Just in time for the fresh lettuce to start appearing at the Farmer’s Markets, we present you with this week’s Historic Recipe, a salad dressing by Isabella Margaret (McKinlay) Armstrong.
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 cup vinegar
- Butter
Salad Dressing:
1 egg, 1 cup sugar, 2 tbsp flour, 1 tbsp mustard, 1 cup vinegar; butter. Boil till thick, stirring well.
Isabella and her husband, Clinton Rae Armstrong, owned a farm called Clover Hill on the east half of lot 14 and west half of lot 15, concession 4 in Brooke Township. The farm was first purchased by Clinton’s father, James, in 1894, and Clinton and Isabella moved there after his death in 1916. Clover Hill Farm remained home to Clinton and Isabella until 1956, when they sold it in order to retire to Alvinston.
Family members fondly recall their time on the farm, including the huge garden, cellar full of potatoes, carrots, and apples, and delicious meals prepared in the farm’s kitchen.
One family member writes: “The kitchen was the center of activity on the farm. It was the one common place on the farm where all the members of the family came together. Someone could always be found working there.”
Isabella kept her recipes, along with entries from other family members, in a five-cent school notebook, known then as a scribbler. The recipe book has been transcribed and copies were given to all the family members so that they might continue the family traditions.
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