In the late 19th century, a popular joke in the Russian Empire went: "If twenty guests suddenly arrive, don't worry. Go down to the cellar and take some drumsticks..." This phrase aptly reflected the culinary advice from Elena Ivanovna Molokhovets's book "A Gift to Young Housewives, or A Means to Reduce Household Expenses." Although this specific phrase was not in the book, it accurately conveyed the essence of the collection.

Elena Molokhovets was born in May 1831 into a noble family, graduated from the Smolny Institute, married architect Franz Molokhovets, and moved with him to Kursk. It is said that her culinary endeavors were prompted by early failures in her family life. In the preface, Elena Ivanovna promised to teach young women how to cook quickly and manage their households successfully.

The main focus of the book was on recipes. The first collection included 1500 recipes for dishes, including "quick meals," primarily salads: Russian, Italian, and French. All dishes could be prepared from readily available ingredients, without rare delicacies. Molokhovets also provided tips on serving and storing food, such as how to properly eat ice cream or store cheese.

The book attracted attention due to its diverse menu, suitable for meat-eaters, those fasting, and vegetarians. The commercial success of the collection exceeded all expectations: it was reprinted 29 times, with a total circulation of about 300,000 copies. In 1918, "A Gift to Young Housewives" was deemed bourgeois, partly due to lines like: "When this meat with bones is boiled, remove it, chop it up, and use it for filling for pies, loaves served with soup, for forshmak, or give it to the servants."