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Old 07-11-2003, 12:25 PM
ASmith1946
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Default Ws Historical Turkey Stuffing, Now Truffles

The first "turkey stuffing" recipe that I've found with truffles, mentions
"green truffles." Does anyone know what green truffles are?

Portion of the recipe: "...take the finest young turkey you can get...stuffed
with green truffles..and then in a sauce."
[Source: Vincent LaChapelle, "The Modern Cook." London: Nicolas Prevost, 1733.
138]

I have not found much evidence of truffles in the US in the 19th century. My
first record from the City Hotel Menu, dated February 18, 1842, for a dinner in
honor of Charles Dickens: "Roast Wild Turkies Stuffed with Truffles."

I haven't researched this much, so if anyone has data re truffles in the US,
do tell. As truufles only grow in Europe (don't they?), they would have to have
been imported into the US and therefore would have been expensive.

It seems extremely unlikely that two pounds of truffles would be used in the US
in the latter half of the 19th century. So, was there some substitute (or
adulteration) used -- perhaps a type of mushroom?

Any thoughts?

Andy Smith



Due to bad weather and a growing pollution problem, I saw black French
truffles going for about 2000 euro per kilo and white Italian truffles going
for about 6000 euro per kilo. No word yet on the current Australian truffle
harvest, as I assume it's so low as to be not worth counting, but early days
yet...

So, if 2 pounds is .9 of a kilo (very roughly), then the stuffing works out
as

BLACK TRUFFLES
US$ - $2050
UK Pound - 1250
AU$ - $3115

WHITE TRUFFLES
US$ - $6150
UK Pound - 3760
AU$ - $9340

Regards,

Kali

"Opinicus" wrote in message
...
ASmith1946 said:

I haven't tried it yet, but just in case you have an extra two pounds
of truffles, here's a great historical recipe:

8 snip!
Source: Sarah Tyson Rorer. The Philadelphia Cook Book. Philadelphia:
Arnold and Co. 1886. 191-92.


What would two pounds of truffles have cost in 1886, I wonder? Does anyone
know what they'd cost today?

--
Bob
Kanyak's Doghouse
http://kanyak.com











 

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