Koch-bukh far Yidishe Froyen [Cookbook for Jewish Women], A. Blaustein. Vilnius: Matz, 1896. Yiddish. A second title page in German.
Contains 668 recipes of all kinds for Jewish women, ranging from simple recipes "for women who are not familiar with the art of cooking" to more complex ones "for experienced cooks and housewives." The lavish nature of the recipes implies that the book was targeted at an affluent clientele. Also includes detailed serving instructions.
The introduction reads, "A young woman leaves her mother's home and starts her own household. When she was younger, she was busy with studying, sewing and knitting, and she had nothing to do with the kitchen. Today she enters her kitchen and does not know where to start. Educated housewives can consult cookbooks in other languages…but those are not meant for the Jewish kitchen, which requires different preparations altogether."
[4], xviii, 216 pp. 21 cm. Very Good condition in the original gilt-decorated, cloth hardcover boards. Minor nicks to cover, stains and tears at borders of leaves.