Though this is supposed to be a cookbook there’s so many wonderful Little House background tidbits and flavor that it reads almost like a regular book. Really added to the enjoyment and understanding of the series.

I remember making eggnog like the recipe in her while I was growing up, but we used a blender.

Fave parts: Hulled Corn, Molasses on Snow candy and Green Apple pie.

Okay where was this when I was little?

I didn’t know how much I would enjoy this book! So much food history mixed in, with an extensive bibliography. She researched so much and explained things that made Ma’s kitchen much more accessible to a modern cook. I picked the book not planning to cook out of it, and finished with the same intention. I enjoyed it as a historical reference to give context to the series.

I was not tempted to make a single recipe, but I found the book very interesting. I enjoyed learning about what people ate and how they cooked. Of particular interest is the discussion of the impact of a cookstove on the menu. It offered far more control than cooking over an open hearth. Equally interesting is the discussion of the evolution of the American home bread baking tradition. There wasn't a lot to eat out on the prairie, but Laura and her family managed to scrape by.