What did our ancestors eat? One of the oldest-known cookbooks in England has left historians in a stew over its obscure recipes. Her Cookery Book, written in 1742 by Mary Swanwick, includes a range of unknown dishes, such as squichanary pye and Stoughtons drops. The cookbook also includes instructions for stewed calf's head.
An anonymous Stockport man donated the book to the Derbyshire Record Office. Archivists are still trying to decipher much of its faded handwriting.
The recipe for squichanary pye requires a type of parsnip not commonly available now, spices, candied orange and lemon, and white wine.
Senior archivist Paul Stebbing said staff is now looking to find out more about Ms. Swanwick. Do you have a Swanwick family in your ancestry?
You can read more on the BBC web site at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/4445140.stm
