Things Mother Used to Make. Lydia Maria Gurney

In “Things Mother Used to Make”, New England homemaker Lydia Maria Gurney captures recipes that previously had been passed down orally from generation to generation over the course of almost 100 years. She makes it very clear in the author’s foreword that her book is “written very plainly, for those who have had no experience, no practice, and possibly have little judgment.” She does not fail to deliver. Recipes for everything from gorgeous pastries and pies, to how to prepare fresh lobster and roast dinners can be found here. Throw in some sound, practical advice on how to “save confusion in the home”, or how to reuse old undergarments and stockings, or even how to use onion skins to dye fabrics- and you’ve got a complete guide to old-school homemaking.