Pound Cake in Victorian America
Today, March 4, is National Pound Cake Day ~ a perfect day to celebrate Pound Cake in Victorian America.
What is pound cake? What is it made of? Why was it a popular cake with 19th century bakers?
Pearl Ash, Potash, and the Ashery
I’ve recently covered leavening agents in Victorian Baking, including saleratus and baking soda (let’s not confuse salsoda!). But what of the “pearl ash” noted in early American cook books (1796)? Asheries were a significant part of 19th century life, as ashes (can you imagine?) were a significant export from the United States and Canada. Come see what pearl ash was, how it was made, and what an ashery was all about.
