Amelia Simmons - The Mother of American Cookbooks
Amelia Simmons wrote the first American Cookbook.
Simmons’ work brought several recipes and words to the culinary world which are still in use today.
Interestingly, we know very little about who Amelia Simmons was.
Amelia Simmons
Amelia Simmons wrote the first truly American cookbook.
That’s all we know about her.
No, seriously.
The only information available about Amelia Simmons is in the introduction to her book, American Cookery.
What we do know is that she was an orphan and, as such, took to domestic work at a young age. This is presumably where she learned her cooking skills.
It is often presumed that she was from Connecticut as her book was first published in Hartford and contains several New England style recipes. However, many of the words she used had Dutch influence which indicate she may have spent a portion of her life in the Hudson River Valley in New York.
American Cookery
Despite the difficulty of determining Amelia Simmons’ life, there is no doubt about the importance of her book.
Published in 1796, just as George Washington was ceding power to John Adams, American Cookery had a lasting legacy on the culinary experience of US citizens.
Up until this point, cookbooks used in North America had all been originally published in England.
As the first to be printed in the United States, Simmons’ text was also the first to include strictly American recipes.
Cookies, Cranberries and Pumpkin Pie
The most popular recipe that is still used today (though it went by a different name at the time) is probably pumpkin pie.
If that makes you think of Thanksgiving, you’ll be interested to know that Amelia was also the first person to recommend cooking turkey with cranberries.
But wait, there’s more…
Simmons was the first person to publish a book with the word ‘cookey.’ Although a similar word appeared in Scotland about the same time, it seems that cookie derives from the aforementioned Dutch lingo in New York.
Amelia brought this delicious treat to national attention.
Potash
American Cookery also referenced potash.
This was a particularly American way of leavening bread which would later inspire the invention of baking powder.
It is truly amazing that Amelia Simmons could have such a profound effect on the eating habits of Americans, yet her life has been all but lost to history.
Want to read about more FOUNDING MOTHERS?
Great! Check out these articles:
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Do you want a copy of American Cookery?
If so, I recommend the American Antiquarian version, if only for the excellent introduction by Melissa Clark.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below…
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