Аннотация

Little is known of Amelia Simmons, the author of the first American cookbook, except that she was probably a domestic worker and lacked any formal education. Some assumed that she was a New Englander based on the location of the first editions; however, later editions published around the Hudson River Valley, and the inclusion of several Dutch words in the book, reinforce that Simmons was from the Hudson Valley region. The book first appeared in 1796 to popular reception, as all cookbooks being printed and used in the United States prior to this were British, and it was reprinted and pirated for the next thirty years. Simmons presents the best methods of picking, preparing and cooking a variety of ingredients, and her recipes do not shy away from generous use of herbs and wine. This is the first cookbook known to use pearlash, the precursor to modern baking powder, and it contains the first known printed recipe for turkey with cranberries.

Аннотация

Little is known of Amelia Simmons, the author of the first American cookbook, except that she was probably a domestic worker and lacked any formal education. Some assumed that she was a New Englander based on the location of the first editions; however, later editions published around the Hudson River Valley, and the inclusion of several Dutch words in the book, reinforce the belief that Simmons was probably from the Hudson River Valley region. The book first appeared in 1796 to popular reception, as all other cookbooks being printed and used in the United States prior to this were British. Simmons presents the best methods of picking, preparing, and cooking a variety of ingredients, and her recipes do not shy away from generous use of herbs and wine. This is the first cookbook known to use pearlash, the precursor to modern baking powder, and it contains the first known printed recipe for turkey with cranberries. A classic of early American culinary literature, “American Cookery” gives a wonderful insight into the cuisine of early America.

Аннотация

Published in 1796, the Library of Congress named American Cookery as one of the “88 Books That Shaped America”.
American Cookery made the list because before it’s time, the only printed cookbooks available to American cooks were published in Britain. This was the first published in the United States by an American author.
This book is truly a trail-blazer when it comes to recipes we’ve come to know and love in Americana cooking. It contains the first known recipe for roast turkey, cornmeal Johnny Cakes, and outlined Ms. Simmons’ use of pearlash (the fine, white powder created by baking potash in a kiln) as a leavening agent in doughs. Pearlash would later lead to the development of the baking powders we use today.