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On the Menu: Thanksgiving with the Cranes

by MCHS Staff
November 24, 2024

Although no record of a Crane family Thanksgiving dinner survives, with the assistance of menus suggested by 19th-century publications, its possible to put together a holiday feast of Crane family recipes from their four surviving cookbooks in MCHS archives. Like many of us today, some of their favorite recipes were shared by their friends, family, and acquaintances.

Oyster on the Half Shell

From Demorest’s Monthly Magazine to Good Housekeeping, almost all popular magazines and cookbooks recommended starting with oysters, followed by soup, fish, roasts, entrees, vegetables, puddings, pies, desserts, and coffee. The Cranes served oysters on at least one special occasion.

Asparagus Soup
This recipe in Julia Crane’s handwriting comes from Mrs. Johnson of NYC.
Baked Haddock with Oyster Stuffing
Parker House Rolls
Created at the Parker House Hotel in Boston in the 1870s, these were some of the first soft, crustless rolls. The recipe appears to be written in Mrs. Crane’s writing.
Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing and Gravy
Mashed Potatoes    Mashed Turnips
While most of the surviving Crane family cookbooks were handwritten, this comes from Acorn Hall housekeeper Alice Bass’s 1922 copy of the Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, which was first published in 1896.
Boned Chicken
Radishes      Celery
Currant Jelly

Despite its ubiquity now, celery was a luxury item in the 19th century and would be shown off in special vases on the dinner table. From letters, we know that Augustus Crane grew both celery and radishes at the Hall.

This recipe for currant jelly comes from Mrs. Pitney of Morristown. Often paired with venison, it could also be paired with poultry.
Crackers    Cheese    Olives
Wine Jelly
This recipe for wine jelly likely came from Caroline G. Emmel of Morristown.
Plum Pudding
This plum pudding recipe is noted as Julia Crane’s.
Mince Pie   Pumpkin Pie
This mince pie recipe in Mrs. Crane’s hand came from her mother, Abigail J. Bolles of Newark.
Written in daughter Julia’s handwriting, the pie crust recipe is Mrs. Crane’s. The pumpkin recipe is attributed to Mary Dugan, who was likely the family’s cook.
Coconut Cake    Ice Cream
Oranges      Apples      Grapes
Nuts     Raisins
This coconut cake recipe came from Mr. Crane’s sister, Elsey Crane Briggs.
Coffee

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