Converting Old Recipes to Modern Measurements
Ever have an old recipe that you couldn’t figure out the measurements, or even the oven temperature? Over the years I kept track of all of the confusing recipe terms, and temperatures, until I had a good list so that I could interpret, and enjoy, all those wonderful recipes my Grandmother used to make.
Butter the size of an egg? Mmmm, well, OK…exactly what size egg are they talking about?! A gill…funny, I didn’t see any fish in this recipe. 2 fingers whoa…whoa…surprise, it’s not 2 fingers deep on the side of a glass, that would be wayyyy too much!
INGREDIENTS:
1 wine glass = 1/4 cup
1 jigger = 1 1/2 fluid ounce
1 gill = 1/2 cup
1 teacup = a scant 3/4 cup
1 coffee cup = a scant cup
1 tumbler = 1 cup
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 4 cups
1 peck = 2 gallons dry
1 pinch or dash = what can be picked up between thumb and first 2 fingers; less than 1/8 tsp.
1/2 pinch = what can be picked up between thumb and 1 finger
1 salt spoon = 1/4 tsp.
1 kitchen spoon = 1 tsp.
1 desert spoon = 2 tsp or 1 soup spoon
1 spoonful = 1 TBS. more or less
1 saucer = 1 (about)heaping cup
TEMPERATURES:
very slow oven = below 300F
slow oven = 300F
moderately slow oven = 325F
moderate oven = 350F
moderate hot oven = 375F
quick oven = 375-400F
hot oven = 400-425F
very hot oven = 450-475F
extremely hot oven = 500F or more
COMMON WEIGHTS:
1 penny weight = 1/20 ounce
1 drachm = 1/8 ounce
60 drops thick fluid = 1 tsp.
1 ounce = 4 1/2 TBS. allspice,cinnamon,curry,paprika or dry mustard
or 4 TBS. cloves or prepared mustard
or 3 1/2 TBS. nutmeg or pepper
or 3 TBS. Sage, cream of tarter or cornstarch
or 2 TBS salt or any liquid
1 pounds worth is:
2 cups liquid
4 cups flour
8 medium eggs with shells; 10 eggs without shells
2 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar or packed brown sugar
4 cups grated cabbage,cranberries, coffee or chopped celery
3 cups corn meal
2 cups un cooked rice
2 3/4 cups of raisiins or dried currants or cherries
BUTTER:
size of an egg = 1/4 cup-2 ounces
size of walnut = 1 TBS
size of hazelnut = 1 tsp.
joysgems 