Emma Jane's Souvenir Cook Book

Williamsburg, Virginia: Blanche Elbert Moncure, 1937. First Edition. Wraps. Octavo, original green printed wrappers, [2], 87, [1] pp, portrait illustration of Emma Jane. A cookbook compiled by a white Virginia woman on behalf of her African American chef, Emma Jane Jackson. According to Rebecca Sharpless, in "Cooking in Other Women's Kitchens: Domestic Workers in the South,1865-1960", "A strong personality shines through Emma Jane's Souvenir Cook Book. Compiled by Emma Jane's boss, the cookbook uses outrageous dialect to present her recipes. But it shows Emma Jane as a person with definite tastes in food, who observes, 'It's de onion-puddin' an' next to de fresh cawn-puddin', I likes it bes' of all I makes.' Jackson consumed as well as produced these tasty dishes. Jackson's talents even extended to wine-making, as she included a recipe for wild cherry wine. No teetotaler, she praised Franklin Roosevelt for repealing Prohibition as she discussed the use of strong liquor in making desserts and eggnog." The book begins with a section of cooking advice by Jackson, written in dialect, followed by recipes (many of which are also in dialect), including Virginia Mock Turtle Soup, "To Bile Raw Hominy," "Resipee for Cukin' Kon-feel Pees," Williamsburg Fudge, and several alcoholic drinks, including the afore-mentioned Wild Cherry Wine, as well as Egg Nog, Apple Toddy, and Old Virginia Punch. There is also a section of Southern menus, plus a section printing six "War-Time Recipes" such as "Johnny Reb Corn Bread" and Confederate Popovers. A very good copy with mild staining and fading to covers, tears to spine ends, hint of foxing to a few pages. Item #14718

Price: $350.00