"In no way, perhaps, is the progress of a nation in civilisation more unequivocally shown, than in the improvement which it realises in the food of the community."

THE

ENGLISH BREAD-BOOK

FOR DOMESTIC USE.

ADAPTED TO

FAMILIES OF EVERY GRADE:

CONTAINING THE

PLAINEST AND MOST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LEARNER;

PRACTICAL RECEIPTS

FOR MANY VARIETIES OF BREAD

WITH

NOTICES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ADULTERATION,

AND ITS CONSEQUENCES;

AND OF THE

IMPROVED BAKING PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS

ESTABLISHED ABROAD.

BY

ELIZA ACTON,

AUTHOR OF "MODERN COOKERY."

LONDON:

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, LONGMANS, & ROBERTS.

1857.

The right of translation is reserved.

PREFACE.

BREAD is a first necessity of life to the great mass of the English people; being in part the food of all-the chief food of many-and almost the sole food of many more. Everything, therefore, which relates to its consumption or economy is of real importance to us; and it might naturally be supposed that the art of preparing it well, wholesomely, and without waste, would be an object of peculiar household interest in families of every degree throughout the kingdom; and that a familiar and complete acquaintance with its details would be considered absolutely indispensable in the practical domestic education of all classes to whom it is likely ever to prove useful. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case; and the present volume has been written with a hope that it might attract some slight attention to