• Rice waffles
• German pancakes
• Country Fried Ham with Red Eye Gravy
• Fried Catfish
• Strawberries and Cream
• Biscuits
• Egg Coffee
• Hot Chocolate

How does that sound for breakfast?  To me it sounded awesome although maybe in the 1890’s they didn’t get the memo that here in Wisconsin we eat cheese with every meal.  Anyways, it was awesome and making it all in an 1890’s kitchen made it even better.

In Prairie du Chien, Wi. There is a mansion called the Villa Louis.  It was built in the 1840’s and through the early 1900’s it was a summer home to the wealthy Dousman family.  Now the Wisconsin state historical society opens the mansion up for tours and puts on special programs like the one my mom and I attended last weekend called Breakfast in a Victorian Kitchen.

We made everything sans electricity and new appliances.  That includes dishwashers.  I thought maybe they could just throw one in the back where no one could see it to put the dishes in when everyone is done eating.  No such luck.  We used wooden spoons, old crocks, egg beaters, cast iron skillets, the works.  Mom and I were in charge of the German Pancakes.  It was a great dish with about 4 ingredients, flour, milk, eggs, and butter.  It was more of what we would consider an egg bake than a pancake.

One of the highlights of the morning for me was learning about egg coffee.  Get this and get ready for your life to change.  You can make coffee without a filter or other straining device.  I know, I know, you say it can’t be done.  It can and I drank the proof.  These people were geniuses.

Coffee made with an egg:

One egg is sufficient to clear one cup of ground coffee.  If a smaller quantity be desired, half an egg may be used, as if fresh, the remainder will keep until the next day.  Or the whole egg may be beaten with the ground coffee, and such portion of it used as needed, keeping the remainder closely covered.  To make the coffee, add one half cup of cold water to the portion of egg to be used and one third of a cup of coffee.

The Boston Cook Book, Mrs. D.A.Lincoln, 1884

So basically what that means is you can beat an egg or eggs (depending on how many cups are being made) with the coffee grounds.  Essentially, you are mixing a blob of egg and coffee grounds.  Then, put that mixture into the cold water and heat it up.  When the egg mass is cooked you remove it and you have coffee left with no grounds.  Isn’t that amazing?  The person who thought of that deserves a medal.  Sure it’s more economical to use a coffee maker but what if you are a guest at someone’s house who doesn’t have a coffee maker?  Yes, those people do exist.  Before you grab the keys to go to McDonald’s think of egg coffee.  Although, if they don’t have a coffee maker they probably don’t have coffee.  Well, let this be a lesson to you- next time, travel with your own coffee.

The Farm Wife