Making Dinner 200 Years Ago - August, 1823

Let's cook dinner using real historic recipes published over 200 years ago. An oatmeal pudding, beans, vegetables, cheeses, bread and ale were the most commonly consumed foods for those employed in manual or industrial work. Dinner used to be served between noon - 1 PM with a light snack being enjoyed before bed in place of modern day dinner. This bedtime snack was commonly just bread and milk.

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[EarlyAmerican]

Cheap & healthy...but does it taste good? Try it yourself! Make it at home and let me know what you think. You can always find the original recipes (or receipts as they used to be called) at the end of my videos. Below is a translation into modern cooking instructions.

Oatmeal Pudding, (American Domestic Cookery, 1823, New York)

2 cups of whole milk
1 cup of oatmeal, rolled oats or oat bran
1 egg, whisked
1 tsp of salt
Butter, for frying
3 tablespoons of flour

Boil your milk. Once boiling carefully pour it over the oatmeal and stir till well combined. Allow to sit overnight, or at least for 3 hours. Into this add an egg and salt. Take a pudding cloth and first dip it into scalding hot water until saturated. Remove from the water and in the center add your flour, focusing it on the center where your pudding is going to be. Over this spoon in your oatmeal pudding. Fold up the cloth and tie off. Bring a large, deep pot of water to a raging boil. Place the pudding into the boiling water and boil for 1.5 hours. Once done open up the cloth and allow to cool. Once cooled slice and fry in a skillet with a bit of butter.


It is very important that you use a real pudding cloth. Any regular cloth will not do and will leak. Pudding clothes have a fine weave. Be sure to put the pudding into boiling water. Do not bring the water up to temperature while the pudding is in it.

[bookwormaddict]

New buckets, new spoon holder...I love the improvements. Hope married life is treating you and Ron well.

[LisaG]

Love regular folks cooking and preparation! So much history is based on how wealthy ppl lived. While interesting, it was the regular ppl with their plain, everyday meals who built the country. And you bring it to life.

[hiho]

I admire you Justine, for cooking this way in such scorching weather! The thing that I always think when watching these is what an accomplished cook you are! You are constantly trying new recipes from the 1800's and that in itself, with the sometimes vague instructions is quite miraculous. Modern recipes must be child's play for you. Cooking is becoming a lost art in today's convenience foods lifestyle, so its really wonderful to see you thriving in this environment. You are bringing back an appreciation for history, as well as the culinary arts. Thank you so much for bringing appreciation and remembrance to our past in a very respectful and honoring way.

[annasnieg]

I love the feeling of calm from this video

[seasonsofphilly]

Love seeing how a meal was prepared for the working class. Nothing fancy. Just good, wholesome food.

[chrismcelligott]

I think the poor people of the 1820'S ate better than I do. It looks wonderful Justine.

[sonettealbertyn]

I live in South Africa and I enjoy both your channels very much❤

[MahoganyRaven]

As much as I love your dessert recipes, the regular folks suppers always hit different. 🥰🥰

[Grace_Robbins]

Imagine waking up as a child like this, hearing the crackling of the fire and the sounds/smells of cooking - and knowing you're in the comfort of family and home. Not to say life was easy - but it was life well-lived.

[MGAC]

Every time I watch one of these in the Summer, I am amazed at the kitchen environment where a fire was maintained...even in 100-degree heat.

I commend you. Thank you for doing these videos.

[celticmoon]

I have my great-grandmothers receipt for baked beans took her 3 days to make, from her grandmother. From ireland

[ravenred]

your channel is such a GREAT escape from reality. I love watching you and your husband....the world we live in today sux....wish there was a community where people could move to and live simple, no tech, garbage media/ community where people help each other, live quietly and at peace....similar to Amish but more like what you show. Thank you for letting us escape with you to a bygone era...many of us would love to go back and never return.

[cindysye]

I can't imagine having an indoor fire in Alabama in August. I'd be making dinner outside on a campfire.

[femalism]

Brava Justine! Cooking a full meal, indoors, over an open fire, in Missouri, in August! WOW!

[danielartgallery]

Looks so yummy supper...greetings from Bali island of Indonesia 👋😊

[JoanneStealey-dzqm]

What a way to enjoy a Sunday 😊 right after church watching u cook

[JayCee_]

I absolutely love that tri-colored mug/pitcher you poured the milk from. Really pretty!!

[BuddyH]

One of the best channels on YouTube. Love you guys

[kiyoshitakeda]

As you made the pudding I had visions of Dickens. The finish product was tempting too. Protein from the oatmeal and beans with bread plus veggies. Actually a healthy nutritious meal. Thank you enjoyed.