It’s well known that the Union blockade of Southern ports during the Civil War reduced imports of luxuries and basic necessities to a virtual trickle. A considerable number of common foodstuffs were soon in short supply, including coffee and salt. Southerners had to develop creative approaches for common foods; for example, chicory became a common substitute for coffee beans (and you can still drink coffee and chicory in New Orleans as well as find it on the interest and specialty food stores).
In 1863, the only cookbook compiled and published in Confederacy during the Civil War was entitled, aptly enough, The Confederate Receipt Book. The book included more than 100 receipts (or recipes), but recipes adapted for war-time conditions for soldiers and the home front alike. The book also included recipes for homemade ink and other necessities, cures for various ailments for which traditional medicines were not available, and homemade toothpaste (it’s difficult for me to imagine brushing my teeth with charcoal, but the procedure is included).
To continue reading, please see my post today at Dancing Priest.
Some Wednesday Readings
Here’s a Letter from Thy Dear Son: Letters of a Georgia Family During the Civil War, edited by Edward Pulliam – Booknotes at Civil War Books and Authors.
The World of Aaron Renn, author of Life in the Negative World – Rod Dreher.
Ai Weiwei criticizes ‘fragile’ state of Western democracy following Sky News interview – Gareth Harris at The Art Newspaper.
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