Lady Barker was a successful journalist, poet, and author. In this hugely popular 1886 work, she provides readers with a concise, yet complete guide to the fundamental principles of food preparation and household management so as to avoid waste in the preparation of food for the family. Not a recipe book per se, this volume provides readers with fundamental lessons on all aspects of food prepartion, as well as an understanding of the chemical composition of foods and their effects on the human body.