My name is Stacy Booth, a Foodways Historian who loves keeping history alive through cooking demonstrations and workshops around New England. Welcome to my website where you can read about historical recipes and cooking techniques or — even better — hire me to do demonstrations, tutorials, talks, or presentations about food in the 17th through early 19th centuries.
About Stacy
I’m a Foodways Historian with a passion for food and cooking throughout history, specifically in the 17th to early 19th centuries. My special interest is open hearth and campfire cooking, and my experience working at Coggeshall Farm Museum and Plimoth Patuxet gave me many of the skills I still use today. I’ve set up several historical foodways displays at museums and events and done presenstations for various South Shore sites including Alden House in Duxbury, Stetson House in Hanover, and Parker Tavern in Reading.
Even in my free time, I love reenacting the Revolutionary War time period with Col. Bailey’s 2nd Massachusetts Regiment alongside my husband and son. Gardening and sewing (both modern and historical) are other favorite pastimes of mine.
Presentations & Topics
I offer the services listed below, with a focus on late Tudor to Early Republic (Georgian) time periods, including Colonial America and European foodways and recipes. I can present in Modern or Historical Dress
- Open Hearth cooking demonstrations/workshops
- Campfire cooking demonstrations
- Foodways displays for museums or talks at historical societies
- Modern displays of foodways techniques (i.e. making butter with girl scouts at Hanover House)
- Presentations and Talks on Foodways topics for historical societies, school groups and reenactments. Examples include “A Bille of Fare” talk I did for Parker Tavern (a powerpoint presentation), as well as modern discussions on Revolutionary War camp rations
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
“Colonial Books and Brews”
6 pm – 8:30 pm at the Acton Memorial Library, Acton, MA
PAST EVENTS
“Native Corn and the Importance of Bread in Plimoth Colony”
Alden House, Duxbury, MA.
“Puddings, 18th Century Puddings in the Hearth”
Lafayette Durfee House, Fall River, MA
“Baking Demonstration”
Fort at No 4, Charlestown, NH
“Making Butter”
Hanover House, Hanover, MA
Forgotten Recipes Blog
HFF #13 Lunar Cake
This recipe challenge was a hard one! The theme was "Solstice" and it involved finding a recipe with an astronomical theme. Well then! But, as you can see, I was successful with my search! Even in acquiring rhubarb, which is currently out of season and I went to about...
HFF #12: Potato Salad
This particular Historical Food Fortnightly challenge had to do with Picnic Food! Seems very fitting for the 4th of July and, as it worked out, this exact recipe was made and brought to a 4th of July picnic. But I would recommend it any time you have some cold boiled...
HFF #11: Pound Cake
This particular challenge is all about the use of flowers in cooking! So how does a pound cake fulfill this requirement? Well, let me explain! This isn't any normal pound cake. This is Miss Amelia Simmon's Pound Cake! And it has a special ingredient that makes it...
Camp Market Bread
I had an incredible time this past weekend! I've been doing Revolutionary War reenacting for several years now and have the privilege to be on the boards of two great Rev War groups, Col. Bailey's 2nd Massachusetts Regiment and On the Army's Strength. And through...
HFF #10 ” A Frickasie”
I’m SO excited about this one!!! I’ve been wanting to do a fricassee receipt for quite some time. It was one of my favorite dishes to cook as a Pilgrim. This particular challenge is to pick a dish referenced in literature. But with so many culinary dishes...