We pledge this episode to Miss Ingalls and the food she ate in the book LHOTP, which is, again, a paen to eating. But! On the way to Kansas and in Kansas, they had far less ingredients and cooking was much more challenging. So much cornbread, and Sweet Molasses–SO MUCH molasses. Also in this episode: One of the dearest Christmas vignettes ever committed to the page.

Shownotes:

Bookish foodies, let’s hop in the old covered wagon for a trek across raging creeks and pioneer pathways, all the way to the Little House on the Prairie in Kansas. We’ll talk about food eaten on the way to and at the Little House, and how Ma and Pa had to be super creative to keep their family fed on the frontier. Featuring a plenitude of cornbread, molasses and the captivating (really) prairie chicken, the menu at the cabin was nothing if not consistent.

This book really could be called “Eating While Imperiled,” as the Ingalls family faced disaster or death every 43 pages.

It wasn’t all bad, though. Here’s a charming recipe for the heart-shaped cakes they ate at Christmastime, for example.

And here's a look at those Kansas Prairie hens ... https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=4a8b7cf59b69c426&q=prairie+hen+kansas&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwig1ZjV6PuDAxXFlSYFHeuxApkQ0pQJegQIDhAB&biw=1280&bih=551&dpr=1.5

Hey! If you enjoyed this episode, a review sure would be sweeter than molasses, and a lot less sticky.

https://bitefromthepast.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/little-house-on-the-prairie-heart-shaped-cakes/


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Theme Music: "Beyond the Ponds" by Francis Wells

Hey there, listeners! We took a bit of a break to finish our manuscript, but we're back with an update and an announcement about our book. In this short episode that deviates from our normal format, we tell you what to expect for our Season One finale, and answer a few of our most asked questions about Eat Like a Heroine, the book ...

Inspired by Lorilee’s recent trip to Little House in the Big Woods, this episode will be devoted to Laura Ingalls Wilder and especially her first book in the series, which is really an ode to food. 9 pages on cheese! 30 pages on maple syrup! There’s a whole lot to love about food eaten at the Little House in the Big Woods. 

Timeline note: this episode was recorded before our Christmas episode, in which we made a pretty big announcement. We also make that announcement here, which, if you didn't catch our Christmas episode, might be news to you! Regardless, we are so excited, it's worth sharing twice. :)

Shownotes:

“Once upon a time, sixty years ago, a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little gray house made of logs,” so begins Mrs. Wilder’s first book. As anyone who has read it knows, there is just so much food!

Friends, we need to talk about that maple syrup party. Not to mention hasty pudding, Johnny Cakes, and Vinegar Pie, which sounds kind of good to us, to be honest. 

Let’s time travel to the Big Woods, where we will learn all about what Laura, Mary and Ma and Pa ate, how they prepared it, and how we might whip up some of that Big Woods goodness in our own kitchens.

Little House in the Big Woods: Bread, Butter and Honey

https://therereaderskitchen.com/2016/08/16/little-house-in-the-big-woods-bread-butter-and-honey/

What’s your favorite Little House food story? Drop us a line at Hello@jennyewilliams.com.

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