Food in Colonial and Federal America

by Sandra L. Oliver

The success of the new settlements in what is now the United States depended on food. This book tells about the bounty that was here and how Europeans forged a society and culture, beginning with help from the Indians and eventually incorporating influences from African slaves. They developed regional food habits with the food they brought with them, what they found here, and what they traded for all around the globe. Their daily life is illuminated through descriptions of the typical meals, holidays, and special occasions, as well as their kitchens, cooking utensils, and cooking methods over an open hearth. Readers will also learn how they kept healthy and how their food choices reflected their spiritual beliefs.

This thorough overview endeavors to cover all the regions settled during the Colonial and Federal. It also discusses each immigrant group in turn, with attention also given to Indian and slave contributions. The content is integral for U.S. history standards in many ways, such as illuminating the settlement and adaptation of the European settlers, the European struggle for control of North America, relations between the settlers from different European countries, and changes in Native American society resulting from settlements.

Genres: Cooking

248 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2005

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for research for a history paper. I love the books from Greenwood Press, they keep the information short and sweet and make sure they only put the most important things in their books. I found some great information in this.

[Pegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted this for a research book and it's perfect. I bought a used copy - and it's even signed by the author! That was a cool discovery. This isn't a recipe book, although there are a few recipes in it, it's a book about the kinds of food available in the different regions during this timeframe, and how people of different socio-economic levels would have cooked and prepared them. Great for anyone researching these eras and writing about them for historical accuracy.

[Simone Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting, though I would rather have approached this as a reference book rather than something to tuck into on the elliptical. It's great fun to contemplate culinary feats in the days of yore though!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting subject matter though a bit repetitive in parts.