This facsimile of the first American-written cookbook published in the United States is not only a first in cookbook literature; but a historic document. It reveals the rich variety of food Colonial Americans enjoyed; their tastes; cooking and eating habits; even their colorful language.Author Amelia Simmons worked as a domestic in Colonial America and gathered her cookery expertise from firsthand experience. Her book points out the best ways of judging the quality of meats; poultry; fish; vegetables; etc.; and presents the best methods of preparing and cooking them. In choosing fish; poultry; and other meats; the author wisely advises; "their smell denotes their goodness." Her sound suggestions for choosing the freshest and most tender onions; potatoes; parsnips; carrots; asparagus; lettuce; cabbage; beans; and other vegetables are as timely today as they were nearly 200 years ago.Here are the first uniquely American recipes using corn meal — Indian pudding; "Johnny cake;" and Indian slapjacks — as well as the first recipes for pumpkin pudding; winter squash pudding; and for brewing spruce beer. The words "cookie" and "slaw" made their first published appearance in this book. You'll also find the first recommended use of pearlash (the forerunner of baking powder) to lighten dough; as well as recommendations for seasoning stuffing and roasting beef; mutton; veal; and lamb — even how to dress a turtle.Along with authentic recipes for colonial favorites; a Glossary includes definitions of antiquated cooking terms: pannikin; wallop; frumenty; emptins; and more. And Mary Tolford Wilson's informative Introductory Essay provides the culinary historical background needed to appreciate this important book fully.Anyone who uses and collects cookbooks will want to have The First American Cookbook. Cultural historians; Americana buffs; and gourmets will find this rare edition filled with interesting recipes and rich in early American flavor.
#653232 in Books 1996-03Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.57 x 1.10 x 6.38l; 1.39 #File Name: 0471575070288 pagesISBN13: 9780471575078Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Some great books on archeology have the flavor of a thriller-- ...By David ChaffetzSomeone should buy Professor Kolata's story and turn it into an adventure movie along the lines of "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Some great books on archeology have the flavor of a thriller-- Looking for Dilmun was one of them. This is another one.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Three StarsBy w. nathan NeubauerExcellent0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Lady Earth; Father SkyBy Joseph H. WoodsideThis highly autobiographical true to life tale of ancient history; rediscovery of lost technological mastery; with authentic descriptions of contemporary Indian people brings modern Bolivia to life. When the book begins; the author has spent almost ten years working with local Aymara Indians and other Bolivians excavating graves; drainage systems; and ruined temples of the legendary city of Tiahuanco; near Lake Titicaca. He speaks the peoples' languages and participates in their religions. During this time; he has developed many theories for the success and the almost total collapse of the imperial city during the tenth century of the Christian era The Tiwanaku: Portrait of an Andean Civilization. He fingers recurrent; long term droughts as the main reason. His analysis convinces him that the so-called raised fields; constructed like the foundations of a pyramid but with irrigation channels; were the central productive nodes of an advanced agricultural system that made the wealth of the empire possible. Now; he needs some proof. So; he decides to restore one of the nodes he thinks is in pretty good condition. Persuading; manipulating; and pressuring the Aymara families; whose land includes the ruins of a well preserved raised field; to help him required all the political skill Dr. Kolata had acquired over the years. The Aymara are subsistence farmers in a very harsh land who rely on religious worship; divination; sacrifice; and hard work to eke out a living near the huge high altitude lake. Neither Kolata nor the Indians have much idea how to manage a restored raised field because they have never seen one. The Aymara think their raised field is good only for pasture because it is so wet that the roots of their staple crops rot when planted there. They are all in for a big surprise.
