Rhubarb, with its strikingly red stalks and large green leaves, became popular in Victorian England and by 1822 was the main ingredient in Spring Puddings. The "pie-plant" was forced by the warmth of the waste water from the boilers of the factories... in Yorkshire...
The weather is warming and the Shad are running. Actually they are swimming up the rivers to spawn. The following 14 images [click to enlarge] from the 16th and 19th centuries show the various ways to catch the shad from wiers, spears, nets on sticks and large nets.
FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000, at the National Museum of American History in DC contains Julia Child's home kitchen, a Krispy Kream donut machine, the first frozen margarita machine and more...
For April Fools Day... a variety of Fools. While most of the Fool recipes were for Gooseberry, other cooked and mashed fruits included Strawberry, Raspberry, Apple, Orange, Cherry or Rhubarb. 14 recipes from 1675 to 1908...