2006-12-21 10:31:10 · 9 answers · asked by cornishpastie53 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Usually, that refers to the size of the butter. You'll also run onto things like "butter the size of an egg" and other less-than-accurate descriptions in the days before measuring was standardized
2006-12-21 10:33:59 · answer #1 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a piece of butter the size of a walnut. I suppose it depends on how old the book is. If it's really old then the people living then wouldn't have had scales to weigh amounts needed for recipes so a walnut was used so the cook could measure the butter up against it. These days it would be roughly a dessertspoon.
2006-12-21 10:52:30 · answer #2 · answered by Moira S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like one of the recipes my grandmother used! She did not measure. She would say" shortening, about the size of an egg" I figured it was about a quarter of a cup. Maybe a walnut of butter is a rounded tablespoon....or there is almond butter. Maybe it is butter with walnut flavor. Guess I should not have tried to answer this cuz I really don't know, sorry
2006-12-21 10:36:43 · answer #3 · answered by Peggy r 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This must be a very old recipe. Before measuring utensils were used, this was a common way to let the cook know just how much butter to use. Most walnuts are about the same size....I'll guess-abt 2 Tbs???
2006-12-21 10:34:31 · answer #4 · answered by Nisey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A unit of measure that indicates the butter should be about the size of a walnut. (a ball roughly the size of a walnut)
These old fasioned terms were used before the days of standard measuring spoons and the like. Pinch of salt, etc. My wife cooks like this often. Saves time and cleaning of measuring devices. Cooking is usually adjusted to taste and a list of cook book ingredients is a fine list of cooking "suggestions"!
2006-12-21 10:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by Mark in NE Indiana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lump of butter the size of a walnut - an old approximate measure
2006-12-21 10:42:56 · answer #6 · answered by PAUL H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that would mean a piece of butter about the size of the average walnut
2006-12-21 10:40:47 · answer #7 · answered by cheezy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is basically a knob of butter approximately the size of a walnut. Hope that helps. Happy xmas and beyond!
2006-12-22 02:36:30 · answer #8 · answered by zakiit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is about a tablespoon.
2006-12-21 10:34:43 · answer #9 · answered by Hamish 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋