Welcome to My Kitchen

In the past year my life has drastically changed.  I got pregnant, moved from Michigan to Arizona, and in October 2011 I had my daughter Kate.  Before we moved to Phoenix I worked at a little place called The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.  It was a job like no other.  It is a living history museum where we would demonstrate historic foodways and lifestyles.  Before I began working there I had never once made a pie crust.  I had never cooked on an open flame with the exception of roasting a marshmallow.  It had never crossed my mind to can or pickle anything and yet here, at the museum, it was a staple at every meal.



My Old Workspace


I loved everything about this job, from the period clothing we wore, to the meals we created from scratch, and even the cold December nights when we celebrated Christmas past.  Although I have a History degree I had never actually practiced historical living.  Now that I had it was thrilling to me how easy things can be in the kitchen (and elsewhere) and we modern people have forgotten.  I took what I learned from my museum job and applied it in my home.  I canned peaches with my grandparents.  I made my own cleaning supplies.  I use cloth diapers on my baby.  The house we lived in in Michigan was built in 1919 commissioned by Henry Ford himself.  In the summer I could open the old original windows and let the breeze blow through the kitchen.  In the winter they would fog up as I baked and old Christmas tunes played on the radio.  Now I live in Phoenix in a home that was built in the 1990s.  I look out my window and see a brick wall and a noisy street is right behind us.  It was a tough adjustment trying to make a distinct home in a cookie cutter neighborhood.  Soon enough though I trained my brain to understand that it's what's inside that counts.  I could still practice my homemaking skills no matter what year my home was built.

My New Workspace

Because of my training at The Henry Ford I had a new love for old recipes.  When we were still living in the Detroit area I had picked up a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook at the amazing John K King bookstore.  I then found another from the 1930s at an antique store in Northville.  Then another from the 1940s at a garage sale in Dearborn.  And since I have been living here in Phoenix I found yet another from the 1950s.  My collection of old recipes was growing and I loved learning the foodways of America's past.

My Peaches!

Then in an after Christmas sale I found The Great American Cookbook.  While it was a much different concept, it was similar to one of my old favorites, The Buckeye Cookery, in that it had historic recipes from all across America.  I brought the book home and read through all the stories and recipes that went along with them.  I loved the history and the recipes looked good.  I then put the book on my shelf next to all my other dusty cookbooks.  It probably wouldn't be touched for some time, and I knew it.  Deep down I did not want that to happen.  So here we are.

I hope to keep my promise and give you another wonderful recipe each week.  I must disclose that I am NOT a cook.  All I am giving you is what I am learning as I go along.  I am also NOT a photographer.  You will see images snapped from my cell phone and doctored with Instagram.  I am learning how to create an awesome blog so it may change a bit now and then, bear with me!  I am also not affiliated with the authors, publisher, or bookseller.  I don't even know if what I am doing is legal, really.  But hey, I'm sure we will know if it's not soon enough!  I do know I can give you the list of ingredients but cannot tell you exactly how to assemble them.  I really encourage you to get the book if you are interested in following along, but here's a hint: check out this title on Google Books.  Feel free to contact me with questions and I will do my best to help.  Enjoy!