I've been down for the count this past week due to a little late-winter illness running through the household. My taste buds were shot, so no exciting dishes to share. I did, however, find lots of time to curl up with a good book and time to check on a few of my favorite Web sites. I don't know if you've ever heard of a site called ManyBooks (thanks to Project Gutenberg), but they are an incredible resource for DIY/simple living/home cook/outdoors-people types, like me and you. You can download copies of ebooks from many genres, all for free. I especially recommend checking out the Instructional genre.
One of the coolest I found was a copy of Carving and Serving by Mrs. D.A. Lincoln, dated 1906. In the book she writes:
One must learn first of all to carve neatly, without scattering crumbs or
splashing gravy over the cloth or platter; also to cut straight, uniformslices. This may seem an easy matter; but do we often see pressed
beef, tongue, or even bread cut as it should be?
I know I often second-guess myself the moment before I cut into a beautiful smoked turkey or slow-cooked roast. Now, thanks to Carving and Serving, I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for my carving knife and the importance of a well-carved, properly-served main course. I hope you enjoy reading it, too!
Here's a short list of other books on ManyBooks.net you might find interesting:
- The American Practical Brewer and Tanner by Joseph Coppinger
- The Art of Making Whiskey by Anthony Boucherie
- The BYU Solar Cooker/Cooler by Steven E. Jones
- Camping For Boys by Henry William Gibson
- Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping and Trap Making by William Hamilton Gibson
- Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches by Eliza Leslie
- Fishing with a Worm by Bliss Perry
- Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit by Albert B. Farnham
- How to Cook Fish by Myrtle Reed
- How to Camp Out by John M. Gould
- How to Tie Flies by E.C. Gregg
- Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value by Harry Snyder
- Hunting with the Bow and Arrow by Saxton Pope
- Mushrooms: how to grow them by William Falconer
- Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained by M. Quinby
- On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls by Lina Beard
- The Practical Distiller by Samuel McHarry
- Practical Taxidermy by Montagu Browne
- The Production of Vinegar from Honey by Gerard W. Bancks
- Shelters, Shacks and Shanties by Dan Beard
- Things To Make by Archibald Williams
- Vegetable Dyes by Ethel M. Mairet
- Wild Ducks: How to Rear and Shoot Them by W. Coape Oates
- Woodcraft by George Washington Sears
I'm forwarding this link to a few of the men in my life - they're going to love this!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like it will be a neat site. Going to check it out... especially "Fishing with a Worm" LOL
ReplyDeleteI am excited to find your blog! I am learning to hunt this summer and going out with my uncle in the fall. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteHey thanks for sharing this. I love the "On The Trail". I'll try out the other books you suggested.
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