In the 18th century, more women began to publish cookbooks. Previously, writing or compiling such books was the domain professional cooks or chefs, who were men. Two of these women and their books, Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery, Made Plain and Easy and Eliza Smith’s The Compleat Housewife, or, Accomplished Gentlewoman’s Companion, ended up … Continue reading Betty Washington’s Cookbooks
colonial cooking
Lecture – Foodways in the 18th Century [Video]
On Tuesday, May 14, 2019, Park Ranger Deborah Lawton of George Washington Birthplace National Monument presented a lecture titled “Foodways in the 18th Century” that explored the new dishes and changing tastes of the time. Join us on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 for “The Social Role of Garbage in Colonial Virginia” with Dave Muraca, Director … Continue reading Lecture – Foodways in the 18th Century [Video]
Video – The Colonial Kitchen: Making Switchel
In this video, we make switchel, a summertime beverage popular in the 1700s. Its ingredients contain a lot of potassium which replenishes the body's electrolytes. Learn more about switchel and other methods used to say cool in the 18th century on this blog post.
Summer Greens from the Colonial Garden
Typically, when modern Americans think of summer barbecue food, they think of meat grilled over an open flame. While that would certainly appeal to an eighteenth century audience, it is not necessarily what they considered ‘typical’ summer fare. Large livestock like pigs and cattle were usually slaughtered and butchered in the late fall/early winter when … Continue reading Summer Greens from the Colonial Garden
Video: The Colonial Kitchen – Drinking Chocolate
In this video, we taste three different chocolate drinks from across the centuries and discover what ingredients went in them to make each taste so differently. Read about "Sweet-Toothed Colonials and Their Chocolate" here.
Thanksgiving in George Washington’s Virginia?
As thanksgiving approaches we turn our thoughts to tradition, family, and feast. Thanksgiving traditions call to mind family around a table full of food, a roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or maybe even a romanticized recreation of New England meal from the 17th century. But what is the history behind that tradition? What would people … Continue reading Thanksgiving in George Washington’s Virginia?
Video: The Colonial Kitchen – An Orange Fool
In this video, we make a rare colonial-era treat known as "An Orange Fool" recently featured in a written blog post about where colonial Americans got their fresh fruit from. You can find the blog post and the "Orange Fool" recipe here.
Where Did the Fruit Come From?
In our age of weekly farmers’ markets, drive-thru smoothie shops, and 24/7 grocery stores, it can be hard to truly understand the importance of fruit to the average colonial Virginian. They, however, would have been well aware of how rare it was and of what it meant to have it. Indeed, they were so aware … Continue reading Where Did the Fruit Come From?
Lives & Legacies 