Better Homes and Gardens Heritage Cook Book

"When people move, they take their favorite recipes with them. Some are written -- some are not, but the recipes are an important memory of home. History books say a great deal about clearing land, building cities, or fighting battles, but very little about what was on the dinner table while these events occurred. This is a different kind of history book -- it is a working cook book with the emphasis on the people who settled this country and what they ate. Historical details help you keep track of what was happening. Every family, whether colonist, pioneer, or immigrant, hoped to cook in the new home just as they always had. Things seldom worked out that way. Food was either more scarce, more abundant, or just different from what they were used to. Coping meant trying new foods, changing recipes, and generally adjusting to a new way of life. They liked the results; we believe you will to. The recipes come from old manuscripts, travelers' accounts, ethnic celebrations, early cook books, and family hand-me-downs. They have been tested with today's ingredients and equipment keeping as close to the original as possible. To add to your enjoyment, the margins contain bits of information about how or when the food was used, why a particular ingredient was important, or an anecdote about the recipe. And this book is more than just a collection of seven hundred recipes; for we have included five small chapters that trace the history of the American kitchen from colonial times right up to the present. You'll find out how food was preserved in the early days and follow the development of cook books in America."--