John van Willigen Kentucky's Cookbook Heritage

Annotation

A Southern historian combs through Kentucky cookbooks from the mid-nineteenth century through the twentieth to reveal a fascinating cultural narrative. In Kentuckys Cookbook Heritage, John van Willigen explores the Bluegrass States cultural and culinary history, through the rich material found in regional cookbooks. He begins in 1839, with Lettice Bryans The Kentucky Housewife, which includes pre-Civil War recipes intended for use by a household staff instead of an individual cook, along with instructions for serving the family. Van Willigen also shares the story of the original Aunt Jemimathe advertising persona of Nancy Green, born in Montgomery County, Kentuckywho was one of many African American voices in Kentucky culinary history.Kentuckys Cookbook Heritage is a journey through the history of the commonwealth, showcasing the shifting attitudes and innovations of the times. Analyzing the historical importance of a wide range of publications, from the nonprofit and charity cookbooks that flourished at the end of the twentieth century to the contemporary cookbook that emphasizes local ingredients, van Willigen provides a valuable perspective on the states social history.