Housekeeping in Old Virginia

Seventeen hundred recipes from the housewives of Old Virginia — Sally Lunn and beaten biscuit, brandy peaches and Brunswick stew — gathered in 1879 by Patrick Henry's granddaughter, with tributes from the First Lady down.

Browse the Kitchen

Every one of the 1158 recipes, sorted by who — or what — they were.

Soups & Broths

7 recipes

Fish & Shellfish

79 recipes

Poultry & Game

58 recipes

Meat & Roasts

232 recipes

Vegetables & Salads

140 recipes

Puddings & Desserts

204 recipes

Cakes, Bread & Biscuits

113 recipes

Preserves & Pickles

21 recipes

Sauces & Seasonings

60 recipes

Drinks & Cordials

47 recipes

Eggs, Cheese & Dairy

113 recipes

Sweets & Confectionery

39 recipes

Cereals, Pasta & Rice

1 recipe

Fruit & Nuts

14 recipes

The Cook's Craft

2 recipes

More from the Kitchen

28 recipes

Rights & ReuseThe complete text of Housekeeping in Old Virginia (1879) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.