About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 35 mins

Shrubs
This recipe for shrub comes from a handwritten book that Martha inherited
from her first mother-in-law, Frances Parke Custis. The book was handed down through the generations, originating probably in England in the early 1600s. Martha herself held onto it for 50 years, before handing it down to her granddaughter Eleanor Parke Custis, on the occasion of Eleanor’s marriage. I do not know whether history has recorded any evidence that Martha herself created this recipe or made it for anyone, but since Martha was the most famous person to inherit the cookbook, it’s known these days as Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery. In 1981, a food historian named Karen Hess transcribed and annotated the manuscript for Columbia University Press. The Hess edition is still in print.

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Countryman Press published her project Martha Washington’s Shrub 12 Jan 18:13

Step 1
Add all ingredients to a large pot, stirring well. Let it sit for
several days, stirring every day, until the sugar dissolves.
Step 2
Strain out the lemon remains using a fine-mesh strainer lined
with cheesecloth.
Step 3
Bottle it and store it, preferably in the refrigerator.
Step 4
ORIGINAL RECIPE
Take one quart of brandy & a quart of white wine, & a quart of spring water. mix them together then slice 3 leamons, & put in with a pound of sugar. stir these very well, cover yr pot close, & let it stand 3 dayes, stiring it every day. then strayne it, & bottle it, & crush ye leamons very well inside it