Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen: A Culinary View of Lincoln's Life and Times by Rae Katherine Eighmey

Wednesday, February 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Come on over to PPB on Lincoln’s real birthday, February 12 to hear more about what our favorite president ate, served during his years at the White House and yes—even cooked on his own!  Long and lean, it wouldn’t appear that he prioritized food, but we will explore with two experts presenting Rae Katherine Eighmey’s book on the subject:  “Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen.”

Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen is a culinary biography unlike any before. The very assertion of the title—that Abraham Lincoln cooked—is fascinating and true. It’s an insight into the everyday life of one of our nation’s favorite and most esteemed presidents and a way to experience flavors and textures of the past. Eighmey solves riddles such as what type of barbecue could be served to thousands at political rallies when paper plates and napkins didn’t exist, and what gingerbread recipe could have been Lincoln’s childhood favorite when few families owned cookie cutters and he could carry the cookies in his pocket. Through Eighmey’s eyes and culinary research and experiments--including sleuthing for Lincoln’s grocery bills in Springfield ledgers and turning a backyard grill into a cast-iron stove--the foods that Lincoln enjoyed, cooked, or served are translated into modern recipes so that authentic meals and foods of 1820-1865 are possible for home cooks. Feel free to pull up a chair to Lincoln’s table.

We welcome Professor Bruce Kraig, an award-winning expert on food and culture around the world (and especially Illinois), who will speak to 19th-century food and culture in general, and to Lincoln’s particular appetites.  Kraig writes:

“In his last inaugural Abraham Lincoln sat down to an elaborate feast as was the custom in 1865. What he thought about it we will never know. Growing up he knew nothing of such dishes as patê de foie gras. He was a poor boy raised on the frontier where hog and hominy were standard fare. In fact, he was indifferent to food: crackers, a bit of cheese and apples doing just fine for him. We do know what he loved best: apples, all kinds of apples, anytime and anywhere, and after he married Mary Todd he got a taste for sweets-cakes and pies of all kind.”

And Ellie Carlson of Ellie Presents will be in period costume to present
and demonstrate Lincoln’s Gingerfolk with samples to take home.

We hope you can come!  Free event.
Call the store to say you can come, (630) 765-7455!

Come celebrate the inimitable Martha’s latest offering, and try a few tastes of yummies like
Giant White-Chocolate-Pecan Cookies, Peanut-Butter Sandwich Cookies, Sparkly Lemon Cookies and Triple Chocolate Brownie Cups. 

Tell us you can come, (630) 765-7455! $5/person

PPB welcomes Dr. Jamie Thomure to demonstrate yummy + healthy food in a series of cookbook demonstrations.  Jamie has led events with us before; she is an avid home-chef, parent and chiropractor at DuPage Family Wellness in Warrenville.  Dr. Jamie learned personally about the benefits of eating an anti-inflammatory diet in 2012.  This inspired her passion for helping people to eat real food that is good—meaning yummy and easy preparations for fresh vegetables and fruits plus the right meats and fats. Call and sign up to learn about, or more about—what keto or paleo or gluten-free (that is: simple nutritious meals) can mean for you and your family.  See you soon! 

$35/demo + $15 shopping credit included!
Space is limited, tell us you can come, (630) 765-7455!

Dr. Thomure will cook from Cook Once Eat All Week by Cassie Joy Garcia

Have you ever tried a meal prep plan before and gotten so excited about having your cooking for the week done ahead of time, only to find yourself totally exhausted after a full day in the kitchen, shocked by your grocery bill, and tired of the same leftovers by Tuesday? Cassy Joy Garcia had been there, too. As a mom, business owner, and Nutrition Consultant, she needed to get a healthy, affordable, and tasty dinner on the table fast every night, and she knew there had to be a better way to do it.

She finally cracked the code when she discovered that by batch-cooking a protein, starch, and vegetable each week she could easily assemble three fresh, diverse meals in minimal time. After years of her readers asking her for better meal prep strategies and easy recipes, she released 4 weeks of recipes on her blog, Fed and Fit. Since then, tens of thousands of people have made and raved about the series and begged for more!

In this book you’ll find 26 weeks of affordable, healthy, delicious meals that your family will love eating, and a chapter full of bonus 20-minute meals. Optional Instant Pot and slow cooker instructions are included to get you even more time back in your week. With a Real Food foundation, the weeks in this book aim to support dietary approaches that range from: gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, low carb, egg-free, kid-friendly and more.

Cooking Demonstration Series

In The Farm, Knauer brings his creations to your kitchen. From Cold-Spring-Night Asparagus Soup to Brick Chicken with Corn and Basil Salad, the 150 recipes in this book will help you make the most of your market, garden, or CSA. They are fresh, modern spins on American classics, with ingredients anyone can obtain. Each one is simple, distinctive, and satisfying, getting the best food to the table in the least amount of time. They are both homey and sophisticated. 

$35/demo ($15 shopping credit included!)
Space is limited, tell us you can come.

PPB welcomes Dr. Jamie Thomure to demonstrate yummy + healthy food all summer long in a series of cookbook demonstrations.  Jamie has led events with us before; she is an avid home-chef, parent and chiropractor at DuPage Family Wellness in Warrenville.  Dr. Jamie learned personally about the benefits of eating an anti-inflammatory diet in 2012.  This inspired her passion for helping people to eat real food that is good—meaning yummy and easy preparations for fresh vegetables and fruits plus the right meats and fats. Call and sign up to learn about, or more about—what keto or paleo or gluten-free (that is: simple nutritious meals) can mean for you and your family.  See you soon! 

$35/demo + $15 shopping credit included!
Space is limited, tell us you can come, (630) 765-7455!

Dr. Thomure will cook from Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilipppo

With more than half a million copies sold, the first edition of Practical Paleo revolutionized the way we think about food and our bodies. Dubbed “The Paleo Bible” by readers, it explained how simply eating real, whole foods and avoiding processed, refined foods can improve our health--including reducing or even eliminating symptoms associated with common health disorders.