Friday Fun: Surprise! They did have that!

[Elaine Kessinger]

This is a special Friday Fun topic to get us chatting.

What one food item or prepared dish were you most surprised to learn was available to people of the 1860s?

For me, it's "mac-n-cheese".
They had recipes called "macaroni pudding" that fall in two categories. The first was sweet with sherry and sugar. The second was savory with cheese and crumbs.

[PogueMahone]

Re: Friday Fun: Surprise! They did have that!

Tofu. For some reason, it just seemed too modern and foreign. But I've read an account of two US officers having some shipped to them from Chicago.

[Micaila]

Re: Friday Fun: Surprise! They did have that!

Chicken Curry, not only did they have it, it was ubiquitous! I find recipes for it in almost every cookbook of the period, from those geared to the upper classes to those geared to the very poor.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Friday Fun: Surprise! They did have that!

Ginger snaps! Ginger cookies, etc! Love them and with molasses to boot!