Contributing Writer
In 1903, a 130-page booklet was published, called "THE HAMPTON COOK BOOK" which contained tested recipes contributed by the ladies of Hampton. These recipes were arranged and edited by the Publication Committee of the Young Peoples' Society of Christian Endeavor of the Congregational Church of Hampton and the book was published by Charles Francis Adams, founder, publisher and editor of THE HAMPTON(S) UNION.
In the preface of the book, are the following lines of poetry:
The saying's most untrue,
Hard trying and these prime receipts
Will make good cooks of you.
One such recipe submitted for inclusion in the cookbook was from the late Florence Nutter (Brown) Lamprey, formerly of 297 Winnacunnet Road in Hampton, and her recipe was for "Ladie's Fingers":
"1 cup sugar, ½ cup butter, 1 egg, 1/4 cup milk, 1 pint flour, 1 teaspoonful cream of tartar, ½ teaspoonful soda, and 1 1/4 teaspoonful vanilla. Cut in little strips, roll in sugar, and bake in a quick oven. Use your hands to roll them instead of a rolling pin."
Another recipe included in the book was contributed by the late Irene J. (Trefethen) Burnham (aunt of the late Roland W. Paige), formerly of 252 Winnacunnet Road, for "Oatmeal Bread" and it reads as follows:
"On 1 cup of rolled oats, pour 2 cups of boiling water; add a little salt and a tablespoonful of lard. Let this stand until it gets cool, then add 2/3 cup molasses, ½ yeast cake, and white flour to make stiff enough to mold. Mold as you do white bread. Let it bake longer than white bread."
The book closes with the following lines of verse:
Guard it with love and fill it with good cheer.
Donors of 1903 HAMPTON COOK BOOKs to the Tuck Memorial Museum were Mrs. Howard A. Door, Bernice E. Hendrix, both of North Hampton, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer King of Hampton. The HAMPTON COOK BOOK was reprinted during the 350th Anniversary of the founding of Hampton ion 1988 by the Hampton Historical Society.