Published in New York in 1829, Modern Domestic Cookery, and Useful Receipt Book shares both helpful household managing tips and over 650 recipes that are particularly adapted to combine "economy and gentility in its receipts and directions." Author W.A. Henderson states in the preface that the intent of the book is help women have knowledge of "domestic cookery, which, [the author] must be suffered to remark, is a subject of infinitely greater importance to her than superficial requirements, whether we consider her as a daughter, wife, or mother." With this intent, Modern Domestic Cookery, and Useful Receipt Book provides practical household information such as managing family accounts, scheduling meals, carving meats, and properly setting a table, including diagrams. Henderson completes this tome of domestic information with an extensive recipe list that includes dishes such as Beef Steak Pie, Portugal Cakes, Spinach Tarts, Calf's Head, and Hare Tugged.