and gruel: such was the fare of the 18th-century sailor as he braved the world's oceans. During her long life, Elizabeth Cook (1741-1835) had many opportunities to hear about the voyages undertaken by her famous husband Captain James Cook. She met sailors and explorers like Sir Joseph Banks and Captain Vancouver, and read about the exploits of many others. She discovered how they survived on long sea journeys and learned about the foods they consumed in distant lands. In "Mrs Cook's Book of Recipes", John Dunmore imagines how the wife of Britain's greatest mariner might have presented her repertoire of 18th-century sailors' delights. Her collection of dishes includes such delicacies as roasted goat and stewed dog, as well as favourites to welcome the mariner home: oyster loaves, jugged pigeons, fried celery and Poor Knights Pudding. And between the recipes we get to know a remarkable woman, who not only outlived her husband, but her six children too. Stewed Albatross - Remove most carefully the feathers, and skin the bird. Leave the carcass over night to soak in salt water, till morn, then parboil it and throw away the water. Then cut up and stew well with a little water, and when sufficiently tender serve up with a savoury sauce. A prune sauce does well as an accompaniment, as is commonly served with land fowl, but other savoury sauces can be served, with ground ginger or other spices that may be at hand, and a little sugar. When bread, or the sailors' biscuit, is available, it forms a pleasant accompaniment to the meal.

About this title

About the Author

John Dunmore retired as Professor of French at Massey University in 1983 after a distinguished academic career. A world authority on French navigation in the Pacific, he has written more than 20 books on the subject. He is the author of Storms and Dreams, a biography of Louis de Bougainville, and Where Fate Beckons, a biography of Jean-Francois de la Perouse. Appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001, Professor Dunmore was also made a knight of the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 1976.

From the Back Cover

Stewed Albatross
Remove most carefully the feathers, and skin the bird. Leave the carcass
overnight to soak in salt water, till morn, then parboil it and throw away
the water. Then cut up and stew well with a little water, and when
sufficiently tender serve up with a savoury sauce.
A prune sauce does well as an accompaniment, as is commonly served with
land fowl, but other savoury sauces can be served, with ground ginger or
other spices that may be at hand, and a little sugar. When bread, or the
sailors' biscuit, is available, it forms a pleasant accompaniment to the
meal.

From the Inside Flap

Stewed albatross, rat casserole, turtle soup, breadfruit and
gruel: such was the fare of the 18th-century sailor as he braved the
world's oceans. During her long life, Elizabeth Cook (1741-1835) had many
opportunities to hear about the voyages undertaken by her famous husband
Captain James Cook. She met sailors and explorers like Sir Joseph Banks and
Captain Vancouver, and read about the exploits of many others. She
discovered how they survived on long sea journeys and learned about the
foods they consumed in distant lands.
In Mrs Cook's Book of Recipes, John Dunmore imagines how the wife of
Britain's greatest mariner might have presented her repertoire of
18th-century sailors' delights. Her collection of dishes includes such
delicacies as roasted goat and stewed dog, as well as favourites to welcome
the mariner home: oyster loaves, jugged pigeons, fried celery and Poor
Knights Pudding. And between the recipes we get to know a remarkable woman,
who not only outlived her husband, but her six children too.
Mrs Cook's Book of Recipes is a quirky confection of 18th-century recipes,
social history and mariner's lore. Elegantly written as if in the manner of
the period, it will delight the consumer of popular history, as well as
anyone with a passion for ships and the sea

Edition details

• Publisher: Quercus Publishing
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1847241689
• ISBN 13: 9781847241689
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96