The Emily Post Cookbook

"For you inexperienced or would-be cooks who have savored beautifully prepared dished in de luxe restaurants and in the expertly appointed homes of leading hostesses, but who thought lack of skill, time, or courage to try, have not been able to enjoy these delicious dishes in your own home --this book is for you."

Emily Post

Diagram that sentence! As you know, we love Emily Post, so it no doubt that we might just have a copy of her cookbook on the shelf. In 1951, The Emily Post Institute spent five years compiling and testing recipes chosen by Mrs. Post and her son. The recipes run the gamut from Turtle Steaks to Wet Hash to Buttered Soda Crackers. Yes, buttered soda crackers are just that, buttered soda crackers but The Emily Post Institute seems to think they are the bee's knees so who am I to disagree. And there is absolutely no way (being the leading hostess that I am) that I am going to invite Emily Post over for Wet Hash.

We are ecstatic that Emily Post passes the infamous Southern cornbread test -- no a drop of sugar in her cornbread. Bravo, y'all.


The recipes in The Emily Post Cookbook are easy and quite diverse. And speaking of hash...

Guinea Hen Hash

During the war, there was a period when all the butchers in New York had to offer were some very tough guinea hens. Roasted they were practically uneatable, but they made delicious hash.
Cook 1 2 1/2 -lb. bird in the pressure cooker for 40 minutes. Remove all skin and bones -- which is easily done after that much cooking. Run meat through meat chopper, adding salt, pepper, and a little orégano.
Heat in 2 cups cream sauce in a double boiler.

Well the recipe is easy provided you have old guinea hens, a pressure cooker, a meat grinder, and a double boiler.


I am very enamored of The Emily Post Institute. There are so many "institutes" out there and they are so very stuffy, studying things like public policy and foreign affairs and wingnut political ideologies. At Lucindaville, we are thinking of starting the Lucindaville Institute dedicated to the study of cooking, entertaining, manners, gardening and other aesthetic pursuits. Sounds like an excellent tax-deductible venture! Speaking of Lucindaville, check out our post on Emily Post.