I speak for a lot of organizations and schools.  When snacks or food is going to be served it’s fun to have food from the period available.  There is a wonderful little book called Did They Eat That? by Virginia Mescher (Published by Nature’s Finest in 1999) that is a great resource for the history of food and food producing companies.  Below are a few ideas, guidelines and recipes that you may find helpful.

Beverages:

Lemonade – 1630

Hot chocolate – ? but early

Mott’s Apple Cider – 1842

Ginger ale – 1850

Cream soda – 1854

Iced Tea – 1860

 

Snacks in general:

Ice Cream (Strawberry) – 1744. First commercial plant 1851

Graham crackers – 1829

Jell-O – introduced in 1845. As we know it, developed in 1895

First doughnuts with a hole – 1847

*NECCO Wafers – 1847

Hot dogs (dachshund sausages) – 1852

Potato chips – 1853

Pretzels – 1861 Joseph Sturgis of Lititz, PA

Cookies – ginger, molasses, sugar. NOT chocolate chip (1930’s) or peanut butter

 

Idiot’s Delight
1c. brown sugar
1c. raisins
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. flour
cinnamon to taste
2 c. water
7 Tbsp. butter
½ c. white sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
½ c. milk
1c. flour

Boil together the first 7 ingredients. Make a batter of the second 5 ingredients. Drop the batter in a greased pan by spoonfuls. Pour first mixture over it and bake in a moderate oven until golden brown.

9” x 9” pan, 40 minutes @350 degrees

 

Sally Lunn Bread
½ c. water
½ c. milk
½ c. melted butter
3 eggs – lightly beaten
4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 package dry yeast

Make either by hand or in a bread machine (2lb. loaf) the way you would typically make bread. It’s delicious!