The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories

I think this book is wonderful. I understand why some may not because it is better titled a cookbook rather than a recipe book. The recipes are not in a standard recipe book format and really it is more of a book you have to actually read. However, the author did a lot of research on cooking and food from the 1800's. It is this knowledge that is so fun and enriching in this book. I LOVED in the "Little House" books and read them almost every year. These recipes have been fun. I have been trying to convince Josh to read the books. He has finished Little House in the Big Woods. We can't wait to do the Molasses-on-Snow Candy this year for the first time!!

Although a lot of these recipes would be near-impossible to make or recreate (I can't imagine cooking starlings to have a blackbird pie), the research done for this book is impeccable! I love the fusion of quotes from the "Little House" books with the history of food and eating from that era. Getting to the actual recipes is almost an afterthought - but I found a few that I have made before without thinking about it, and a few more that I want to try!

Someone returned this to the library where I work, and I thought, "I've always loved those Little House books! Maybe they'll have some good recipes I've read about as a child!" There were definitely recipes I remembered reading about when I was young. Fish, pork, molasses-on-snow candy, cracklin' bread. These and many more were part of what I loved about reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.

I especially loved that the author took the time to explain differences in the way many things were made during Laura's time vs. how we make them today. It was informative and enjoyable to read.

(Only three stars because I'm not actually making any of the recipes.)

This compilation of authentic recipes from the American frontier is far more than a cookbook. Each chapter includes lengthy descriptions of pioneer life in the late 1800s, as well as biographical information about Laura Ingalls Wilder. Excerpts and illustrations from the Little House books appear throughout. Recipes, inspired by passages in Wilder's books, have been carefully researched for historical accuracy. Those interested in the history of American cooking will find a detailed bibliography in the back of the book.

As a kid I had a paperback Scholastic book club edition of this, so I was excited to see the new edition with photographs! While the content is still all fantastic, this almost feels too fancy to cook from - I don't want to spill on the glossy photos and nice hardback cover!

I had forgotten about this until I started sorting a whole batch of clippings &etc. to organize my recipes. These recipes aren't exceptionally healthy, but they're inexpensive. More importantly, the heritage of the American frontier home kitchen is wonderfully valuable and interesting. If I liked keeping books instead of releasing them via bookcrossing.com, this is one I'd put on my shelves. Especiallly note Cambric Tea and Fried Apples & Onions.

This book gives an insight into the hard life of pioneers in our country. Though the recipes have been adjusted so modern cooks can prepare them, they still can give the reader a good glimpse of the past. The truly adventuresome could prepare these recipes over an open camping fire, using cooking implements similar to those used during the times of the LITTLE HOUSE BOOKS by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The author of this cookbook includes a lot of historical information as well as passages and explanations from the LITTLE HOUSE BOOKS.