Food history resources, information, timelines and more for home cooking use.
Hazelnuts have been cultivated in China for more than 5,000 years. Learn about the history of hazelnuts and filberts.
Acorn Squash History - Acorn squash is considered a summer squash like zucchini. Learn about the history of acorn squash.
Almond History - The history of almonds as food.
The first commercially-ground coffee in sealed cans was distributed in 1878. Learn more about the history of coffee.
Why do those in the military consider apricots a jinx? Find out and learn the history of apricots.
The fall of Rome plunged the artichoke into obscurity but Italians revived their popularity. Learn more about the history of artichokes.
Roman emperors were so fond of asparagus, that they kept a special asparagus fleet for the purpose of fetching it. Learn more about the history of asparagus.
Learn more about the history of avocados and how they came to America.
Bacon History. Learn the history of bacon.
Learn the origin of bagels and its history as food.
Sailors brought the banana to North America. Learn more about the history of bananas.
Basil was used to embalm ancient Egyptian mummies. Learn about the history of basil.
The term honeymoon actually comes from honey beer. Learn more about the history of beer.
Beets have been used as dyes and medicinally. Learn more about beet and beetroot history.
Black beans date back more than 7,000 years. Learn more about black bean history.
Blueberry History - The history of blueberries as food.
Corn is the distinguishing factor in American bourbon whiskey. Learn about the history of bourbon.
French emperor Charlemagne fell in love with Brie. Now there are many varieties. Learn more about Brie history.
What is broccolini? Broccoli is related to cabbage and cauliflower. Learn more about broccoli history.
The history of Buffalo wings is in dispute. Find out why.
The use of buttermilk arose from frugality. Learn the history of buttermilk.
Cabbage is generally connected to Ireland, but that's not where it originated. Learn about the history of cabbage.
Canned Milk History - Evaporated and Sweetened Condensed Milk. Learn the history of canned milk and find out why early canned milk was safer than fresh milk.
Learn the history of canning and preserving.
Cashews are never sold in the shell. Find out why and learn about the history of cashew nuts.
Caviar History - The history of caviar as food.
French law regulates champagne, but U.S. laws do not. Learn about the history of champagne.
Long, rich cherry history results in thousands of varieties. Learn about the history of cherries.
Chestnuts date back to prehistoric times and are a good source of starch. Learn about the history of Chestnut.
Chives date back thousands of years. Learn the history of chives.
Cinnamon has been used for embalming and meat preservation. Learn more about the history of cinnamon.
There are two main varieties of clams. Learn about the history of clams.
Coconut History - The history of coconuts as food, meat, sugar, and oil.
The first commercially-ground coffee in sealed cans was distributed in 1878. Learn more about the history of coffee.
Cornish hens were created to appeal to foodies. Learn more about Cornish game hens.
Couscous may be older than pasta. Learn more about couscous history.
Fresh cranberries will literally bounce when dropped. Learn about the history of cranberries.
Dill weed was mentioned in ancient Egyptian medical texts. Learn more about the history of dill.
Easter Coloring History. Here are explanations of some of the many types of decorated eggs.
Easter Egg History. Learn the history of Easter eggs and other Easter symbolic foods.
Edible Flowers History - The history of flowers as food.
Early eggplants were white like eggs. Learn more about eggplant history.
Fig History - Figs have been used as a sweetener for thousands of years and are good for the body.
Fondue History - The origins of fondue.
Food coloring dates back hundreds of years. Learn about what colors your food.
Omelet and Frittata History. Learn the history of omelets and frittatas.
Garlic History - The history of garlic as food.
Most gelatin comes from animals. Learn the history of gelatin.
Ginger nearly disappeared in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Learn more about the history of ginger.
Burger on a bun originated in America. Learn about the history of ground beef, hamburger, and mince.
Halloween History. Learn the history of Halloween and why kids trick-or-treat.
Ham History - The history of ham and pork as food.
The tradition of receiving a gift on each of the eight days of Hanukkah is fairly recent. Learn more about the history of Hanukkah and the traditional foods.
Some heirloom recipes use imprecise measurements such as a coffeecup of sugar or a gill of milk. Find out how to convert these heirloom measurements with this handy chart.
Why doesn't your recipe taste like Grandma's? Learn why and how to convert those heirloom recipes to use today.
Home Cooking articles include history and often legend and lore about various foods including fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, herbs, spices and more.
Honey History - The history of honey as food.
Horseradish used to be called German mustard. Learn more about the history of the horseradish vegetable and get recipes.
The term hot dogs was initially a slur. Learn the history of hot dogs, weiners, and frankfurters.
Marco Polo had a recipe for ice cream. Learn about the history of ice cream and frozen desserts.
Irish Food History. Potatoes, oats, and fish are Irish food staples. Learn about the history of Irish foods.
Irish stew is traditionally made with mutton or lamb. Learn the origin of Irish stew and new variations.
Learn the origins of Jamaican jerked foods.
Jerusalem artichokes are not artichokes and do not come from Jerusalem. Learn about the history of sunchokes and Jerusalem artichokes.
Original ketchup is Chinese in origin and had no tomatoes. Learn about the history of ketchup and catsup.
Learn the history of Key lime pie and how to make it at home with an heirloom recipe.
Kiwifruit originated in China, not New Zealand. Learn more about the history of kiwi fruit.
Lamb History - The history of lamb as food.
Leaveners, such as yeast, have been in use more than 5,000 years. Learn about the history of yeast, baking soda, and baking powder.
Leeks and wild leeks are quite different. The leek is a milder member of the onion family. Learn about the history of leeks.
Lentils have been used as a meat substitute for centuries. Learn about the history of lentils.
British sailors drank lime juice to avoid scurvy. Learn more about the history of limes.
Learn about the rise of lobster from poor to rich man's food and more lobster history.
Out of the 4,400 varieties of crab, most are found in North America. Learn more about the history of crabs.
Lunch Counter, Luncheonette, and Diner History. America's diners and lunch counters have a long and interesting history full of confusing terminology and lingo.
Macadamia Nut History - The history of macadamia nuts as food.
Mango History - Mangos are native to Asia and related to cashews and pistachios. Find out more.
Native Americans introduced maple sap to colonists. Learn about the history of maple syrup.
Molasses used to be the sweetener of choice for Americans. Learn more about the history of molasses.
Mushroom History - The history of mushrooms as food.
Mustard History. Learn the history of mustard.
Bloody wars have been fought to control nutmeg due to its value. Learn more about the history of nutmeg and mace.
The olive is native to the Mediterranean ares. Learn more about the history of olives.
The eating of oysters dates back to early Roman times. Learn more about the history of oysters as food.
What is the connection between paprika, chile peppers, and Hungary. Find out and learn the history of paprika.
Parsnips are nutritionally superior to potatoes. Learn about the history of parsnips.
Passover Seder Food. Learn about the traditional foods served at Jewish Passover Seder meal.
Passover Seder History. Learn the history of the Jewish Passover Seder meal.
The truth about pate de foie gras. Learn more pate de foie gras history and applicable French laws.
Peach History. Learn the origin of peaches and how they migrated around the world.
Peanut butter was created as a healthy protein substitute for patients with no teeth. Learn more about the history of peanut butter.
Pecans are native to America. Learn more about America's favorite nut.
Peppercorns are not only the oldest used spice, but also the most widely-used. Learn more about the history of pepper.
Pine nuts are known by many names. Learn more about pine nut history.
The pineapple that made Hawaii famous is not from Hawaii. Learn about the history of pineapples.
Pistachios are related to cashews. Learn more about the history of pistachio nuts.
Returning WWII servicement helped make pizza popular in the US. Learn more about pizza history.
Plum History - Plums date back to 479 B.C. and appear in the writings of Confucius.
Pomegranates are native to China and Persia. Learn more about pomegranates and how to make grenadine.
Pressure Cooker History - The history of pressure cooking.
Native Americans used pumpkins to weave mats as well as for food and even beer. Learn about the history of pumpkins.
Help converting those heirloom recipes handed down from Grandma, plus recipe substitutions, and conversion charts for weights and measures.
Ben Franklin brought rhubarb to America. Learn more about the history of rhubarb.
Rosemary has long been used in holistic medicines. Learn more about the history of rosemary.
Learn more about cooking with rum and try some interesting old and new recipes.
Flavorful and colorful saffron can be deadly in large amounts. Learn more about the history of saffron.
Sage was once considered a medicinal cure-all. Learn more about the history of sage.
Early European settlers in the US tired of a salmon-rich diet. Fint out why.
Is salt bad for your health? Maybe not. Learn more about the history of salt and its effect on your health.
Sausage is not necessarily a meat product. Learn the history of sausage.
The scallop shell has a religious history. Learn more about the history of scallops.
Sesame Seed History - The history of sesame seeds as food.
Shallots are related to onions and garlic. Learn more about the history of shallots.
Shish kebabs are fast and versatile meals on a stick originating in Turkey. Learn the history of shish kebabs.
Shrimp is the most popular shellfish in the US. Learn more about the history of shrimp.
St. Patrick's Day History. Learn the history of St. Patrick's Day and how whisky is connected to the legends.
The strawberry is native to North America. Learn more about the history of strawberries.
What is the proper term? Is it dressing, stuffing, or forcemeat? Learn more about dressings and stuffings.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes History - The history of sundried tomatoes as food.
Sweet Onion History - The history of sweet onions as food.
Sweet potatoes were brought to America by Columbus. They are often mistakenly called yams. Learn more about the history of sweet potatoes.
Are you buying true tarragon? Maybe not. Learn about the history of tarragon and cooking with herbs.
Contrary to popular belief, tequila is not made from cactus. Learn about the history of tequila.
Wild turkeys nearly became extinct and Roosevelt tried to change the date of Thanksgiving. Learn more about Thanksgiving and turkey history.
Old legends say thyme attracts fairies. Learn more about the history of the common kitchen herb, thyme.
Tomato History. Tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous. Find out the true story and where tomatoes originated.
Although colored hard-boiled eggs are probably the first Easter food to come to mind, other foods factor into the traditional Easter meals around the world such as hot cross buns, lamb, ham, pretzels, and more.
Most of the commercial tuna comes from California. Learn more about tuna history and facts.
Valentine's Day History. Food played an important part in the history of Valentine's Day.
Vanilla is native to Central America. Learn more about the history of vanilla.
Walnuts were once considered nuts of the gods. Learn the history of walnuts.
What are mandarin oranges? Learn about the mandarin orange and tangerine connection, along with mandarin orange history.
What are raisins and where do they come from? Learn about the history and making of raisins.
Used as a medicine, whiskey was originally made by pharmacists and monks. Learn about the history of whiskey / whisky.
An accidentally forgotten potent brew becomes a hit. Learn about the history of Worcestershire sauce.
Yogurt was deemed a wonder food, which led to its popularity in the US. Learn more about the history of yogurt.
Gold potatoes are new to the USA, but not to Europe. Learn more about the history of gold potatoes.
Zucchini History - Learn the history of zucchini, also known as courgettes and summer squash.
Medieval recipes from period sources, with modern adaptations, facts on food & feasting in the Middle Ages, a medieval feast presentation and much more.
An interesting discussion on the concept of brewing with hops as it relates to ancient needs from About Ancient History Guide, N. S. Gill.
Recipes and discussion of ingredients and measurements, all on one page. From Micaela Pantke.
The text of Fannie Farmer's original 1918 edition of her famous book is now completely online for your perusal courtesy of Bartleby.com. It's plain text, nicely formatted, so it loads quickly.
Information about the history, chemistry, manufacture, and storage of butter. Includes illustrated directions for making butter at home. From WebExhibits and the Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement (IDEA).
History articles covering candy, chocolate, American candy bars, jelly beans and candy canes, plus a confectionary timeline. Very well-written and organized from Candy USA.
A collection of nine traditional colonial recipes updated for today's use, plus an interesting article on the workings of an 18th-century tavern. From Historic Foodways Program.
David Leite covers American food from the 1900's up to the end of the decade. Use the bar at the bottom to select the decade. Recipes included.
Short historical articles covering holidays, specific dishes and foods by Carey Draeger.
Betty Fussell writes interesting monthly features on food history, hosted by Sally's Place. Don't missed the archives, located on the same index page.
The history of forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks, including some great photos of antique eating implements from the California Academy of Science.
A growing collection of historical articles on foods from the Eastern and Western hemispheres, by name. You'll also find a link to articles on edible animals.
This timeline begins at 17,000 B.C. and ends in 1999, a work in progress it is nicely cross-referenced with links to the pertinent topics. From the Morris County Library.
A simple introduction to poorly photographed foodstuffs and horrid recipes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s.
This interesting article covers astronaut food over the years, from NASA's Space Academy.
How to plan, cook, and serve a medieval Islamic feast, including recipe links. From Cariadoc's Miscellany.
The great Julia Child has donated her famous kitchen to the Smithsonian Institute. Take a virtual tour and don't miss her stories.
Small collection of informative articles on the history of foods in the Mediterranean from Clifford Wright.
A very comprehensive look at military food rations from the Revolutionary War to the present from the Quartermaster Foundation.
The online version of the newsletter about pre-17th century cooking, culinary sources, culinary history, ingredients, food, and foodways, including recipes.
The history of Southern barbecue dating back to pre-Civil War days.
This treatise covers ethnic immigrant and native ancestral food influences on Southern food from the University of West Florida.
