A traditional recipe for patriotic Washington Cake and the history behind the recipe from culinary historian Gil Marks.
Historical American Recipes
Very Fancy Sandwiches
Chef Louise Mellor shares how to make simple, vintage fancy sandwiches for your next soiree. From wartime American Home Magazine.
The Hemingway Special
While in Havana, Cuba Ernest Hemingway was a regular at El Floridita bar. Learn how to make one of his favorite daiquiris, The Hemingway Special.
Pumpkin Pudding
Read about the history of Thanksgiving becoming an official holiday and a historical recipe for Pumpkin Pudding.
Thanksgiving Apple Pudding
Learn about the life of Sarah Josepha Hale, the Mother of Thanksgiving in America, and try her historical recipe for Apple Pudding.
Nutty Sweet Potato Casserole
Learn a recipe from World War II, when war rationing prevented cooks from using normal everyday ingredients.
Civil War Beef Stew
Learn what Union Soldiers ate during the Civil War, and try a historical recipe for Commissary Beef Stew from Captain James M. Sanderson.
Cucumber Rye Tea Sandwiches from “The Help”
Learn a traditional Southern recipe from the Oscar nominated movie The Help – Cucumber Rye Tea Sandwiches.
What Thomas Jefferson Ate – Marinated Asparagus
Historical recipe from the City Tavern Cookbook. Asparagus dressed the French way- olive oil, red wine vinegar, hard cooked egg, capers, herbs.
What Thomas Jefferson Ate – White Bean Soup
Learn a colonial recipe from Thomas Jefferson’s family at Monticello for White Bean Soup. Vegetarian, healthy, delicious historical recipe.
Abraham Lincoln Apple Bread Pudding
Apple Bread Pudding with Cream Sauce from Mary Todd Lincoln’s favorite cookbook, Miss Leslie’s Complete Cookery. Simple baked dessert.
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Molasses Cookies
A delicious old-fashioned recipe for Molasses Cookies with coconut and oatmeal from Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House book series.
Rosa Parks’ Peanut Butter Pancakes
Learn to make Rosa Parks’ Featherlite Peanut Butter Pancakes with this vintage recipe and step-by-step photos.
What Elvis Presley Ate – Sunday Meatloaf
Make Elvis Presley’s Sunday Meatloaf, a recipe from the Presley Family Cookbook, and learn about the Jewish ancestry of Elvis and his mother.
Martha Washington’s Preserved Cherries
How to preserve cherries in sugar syrup using a historical recipe from Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery. George Washington’s favorite fruit was cherries!
