The Compleat American Housewife 1776

by Julianne Belote, Julianne Belote

Being a collection of the most approved recipes of the American Colonies to which is added: accounts of colonial life, remarks of those gentlemen and ladies, directions on the various Branches of Cookery, perfumery, medical cures and restoratives, menus and etiquette, observations on housewifery and marketing, and an alphabetical index to the whole.

Genres: History

183 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Amber Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an odd little book that presents information about Colonial food and cookery from the perspective of someone in that era. The manners, advice, food and preparation directions are all in period style measurements and directions.
I found this presentation sort of cute...but realistically, I'd have preferred for a more straight presentation--the author talking about how food and such was done in that era rather than attempting to present it as if it was coming directly from a Colonial cook. I'd have liked modern equivalents (how much butter is the size of a walnut??) for measurements and how to attempt some of the recipes with modern ingredients for modern tastes...the "lobster soop" sounds interesting but the oddest ingredient in it is nutmeg. The use of spices alone is something that a "here's how to do Colonial cooking" would need to address as tastes and styles for foods have changed....I get the feeling "lobster soop" was kind of like chowder, but a bit spiced (?) so a "more period" and "more modern" variations would have been great.
So...I'd have preferred the author to NOT have "dressed" his work up in the guise of a Colonial cook, talked about how things have changed, both style and flavorwise, and to present a lot more information of how to try to do Colonial recipes and foods.
Cute, but the approach doomed this to be only a novelty book. Could have been more, but interesting to read.

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you read this book, you'll be laughing too much to be fretful about CORVID-19. My octogenarian friend and I enjoy cooking together and it's been fun reading many things about the daily lives of American housewives in the late 1700's. The book was first published in 1974. Along with the recipes, not really things you'd try today, you see what daily living was like for the common folks as well as men like George Washington, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

The Glossary of Common Beverages was a help. Now we know a posset is "a beverage of hot milk, curdled as by ale, wine, &c, and spiced." Some other ingredients called for remain mysterious to us. The illustrations added to our enjoyment along with the comments about daily living and social mores of the late 1700's.

Hope Irvin Marston, author of RISING FROM THE RUBBLE: THE RESTORATION OF BOLDT CASTLE

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives the reader a brief glimpse into a woman's life in the 1700s. From the food that she prepares (there seems to be endless preparation) to table manners and medicines, a woman's job of managing her household was neverending (and dangerous).

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would love to try the "recipes" within but would feel like I would be wasting my money. Would LOVE to sample their cooking!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quaint, fun reading. I'd never attempt to follow any of the "recipts" included in the text, because, frankly, they sound pretty darn icky, lol.