Comprised chiefly of culinary recipes from the middle Atlantic region of the United States with recipes for rock fish, shad, sturgeon, crabs, and oysters, as well as recipes for preparing wild ducks, meats, pickles, preserves, cakes and biscuits, keeklings, puddings, floating island, small beer, and cider wine. Of particular interest is a detailed recipe for making portable soup and "Philadelphia receipt for cream cheese." Section near the end has recipes for dyes and dyeing using natural materials. Recipes are attributed to Mrs. Armistead, Mrs. Heath, Mrs. Pollard, Mrs. Turberville, Mrs. Taliaferro, Mrs. Grimwell, Cousin Nelly Alexander and others.
Written in several hands in ink.; Dates 1838 and 1843 on last 3 leaves of volume, most recipes are probably earlier in date.; Place name Mount Airy occurs in several recipes.; Burn mark on lower outside edge affects the text in only a few places.; Pagination: ii ff. [index], pp. 19-210, iv ff. [index and a few recipes], in ink in contemporary hand.; Binding: Contemporary half leather with boards, missing front cover.; First leaf detached, edges brittle.; Pages 155-210 are detached and were added and sewn into the binding, a similar section may be missing at the front.; Note laid in volume: "If you dont hear from me, return this book to my sister in law Miss Mary C. Mason, 2212 N. Calvert St. Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Mary B. Mason."
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