Of course New Englanders love apples. Apple trees were essential to New England’s history, and today they’re part of both the landscape and the cuisine, featured in cider, fritters, dumplings, sauce, butter and, of course, pie. With the exception of a few crab apple varieties, apples are not native to North America. During the early 17th century, apple seeds, buds and small plants came to the American colonies from Britain.
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Soon the colonists covered New England with apple orchards. By 1800, apple trees were widely planted and cultivated. Even homeowners who had relatively little land often planted and harvested from their own trees. To celebrate that history, we’ve gathered up 29 Historic New England Apple Recipes. Some of these are mainly presented as a point of interest. (We won’t be rushing to make Neetsfoot Pie, for instance.) Others, however, like Apple Fool and Louisa May Alcott’s Apple Slump have already become favorites. And naturally apple pie had to be included.
No apple recipe book would be complete without at least a nod to cider. In the earliest days of the colonies, all that was expected of a good cider was that it would make you forget about the cold. But cider-making quickly became a skill that people polished and practiced, and apple cultivators produced varieties specifically designed for cider. With these varieties, farmers sought the perfect blend of sweetness and yield. John Adams famously started each day with cider. So we have included an overview of the early cider making, and it’s interesting to note that the process is not so different from today’s.
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And speaking of apples I had a friend who decided to put a barrel of cider in his basement, add some raisins and let it sit until it became HARD cider. Unfortunately the barrel exploded leaving his house with no cider but a strong smell! His wife was not happy!!
[…] We’ve caught word that the New England Historical Society is currently dishing up a collection of historic, regional apple recipes spanning over three centuries — for free! Just the inspiration we need, as we’re now well-stocked with storage apples and the long winter ahead will provide plenty of time to experiment. There are many highly unusual recipes – the American Snowball sounds particularly mouthwatering. We’re hoping the more daring among you will attempt some of these recipes as a way to spice up the cold months. If you do, be sure to report back on your findings! Simply sign up to access their site, and download the collection for your e-reader, iphone, or as a PDF. Visit the New England Historical Society here. […]
[…] For a free recipe book containing 29 historic New England apple recipes, click here. […]
[…] Firebrand suffragist Abby Kelley Foster missed the deadline. Two famous suffragists contributed screeds against some of the recipes. The most eminent suffragist of all, Julia Ward Howe, sent in a lame paragraph about working women instead of a recipe. Louisa May Alcott, a member, didn’t send in anything, and it wasn’t because she didn’t have any recipes. […]
[…] and all their cars but one, let the servants go and looked for a way to make money, starting with apples and […]
[…] appeared in American cookbooks far later than other fruit. The first published use of the word "blueberry pie" may have appeared in New England Farmer in […]
[…] Greening apple was updated in 2018. If you're into apples, you may want to download our premium, '29 Historic Apple Recipes — 1615-1960.' You must be a member of the New England Historical Society, however. It's free — here's […]
[…] truth, his apples had one purpose, and it wasn’t to make pies and crumbles. Farmers could only make hard cider from […]
[…] New England Historical Society has identified 29 historic apple recipes available to members (click here) and six historic apple orchards. (Click […]
[…] truth, his apples had one purpose, and it wasn’t to make pies and crumbles. Farmers could only make hard cider from […]
[…] Firebrand suffragist Abby Kelley Foster missed the deadline. Two famous suffragists contributed screeds against some of the recipes. The most eminent suffragist of all, Julia Ward Howe, sent in a lame paragraph about working women instead of a recipe. Louisa May Alcott, a member, didn’t send in anything, and not because she didn’t have any recipes. […]
[…] 29 Historic New England Apple Recipes: Enjoy a taste trip through history with these recipes from the past. […]
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