All Over Albany

"Hand-written Cookbooks as Documents of Social and Family History" at Mabee Farm

If you were interested in that old Schuyler Mansion wedding cake recipe -- or the 1800s Albany cake -- this sounds like someting that might stir your curiosity...

Ace food historian Peter G. Rose will be at the Mabee Farm Historic Site September 29 for a talk about handwritten family cookbooks. Blurbage:

Cookbooks and scrapbooks tell us a lot more than just how a dish is made. What recipes are included often give us an indication of the family's ethnicity and how that ethnicity was retained over generations through the continuation of customs and celebrations.

Using her knowledge of Dutch customs and food history, food historian Peter G. Rose will discuss examples of such recipe/scrap-books, dating as far back as the late 17th century and ranging to the 20th century that contain Dutch recipes. They show the continued identification with the forebears, but also the gradual assimilation. Photographs of pages in cookbooks as well as 17th-century paintings will illustrate the talk.

The audience is encouraged to bring old family cookbooks/recipe boxes -- a discussion of the importance of saving such items is part of the program.

Rose is originally from The Netherlands and has written many books about the Dutch and their influence on the food and culture of the Hudson Valley.

The talk is Thursday, September 29 at 6:30 pm. It's $5.

photo via Mabee Farm Historic Site FB