Period Oyster Soup

[donna]

We woke up and was 26 degrees here in our part of Florida. That is really cold for us. It a day to have soup.

This recipe for oyster soup from 1824 from Ann Maria Morris of Baltimore, Maryland.

Oyster Soup
Take two quarts of oysters, drain them with a fork from their liquor, wash them in water to free them from grit, take 2 slices of bacon cut in small pieces, some parsley, thyme and onion, strain the liquor and pour all together in your taste, when they are almost done add a lump of butter the size of an egg rolled in flour and a gill of good cream.

Another recipe for oyster soup from 1869 "Domestic Cookery" by Elizabeth Ellicott Lea. She is from Ellicott City about ten miles from Baltimore.

Strain the liquor from the oysters, and put it on to boil, with an equal quantity of water; take off the scum as it rises; put in pepper, salt, parsley, thyme and butter; stir in a thickening of flour and water; throw in the oysters, and let them scald. If you have cream, put in half a pint just before you take them up.

Stay warm.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I made Oyster Stew for New Year's Day!
I usually make Black Eyed Peas, but we just had Ham & Beans so I was all "beaned out" by then!
Thanks for the recipes!

 

[KianGaf]

I normally have oysters straight up in the shell. The only time I have tried them cooked was in NYC as a starter of Oyster Rockerfeller. I was surprised how tasty they were cooked. I must try other forms of cooked oysters.

 

[nc native]

I normally have oysters straight up in the shell. The only time I have tried them cooked was in NYC as a starter of Oyster Rockerfeller. I was surprised how tasty they were cooked. I must try other forms of cooked oysters.

Try coating them in batter and frying them lightly. I love oysters, like you, and this is my favorite way to cook them.

 

[Rhea Cole]

You wouldn't think so, but during Hood's "siege" of Nashville December 1864, oysters were on the menu.

It wasn't just S. G. Wood & Co. that were offering Oysters by the barrel. On the bills of fare of Nashville restaurants were not only oysters, there was salmon.

It did not specify oyster stew on the menu, but the potatoes & onions would be a step in the right direction.

During those short days & encrusted with an inch of clear ice, what must Hood's men have made of the ads for oysters in the Daily Union Banner that came across the line? Unlimited oysters & legal prostitution… just saying… no wonder Hood's army was melting away nightly.

Note:

No oysters were involved, but the large ads for the Grand Opening of an ice cream & soda shop must have must have must have vexed Hood's starving men to the bone.