Roast Wallaby recipe in The book of household management (edition unknown) Mrs Beeton, Ward, Lock & Co, c1880. Sydney Living Museums R89/80
Rouse Hill recipes
Through most of the nineteenth century, Rouse Hill House was the social hub of the district.
The Rouse family regularly played host to formal society dinners, long luncheons and sociable tea parties, plus major family events to celebrate birthdays, weddings and Christmas.
The family’s surviving cookery books, in various states of repair, date between the 1850s and the 1950s. Each book is of interest in itself, but as a collection they stand testament to the social and cultural changes that this family, and indeed, Sydney itself underwent in this 100 year period. They demonstrate the gradual emergence of Australian identity from the late 1800s through food and recipes, native and localised ingredients such as kangaroo tail soup, jugged wallaby, curried bananas, rosella jam and prickly pear jelly.
Through their tattered and splattered pages we can see which dishes were popular in the Rouse household over many generations – here’s a small sample from the Rouse family cookery books collection.
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Front cover of Mrs Beeton
Front cover of The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863
Title page with inscription to Emma Rouse
Title page, with inscription to Emma Rouse by Mrs Kennerley, of The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863
Baked or Boiled Carrot Pudding
Note the Baked or Boiled Carrot Pudding recipe on this page – would you like to try making it yourself? Visit the Cook and the Curator blog to find out more!
Recipes in The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863.
Christmas plum-pudding
Christmas plum-pudding recipe in The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863.
Syllabub and Tipsy Cake
Syllabub and Tipsy Cake recipes in The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863.
To make a trifle
'To make a trifle' in The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863.
Beverages
Beverage recipes in The book of household management, 3rd edition Mrs Beeton, S O Beeton, London, 1863.
Cover, Mrs Beeton's Cookery Book c1880
Paper dust jacket cover of The book of household management (edition unknown) Mrs Beeton, Ward, Lock & Co, c1880.
Vanilla Cream and Victoria Sandwiches
Vanilla Cream and Victoria Sandwiches recipes in The book of household management (edition unknown) Mrs Beeton, Ward, Lock & Co, c1880.
Roast Wallaby and Parrot Pie
Roast Wallaby and Parrot Pie recipes in The book of household management (edition unknown) Mrs Beeton, Ward, Lock & Co, c1880.
Kangaroo Tails
'Fricasseed or Curried Kangaroo Tails' recipe in The book of household management (edition unknown) Mrs Beeton, Ward, Lock & Co, c1880.
Menus for picnics
Menus for picnics in The book of household management (edition unknown) Mrs Beeton, Ward, Lock & Co, c1880.
Cover, Australian Cookery Recipes for the People, 1894
Cover of Australian cookery: recipes for the people: as given at the Centennial Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-89 M J Pearson, Melbourne, 1894.
Murray Cod, Baked and Stuffed, Schnapper, Fried, Barracouta, to Boil
Murray Cod, Baked and Stuffed, Schnapper, Fried, Barracouta, to Boil recipes in Australian cookery: recipes for the people: as given at the Centennial Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-89 M J Pearson, Melbourne, 1894.
Baked Oysters, Oysters and Bacon and Oyster Toast
'Baked Oysters, Oysters and Bacon, a Breakfast Dish, Oyster Toast, Breakfast Dish' recipes in Australian cookery: recipes for the people: as given at the Centennial Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-89 M J Pearson, Melbourne, 1894.
Collared Eels and Fish Marinade
Collared Eels, Fish Marinade recipes, in Australian cookery: recipes for the people: as given at the Centennial Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-89 M J Pearson, Melbourne, 1894. Sydney Living Museums R89/67
Parrot Pie, Curried Wattle Birds and Roast Black Swan
Parrot Pie, Curried Wattle Birds, Roast Black Swan recipes in Australian cookery: recipes for the people: as given at the Centennial Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-89 M J Pearson, Melbourne, 1894.
Cover, Mrs Maclurcan's Cookery Book, c1900
Cover of Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
'N B Terry' inscription
'N B Terry' inscribed on the cover of Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
Kidney Soup, Mulligatawny Soup (Economical) and Australian Soup
Kidney Soup, Mulligatawny Soup (Economical), Australian Soup recipes in Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
Potato Soup. No.1 and Sheep's Head Broth (Economical)
Potato Soup. No.1, Sheep's Head Broth (Economical) recipes in Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
Roast Wild Duck, Ragout of Turkey (Wild) and Jugged Wallaby
Roast Wild Duck, Ragout of Turkey (Wild), Jugged Wallaby recipes in Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
Roast Scrub Turkey and Roast Wonga Pigeon
Roast Scrub turkey and Roast Wonga Pigeon in Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
Rosella Jam and Rosella Jelly
Rosella Jam, Rosella Jelly recipes in Mrs Maclurcan’s cookery book: a collection of practical recipes, specially suitable for Australia. Hannah Maclurcan, George Robertson & Company, Australia, c1903.
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