Amelia Simmons

The first cookbook written by an American was American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, An American Orphan in 1796. But who was she? Perhaps Pamela Cooley has found her! After extensive research, she presents a convincing case for Amelia Simonds/Simons (1767-1796) of Windham, Connecticut.




Pamela Cooley is giving a zoom presentation soon on her research process and findings...

Mar 15 Wed 5:30 Amelia Simmons and America’s First Cookbook 1796. Pamela Cooley. Oneida County Historical Society NY HERE or HERE

The 2016 Sophie Coe Prize (Oxford Food Symposium) judges report on a very few runners-up commented that her paper "was seen to mark an important advance in the Amelia Simmons story..."

American Cookery, or the Art of Dressing Viands, Fish,Poultry and Vegetables, and the Best Modes of Making Pastes, Puffs, Pies, Tarts, Puddings, Custards and Preserves and All Kinds of Cakes from the Imperial Plumb to Plain Cake. Adapted to This Country, and All Grades of Life by Amelia Simmons, An American Orphan.”
Published at Hartford CT and second edition at Albany NY, both in 1796.

Election Cake 2d edition, 1796
Thirty quarts of flour, 10 pound butter, 14 pound sugar, 12 pound raisins, 3 doz eggs, one pint wine, one quart brandy, 4 ounces cinnamon, 4 ounces fine colander seed, 3 ounces ground allspice; wet flour with milk to the consistence of bread over night, adding one quart yeast; the next morning work the butter and sugar together for half an hour, which will render the cake much lighter and whiter; when it has rise light work in every other ingredient except the plumbs, which work in when going into the oven.

Women cookbook authors upcoming and taped talks blog post HERE

THIS WEEK'S TALKS Deleted

CALENDAR OF VIRTUAL FOOD HISTORY TALKS HERE

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