Just what every House-keeper needs, The Everett Raisin Seeder. Seed one pound of raisins in less than ten minutes! So easy, a child can use it. Cornell’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections has produced a glorious website to accompany their exhibit “Not by Bread Alone.” It explores America’s culinary heritage, the trends and technologies that shaped our gastronomy. I really want to see the inside of the American Red Cross’ “Book of Recipes for the use of Chinese Foodstuffs” which instructed women stationed in Nanking during World War I on the use of local ingredients.

On a related note, a reader sent along Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbook Project. Produced at Michigan State, the project’s goal is to have the images and transcriptions from 75 cookbooks (published 1798-1922) online by September 2003. They already have a number of book images ready for your perusal. I pounced on William Andrus Alcott’s The Young House-Keeper. This relative of Louisa May Alcott worked for education reform and wrote numerous advice guides such as The Boy’s Guide to Usefulness and The Young Wife. The first section of his House-Keeper book whips me back and forth between scorning him for cornering women into a life of servitude for their families and praising his appreciation of the important role women can play in educating children at home and maintaining a family’s physical and mental well-being.