Today, December 30th, is National Bicarbonate of Soda Day.
Why recognize and celebrate such an obscure “foodie” day?
Victorian-era recipes containing saleratus, pearl ash, baking soda, baking powder (and more) can be confusing… and evoke a million questions. When were each used? Which were Victorian-era developments? Which did 19th century cooks prefer?
Were pencils common in Old West households? How early were pencils invented?
Would you be surprised to learn mechanical pencils were invented and in vogue mid-nineteenth century?
Fountain pens have made a comeback. They’re popular today–but ever wondered when they were invented? Or whether Victorians used them…or still dipped pen nibs in ink bottles? What about the fancy handwriting we see from the Victorian Era? Did you know special business schools taught students proper penmanship for business purposes? This article covers it all.
