Description
Book SynopsisIn the rural America of the past, a woman's reputation was sometimes made by her cherry pie - of her chocolate layer cake, or her biscuits. As America modernized and women left the home to enter the paid labour force, mastery of cooking remained a sign that a woman took her gendered responsibilities seriously. Ironically, over the course of the 20th century, as ready-made foods and kitchen appliances made home cooking less essential and labour-intensive, culinary skill continued to be perceived not only by society but often by women as a measure of a woman's true value. This work shows how cooking evolved during the 20th century as new challenges arose to replace the old. Still tied to the kitchen, women found that instead of simply providing sustenance for the household, they now had to master more complex cooking techniques, the knowledge of ""ethnic"" cuisines, the science of nutrition, the business of consumerism, and, perhaps most important of all, the art of keeping their families happy and healthy.
Trade ReviewThis book would be an excellent beginning for in-depth research or for a pleasant introduction to the field. It will have a wide appeal to those interested in women's roles in the 20th century and in home cooking. - Choice ""An easy read - graceful and often witty. I was often charmed and just as often instructed. It is a book that could be used in American studies and women's studies courses."" - Linda K. Kerber, author of No Constitutional Right to Be Ladies
