Search results for ""author thomas j. craughwell""

In 1784, Thomas Jefferson made a deal with one of his slaves, 19-year-old James Hemings. The Founding Father was traveling to Paris to serve as ambassador to France. Jefferson wanted to bring James along for a particular purpose - to master the art of French cooking. And if James was willing to go along with the plan, Jefferson would grant his freedom. Why? Because the American diet circa 1784 was appalling. Meats were boiled. Spices were limited. Vegetables were mushy and overcooked. Bread was stale. Although Jefferson had never sampled French cuisine, he had read about it, and he wanted to bring its secrets back to the United States. So the two men journeyed to Paris. James Hemings was apprenticed under several master French chefs for three years before taking over as Chef de Cuisine in Jefferson's house on Paris' Champs d'Elysees, where he prepared extravagant meals for Jefferson's many guests. Meanwhile, Jefferson studied the cultivation of French crops (especially French grapes for winemaking), and researched how they might be replicated in American agriculture. When the men returned home in 1789, they brought Americans the gifts of: champagne (up until then, Americans had preferred sweet wines such as sherry and port); pasta (and a rudimentary pasta machine); Pomme de terre frites a cru, en petites tranches (Potatoes, fried in deep fat while raw, cut into small slices ...a.k.a. French Fries); Mac and Cheese!; Creme Brulee; and a host of other innovations. "Thomas Jefferson's Creme Brulee" tells the remarkable story of a Founding Foodie who transformed American agriculture - and the chef who transformed our dinner tables. This narrative nonfiction book includes six of James' recipes (reproduced in his own handwriting!) and six more from Jefferson himself. This rollicking adventure is great fun for fans of history, food, and France.

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Combining Black Dog’s three very successful hardcover collections of “urban legends” (Alligators in the Sewer, The Baby on the Car Roof, and The Cat in the Dryer) into one stupendous volume, Urban Legends is the ultimate collection of those outlandish tales people love to share. With themes that run the gamut from funny to sick, risqué to informative, frightening to disgusting, these fantastic yarns are remarkable for their uncanny ability to travel by word of mouth. We’ve all heard the one about the alligators that roam New York City’s sewers, or how “Mikey” of Life Cereal fame died from ingesting Pop Rocks and Coke, or about the flustered parents who left their baby on the car roof. But, did you hear the one about the scuba diver who was found in the middle of a forest after a fire? These and other favorites are here in all of their creepy glory—guaranteed to amuse, enlighten, intrigue, and most of all, stick in the mind forever.

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Attractive, take-anywhere, write-in quiz book that offers a daily dose of self-discovery!How Smart Are You? Test Your Math IQ is perfect for a handbag, briefcase, or knapsack! This entertaining and enlightening quiz book is great to have on hand anytime and anywhere, be it a long commute, a waiting room, or an evening at home. Every day our numerical skills are tested in different ways, from shopping to budgeting to bill paying. But not everyone is comfortable with numbers. How Smart Are You? Test Your Math IQ is a collection of challenging tests and puzzles that will help you hone your math skills.Each quiz can be taken in just a few minutes and is easily scored. With a fun, modern cloth cover, elastic closure and overall great package you will want to show off this IQ book wherever you go!Other titles in this series:Who Are You? Test Your Emotional IntelligenceWho Are You? Test Your PersonalityHow Smart Are You? Test Your IQ

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Attractive, take-anywhere, write-in quiz book that offers a daily dose of self-discovery!Who Are You? Test Your Emotional Intelligence is perfect for a handbag, briefcase, or knapsack! This entertaining and enlightening quiz book is great to have on hand anytime and anywhere, be it a long commute, a waiting room, or an evening at home. Who Are You? Test Your Emotional Intelligence is a a compilation of 50 tests designed to analyze your emotional intelligence from a variety of perspectives, help you pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses, and reveal aspects of your personality you may not have realized existed!Each quiz can be taken in just a few minutes and is easily scored. With a fun, modern cloth cover, elastic closure and overall great package you will want to show off this clever quiz book wherever you go!Other titles in this series:Who Are You? Test Your PersonalityHow Smart Are You? Test Your Math IQHow Smart Are You? Test Your IQ

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Great news! Whoever you are, whatever you do, there is a patron saint who wants to help you - specifically you - with your life. There is a patron saint of booksellers. There is a patron saint of traveling salesmen. There are patron saints: for vegetarians, cab drivers, and cancer patients; for astronauts, horseback riders, and dysfunctional families; for men who are physically unattractive; and, for families stressed by houseguests. These saints are ready to help, and their services are absolutely free! "This Saint Will Change Your Life!" describes the real-life histories of more than 300 saints and explains how they have become associated with certain people, places, and professions. Also included are 300 gorgeous full-color holy cards that depict these heavenly allies in all their glory. First published in 2007, this revised edition includes a fresh new design and a sprinkling of new saints - like St. Francis De Sales, patron saint of bloggers.

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On the night of the presidential election in 1876, a gang of counterfeiters out of Chicago attempted to steal the entombed embalmed body of Abraham Lincoln and hold it for ransom. The custodian of the tomb was so shaken by the incident that he willingly dedicated the rest of his life to protecting the president’s corpse.In a lively and dramatic narrative, Thomas J. Craughwell returns to this bizarre, and largely forgotten, event with the first book to place the grave robbery in historical context. He takes us through the planning and execution of the crime and the outcome of the investigation. He describes the reactions of Mary Todd Lincoln and Robert Todd Lincoln to the theft—and the peculiar silence of a nation. He follows the unlikely tale of what happened to Lincoln’s remains after the attempted robbery, and details the plan devised by the Lincoln Guard of Honor to prevent a similar abominable recurrence.Along the way, Craughwell offers entertaining sidelights on the rise of counterfeiting in America and the establishment of the Secret Service to combat it; the prevalence of grave robberies; the art of nineteenth-century embalming; and the emergence among Irish immigrants of an ambitious middle class—and a criminal underclass.This rousing story of hapless con men, intrepid federal agents, and ordinary Springfield citizens who honored their native son by keeping a valuable, burdensome secret for decades offers a riveting glimpse into late-nineteenth-century America, and underscores that truth really is sometimes stranger than fiction.

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Attractive, take-anywhere, write-in quiz book that offers a daily dose of self-discovery!Who Are You? Test Your Personality is perfect for a handbag, briefcase, or knapsack! This entertaining and enlightening quiz book is great to have on hand anytime and anywhere, be it a long commute, a waiting room, or an evening at home. Who Are You? Test Your Personality is a a collection of 40 tests designed to answer who you are, how you got that way, and what, if anything, you can or should do to change.Each quiz can be taken in just a few minutes and is easily scored. With a fun, modern cloth cover, elastic closure and overall great package you will want to show off this clever quiz book wherever you go!Other titles in this series:Who Are You? Test Your Emotional IntelligenceHow Smart Are You? Test Your Math IQHow Smart Are You? Test Your IQ

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The Presidents Fact Book is the complete compendium of all things presidential and a sweeping survey of American history through the biography of every president from George Washington to Joe Biden.Organized chronologically by president, each entry covers the major accomplishments and events of the presidential term; cabinet members, election results, groundbreaking legislation, and Supreme Court appointments; personality and personal habits including hobbies, odd behaviors, and outlandish penchants; a behindthescenes look at the wives, families, friends, and foes; and much more. Major moments from administrations - from the Bill of Rights and the Emancipation proclamation to the Civil Rights Era and the coronavirus pandemic - provide a glimpse into the crucial moments of America's storied past.Perfect for students, history buffs, and political junkies, The Presidents Fact Book is at once an expansive collage of the American presidency and a comprehensive view of American history.

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With 50 IQ, 40 Personality, and 50 EQ tests, you'll discover every facet of yourself in this book of quizzes. Who Are You? Test Your Personality is perfect for a handbag, briefcase, or rucksack! This entertaining and enlightening quiz book is great to have on hand anytime and anywhere, be it a long commute, a waiting room, or an evening at home. The collection of tests is designed to answer who you are, how you got that way, and what, if anything, you can or should do to change.Each quiz can be taken in just a few minutes and is easily scored. With a fun, modern cover, elastic closure and overall great package you will want to show off this clever quiz book wherever you go!

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