Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada

Resources

Louisa Kingsmill's Cookbook

Cookbooks were often collections of handwritten "receipts" created by homemakers. One such book was written by Louisa Kingsmill in 1845. The original is in the Fort Malden collection. Her husband was an officer of the 34^th regiment and was stationed here.

Above is a copy of the cover, index and two pages of recipes from her book. This may be copied (enlarge by 50% for 8 ½ by 11), cut along the lines and fold to make a booklet. The recipe for "Breakfast or Tea Cakes" is the basis of the "flat bread", or tea cakes made by participants during their visit to Fort Malden.
Here is the recipe, with the modern equivalent to try:

BREAKFAST OR TEA CAKES

Dissolve ½ a lb. of butter in as much milk as will make a pound and a half of flour into a paste. Roll it out ¼ of an inch thick and cut into large round cakes. Do in a frying pan. Serve them hot. They are eaten with butter.

• ¼ cup butter 1 cup flour 3-4 Tbs milk
• Cut butter into flour
• Add milk to make a soft dough
• Roll out ¼" thick and bake on a griddle

Pre and Post Visit Materials

• Reading Lists
• Detroit Campaign 1812
• Plan of Fort Amherstburg on the Military Reserve Showing the Relative position of the Barrack 1840
• Sketch of the Military Reserve at Amherstburg 1840
• Military Commission
• Louisa Kingsmill Cookbook
• Chronology of the War of 1812 on the Detroit River
• Sketch of the Military Post at Amherstburg 1804
• Speech of Tecumseh
• Military Life in the Brick Barrack
• Retreat from Fort Amherstburg and the Battle of the Thames
• The Battle of Lake Erie
• The Battle of Frenchtown (River Raisin)