The American plate : a culinary history in 100 bites Libby H. O'Connell

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Connell, Libby Haight.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Food--United States--History.

Food.

Diet--United States--History.

Diet.

Cooking, American--History.

Cooking, American.

Genre:

Cookbooks.

Physical Description:

xix, 330 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks, 2014.

Language Note:

Text in English.

Summary:

Did you know that the first graham crackers were designed to reduce sexual desire? Or that Americans have tried fad diets for almost two hundred years? Why do we say things like "buck" for a dollar and "living high on the hog"? How have economics, technology, and social movements changed our tastes? Uncover these and other fascinating aspects of American food traditions in The American Plate. The History Channel's Libby H. O'Connell takes readers on a mouth-watering journey through America's culinary evolution into the vibrant array of foods we savor today. In 100 tantalizing bites, ranging from blueberries and bagels to peanut butter, hard cider, and Cracker Jack, O'Connell reveals the astonishing ways that cultures and individuals have shaped our national diet and continue to influence how we cook and eat. Peppered throughout with recipes, photos, and tidbits on dozens of foods, from the surprising origins of Hershey Bars to the strange delicacies our ancestors enjoyed, such as roast turtle and grilled beaver tail.

Contents:

The Three Sisters and so much more: American Indian foods before Columbus

Cod, beaver tail, and sassafras: Encounters and exchanges, Old World and New

Breakfast with rum and tea: From colonies to country

Roast turtles and Hangtown fry: The rise of a new nation

Hardtack and chop suey: From the Civil War to the factory (1860-1875)

Baked Alaska and barbecue: The Gilded Age, the gritty age (1870-1900)

Hot dogs, liberty gardens, and bathtub gin: The Progressive era, World War I, and Prohibition (1900-1928)

Scrambled eggs, Hershey bars, and peach cobbler: The Great Depression and World War II

Coca-Cola, iceberg lettuce, and fast food: The postwar, Cold War era

Microwave popcorn, mesclun greens, and salsa: 1969-2000

Epilogue: A few extra bites: American food today.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781492603023

1492603023

OCLC:

877368784