In John Kennedy Toole's iconic novel, Ignatius J. Reilly is never short of opinions about food or far away from his next bite. Whether issuing gibes such as "canned food is a perversion," or taking a break from his literary ambitions with "an occasional cheese dip," this lover of Lucky Dogs, café au lait, and wine cakes navigates 1960s New Orleans focused on gastronomical pursuits. For the novel's millions of fans, Cynthia LeJeune Nobles's "A Confederacy of Dunces" Cookbook offers recipes inspired by the delightfully commonplace and always delicious fare of Ignatius and his cohorts. Through an informative narrative and almost 200 recipes, Nobles explores the intersection of food, history, and culture found in the Pulitzer Prize--winning novel, opening up a new avenue into New Orleans's rich culinary traditions. Dishes inspired by Ignatius's favorites -- macaroons and "toothsome" steak -- as well as recipes based on supporting characters -- Officer Mancuso's Pork and Beans and Dr. Talc's Bloody Marys -- complement a wealth of fascinating detail about the epicurean side of the novel's memorable settings. A guide to the D. H. Holmes Department Store's legendary Chicken Salad, the likely offerings of the fictitious German's Bakery, and an in-depth interview with the general manager of Lucky Dogs round out this delightful cookbook. A lighthearted yet impeccably researched look at the food of the 1960s, "A Confederacy of Dunces" Cookbook reaffirms the singularity and timelessness of both New Orleans cuisine and Toole's comic tour de force.

With the blockade of Southern ports and the lack of trading between the North and South during the Civil War, the Confederacy found itself in great deprivation, lacking its customary supplies. Showing great resourcefulness, southerners developed new ways to feed and clothe themselves and these adaptations and recipes were pulled together in 1863 by Richmond publishers West & Johnson, to share throughout the region in Confederate Receipt Book. The recipes were assembled from newspapers, staff, and other sources and were “designed to supply useful and economical directions and suggestions of cookery, housewifery, and for the camp.” Examples of resourceful recipes in Confederate Receipt Book include apple pie without apples, artificial oysters, and coffee substitutes as well as medicinal remedies for headaches, croup, and sore throats and making household items like candles and soap. The nature and extent of the items highlight the degree of difficulty that the Confederates faced and their ability to acclimate to the supplies at hand. Other examples include recipes for making ink, wicks for lamps, fire balls for fuel, and bread from numerous types of flours. The Confederate Receipt Book has as much quaint and amusing charm to present-day readers as it had practical significance to the beleaguered South fighting for its independence. This edition of Confederate Receipt Book was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the Society is a research library documenting the life of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The Society collects, preserves, and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection includes approximately 1,100 volumes.

When it's your turn to host your book club, you'll find plenty of suggestions here for snacks, lunchtime, cocktail hour or dinnertime. Choate matches up the recipes with quotes about what particular foods and drinks have meant to certain authors or their characters.

With the blockade of Southern ports and the lack of trading between the North and South during the Civil War, the Confederacy found itself in great deprivation, lacking its customary supplies. Showing great resourcefulness, southerners developed new ways to feed and clothe themselves and these adaptations and recipes were pulled together in 1863 by Richmond publishers West & Johnson, to share throughout the region in Confederate Receipt Book. The recipes were assembled from newspapers, staff, and other sources and were “designed to supply useful and economical directions and suggestions of cookery, housewifery, and for the camp.” Examples of resourceful recipes in Confederate Receipt Book include apple pie without apples, artificial oysters, and coffee substitutes as well as medicinal remedies for headaches, croup, and sore throats and making household items like candles and soap. The nature and extent of the items highlight the degree of difficulty that the Confederates faced and their ability to acclimate to the supplies at hand. Other examples include recipes for making ink, wicks for lamps, fire balls for fuel, and bread from numerous types of flours. The Confederate Receipt Book has as much quaint and amusing charm to present-day readers as it had practical significance to the beleaguered South fighting for its independence. This edition of Confederate Receipt Book was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the Society is a research library documenting the life of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The Society collects, preserves, and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection includes approximately 1,100 volumes.

Every Civil War buff will want to own this unique cookbook, which takes the reader right into the kitchens of 19th-century America. Illustrated with wonderful period photographs, it intertwines history and food for a fascinating new look at the lives of Civil War soldiers and their families. Traditional recipes, illustrated with full-color photographs and highlighted with historical anecdotes, include instructions for recreating treats sent in care packages to soldiers in the field, camp dishes, and special meals.

"Discusses the everyday life, cooking methods, foods, and celebration of Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Includes recipes and sidebars"--