Onion Pie Recipe, A Colonial Williamsburg Favorite From The 18th Century Recipe Converted For the 21st Century Cook

I’ve had a fascination with white soup after reading Jane Austen’s novels. She makes mention of it several times in describing dinner parties attended by her characters. Soup was usually served in …

In Emma, Mr Woodhouse reassures Miss Bates that he is offering her a tart made from fresh apples.

Celebrate life, liberty and libations at your 4th of July celebration using tips from this patriotic party, packed with loads of fun.

As I began my quest to understand the 18th century pasty, I figured the first thing I needed to do was to leave behind all of my modern notions of what they were. I needed to travel light, leaving …

Challange #1: Literature “As I looked along the yellow expanse out of which I remember its seeming to grow, like a black fungus, I saw ...

Make some Colonial Molasses Candy

Happy July 4th Weekend ! Our family and friends have arrived and now the fun begins! Wishing a safe and happy holiday weekend to ...

Red, white and blue printable - sweet land of liberty! Download and print this cute tag to add to a treat for friends or family.

I’ve mentioned in an early post that there were, for the most part, three types of pastry crusts used in 18th century cooking. This is admittedly a simplification of the goings-on of the old …

And it's easy to make!

In preparation for the Blue Grass Regency Society Picnic, I decided to try my hand at an 18th century dish. Specifically, an 18th century ...

Every year, millions of people visit Colonial Williamsburg's recreation of 18th-century Virginia for an unparalleled experience of glimpsing America's pre-revolutionary past. Williamsburg's rich cultural heritage encompasses not only its beautiful colonial architecture, exquisite gardens and period ambiance, but also the area's delicious colonial cuisine from stews and soups to puddings and pies. Several taverns still serve this historic food today, where guests can sample Cream of Peanut Soup, Apple Tansey, Parsnip Puffs, Fish Muddle, Salmagundy and other period southern dishes. Years ago, my parents took our family to Virginia and Colonial Williamsburg for a summer holiday, and they still fondly recall the Peanut Soup we enjoyed at The King's Arms Tavern. The Kings Arms Tavern - home to 'Creamy Peanut Soupe' Jane Vobe opened the King’s Arms in 1772, and the tavern quickly became one of the town’s more genteel establishments. Among the many colonial recipes she served, one was her signature Creamy Peanut Soupe. Peanuts arrived in Virginia via the slave trade. Along with black-eyed peas, yams and other crops, peanuts were intended for consumption by enslaved Africans during their passage to the New World, which they continued to use in a variety of foods, including soups. The Kings Arms still features Mrs Vobe's Peanut Soupe which is garnished with roasted peanuts and sippets. Sippets? A sippet is a small piece of toast served as a garnish. You learn something new every day. The Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Cookbook I also learned that during the Civil War, Union troops fighting in the south discovered that peanuts were a fortifying and tasty source of protein, and since then peanuts became a staple crop in the south. During the 18th century, half of Williamsburg’s population was black, and with them came their traditional recipe for peanut soup. With overwhelming interest in this and other traditional recipes of the era, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation published The Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Cookbook a few years ago. With great pleasure, I'm publishing the King’s Arms Tavern recipe from the cookbook, with hope that this brings back fond memories for my parents and others who have ever visited Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed its traditional southern cuisine. Cream of Peanut Soup Serves 10-12 Recipe courtesy of King's Arms Tavern, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 celery ribs, finely chopped 3 tbsp flour 8 cups Chicken Stock 2 cups smooth peanut butter 1 3/4 cups light cream or half-and-half 1 tsp hot pepper sauce (optional) Finely chopped salted peanuts, for garnish In a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring often, until softened, three-five minutes. Stir in flour and cook two minutes longer. Pour in the chicken stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until slightly reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes. Pour into a sieve set over a large bowl and strain, pushing hard on the solids to extract as much flavor as possible. Return the liquid to the sauce pan or pot. Whisk the peanut butter and the cream into the liquid. Warm over low heat, whisking often, for about five minutes. Do not boil. Serve warm, garnished with the chopped peanuts.

Draper Collection

Meringue Cookies work as a festive edible flag holder at your 4th of July BBQ. Here's a festive treat idea for the 4th of July, one that can stand the heat too. Have you ever made meringue cookies before? We love them. They're light and airy, a perfect treat to take outside on a hot day because it won't melt and make a big mess. Here's a tip, Trader Joe's sells a big tub of these meringue cookies for cheap, I also found them on Amazon too if you don't have a TJs where you live. So...if you're not up

Cinnamon Flop is an old-fashioned breakfast cake that deserves a new time in the limelight! A tender, moist cake is baked underneath a mountain of brown sugar streusel! It is sweet and the perfect complement to coffee.

My mother recently gave me a treasured gift-a copy of “The Williamsburg Cookbook”, published in 1971 by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. It’s chock full of recipes from the historic tourist at…

This potato leek soup recipe can be light and refined or thick and hearty. I prefer somewhere in the middle. Use amounts of vegetables to your own discretion.

Patriotic Fruit Pizza is just not for the 4th of July, it's perfect for any patriotic holiday or when you want to show off your red, white and blue!

A blog about Decorating, fashion, gardens, the beach, gardening, cooking, photography, all influenced by my Italian and Argentine roots.