History of American Cooking - by Merril Smith (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Ideal for American history and food history students as well as general readers, this book spans 500 years of cooking in what is now the United States, supplying recipes and covering the "how" and "why" of eating.

This book examines the history and practice of cooking in what is now the United States from approximately the 15th century to the present day, covering everything from the hot-stone cooking techniques of the Nootka people of the Pacific Northwest to the influence of Crisco--a shortening product intended as a substitute for lard--upon American cooking in the 20th century. Learning how American cooking has evolved throughout the centuries provides valuable insights into life in the past and offers hints to our future.

The author describes cooking methods used throughout American history, spotlighting why particular methods were used and how they were used to produce particular dishes. The historical presentation of information will be particularly useful to high school students studying U.S. history and learning about how wartime and new technology affects life across society. General readers will enjoy learning about the topics mentioned above, as well as the in-depth discussions of such dishes as fried chicken, donuts, and Thanksgiving turkey. Numerous sample recipes are also included.

Review Quotes

"Caution: don't read this book when hungry. . . . Recommended for high school students and adults, this would be an appropriate book for school or public libraries looking to fill a collection gap in this area. Suitable for circulating collections." --Booklist

"A well-researched addition to school and academic libraries supporting humanities curricula." --Library Journal

"This is a fascinating book that not only covers the different forms and types of cooking but is also a good history book. . . . The book is full of information, has a bibliography, an extensive index, and is a fun read. At this price it is a good buy for any public library or as a gift for a cook who likes history." --ARBA

About the Author