The Compleat Housewife

The Compleat Housewife

The Compleat Housewife, or Accomplished Gentlewoman's Companion, is a cookbook that was first published in London in 1727 by Eliza Smith. It became extremely popular and went through 18 editions by 1773.

Overview

The Compleat Housewife is a comprehensive collection of 18th-century recipes. It includes instructions for making various types of food, beverages, medicines, and household items. The book is also notable for its detailed instructions on preserving and pickling, a common practice in the 18th century.

Author

Eliza Smith is the author of The Compleat Housewife. Not much is known about her life, but her book was one of the first cookbooks to be published in the American colonies. It was also the first cookbook to include a recipe for ketchup.

Content

The Compleat Housewife contains over 800 recipes. These include instructions for making dishes such as roast beef, mutton pies, and various types of cakes and biscuits. The book also includes recipes for making homemade wines and cordials, as well as remedies for common ailments.

Influence

The Compleat Housewife was a significant influence on American cooking. It was the first cookbook to be printed in the American colonies, and it was widely used in colonial households. The book's recipes and techniques influenced American cooking and household management for many years.

Legacy

The Compleat Housewife is considered a classic in the field of culinary history. It provides a valuable insight into the cooking and household practices of the 18th century. The book is still in print today and is often used as a reference by historians and food enthusiasts.

See Also

• History of cookbooks
• 18th-century cuisine
• Eliza Smith

References

• Smith, Eliza. The Compleat Housewife. 1727.
• Davidson, Alan. The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press, 1999.
• Notaker, Henry. A History of Cookbooks: From Kitchen to Page over Seven Centuries. University of California Press, 2017.

External Links

• The Compleat Housewife at Project Gutenberg
• The Compleat Housewife at Britannica