Category Archives: History
Recreating a Tearoom Treat
Through the mid to late 20th century, department store tearooms gave shoppers a place to relax and regroup. Originally a clever marketing ploy to keep customers in the store, the tearooms became a beloved part of the community. Many were … Continue reading
Cucumber Soup: A Summer Soother
As our garden yields a profusion of cucumbers, slices in salads quickly become monotonous. I’ve tried cutting spears for vegetable dips, tossing cubes into smoothies, and making batches of blender gazpacho. Too bad I don’t like pickles! Americans have grown … Continue reading
Vodka with Old-World Elegance
In between a one-two-three punch of snowstorms, I pulled out The Russian Tea Room: A Tasting (Clarkson Potter, 1993), a book of recipes and reminiscences from then-owner, Faith Stewart-Gordon. I never went to the Manhattan restaurant but its tea (and … Continue reading
Here We Come for Cider Wassail
Who remembers the English folk song that starts, “Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green”? That’s what I hummed when I saw the recipe for Cider Wassail in The Blue Ridge Cookbook.
Gardening in a Time of War
You won’t find too many sumptuous meals in Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy in the Civil War. You will find two women gardening to supplement their meager larder in Secrets in a House Divided, the historical novel I just … Continue reading
Egg Nog in August: Pieathlon Time!
These dog days of August make frozen custard more inviting than a pie with a custard filling, but I couldn’t resist the call from Yinzerella of Dinner is Served 1972 for competitors in the 5th annual Pieathlon.
Got Mint? Make Juleps!
When your garden is overrun with mint, it’s time to think beyond garnishes for fruit salads. I muddled my way through mojitos and decided to make another classic, the mint julep.
Yee Haw! Rice for Cowboy Day
Most Hollywood-themed histories fawn over the glamorous stars and trivia associated with the early 20th century movie industry. Recipes4Rebels packages film history in a more fun way.
Slush with a Secret Ingredient
Quaker Oats claims to be the first food brand to print a recipe on its box in 1891, but it didn’t take long for other companies to make similar use of the space on their packages. They knew a captive … Continue reading
Got Strawberries? Make Punch!
In colonial America, punch usually referred to a rum drink, served in a bowl that was imported from China if you were wealthy. The temperance movement inspired recipes for non-alcoholic punches and made the punch bowl a staple of everything … Continue reading
