Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen is a culinary biography unlike any
before. The very assertion of the title--that Abraham Lincoln cooked--is
fascinating and true. It's an insight into the everyday life of one of
our nation's favorite and most esteemed presidents and a way to
experience flavors and textures of the past. Eighmey solves riddles such
as what type of barbecue could be served to thousands at political
rallies when paper plates and napkins didn't exist, and what gingerbread
recipe could have been Lincoln's childhood favorite when few families
owned cookie cutters and he could carry the cookies in his pocket.
Through Eighmey's eyes and culinary research and experiments--including
sleuthing for Lincoln's grocery bills in Springfield ledgers and turning
a backyard grill into a cast-iron stove--the foods that Lincoln enjoyed,
cooked, or served are translated into modern recipes so that authentic
meals and foods of 1820-1865 are possible for home cooks. Feel free to
pull up a chair to Lincoln's table.