I'm new to Maryland (PG County) from another region entirely, so I'm looking for a good cookbook or two to give me an introduction to traditional MD/Mid-Atlantic food. The most I've gathered so far is that crabs are big here. But beyond that, I'm lost. Any good suggestions?
That is the first book that came to my mind!
Joeljkp, I have learned so much about this area by watching our local PBS station. Here is a sample you might like: http://www.mpt.org/eshop/?q=taxonomy/...
James Beard's American Cooking is one of my bibles. Very old school, but Beard was, and still is, one of the greats. Recipes from all over the continental US, with Beard's commentary. You will find more than a few from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Maryland's Way is quite an old cook-book ,but well worth seeking out .My parents had it way back when and it was a go to when-ever we wanted to make crab-cakes or deviled crab - A true classic
The eastern shore of Maryland is a very unique place. It has a large amount of both waterman and farmers making fresh ingredients for cooking a part of everyday life there. My mother in law was from the town of Crisfield, MD which at one time was known as the crab capitol of the US. We have two old cookbooks that you should try to get copies of:
1) "Grannie's Goodies from Somerset County"
- contact the Activities Dept. at Tawes Nursing Home on Hall Hwy. in Crisfield, MD to see if a copy might still be available.
2) "Taste and See"
- contact the United Methodist Women of Asbury United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 209, Crisfield, MD. (you'll have to find the zip code for Crisfield)
It might also be a fun road trip for you to drive down to Crisfield for a weekend. You might be able to find copies of local cookbooks at one of the shops while in town. There are waterfront condos for rent, a MD state park for camping, and good seafood restaurants to check out, There are also places to buy fresh seafood and soft-shell crabs. They have boat trips over to both Tangier Island and Smith Island if you really want to taste old MD eastern shore cooking in one of the family style restaurants on these islands. Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic.
If local churches or women's groups are selling cookbooks, these would be a great way to start. Also there is a "Best of the Best" state cookbook series highlighting each state's best recipes with the recipes coming from local cookbooks. I have two of these from Virginia. They are published by Quail Ridge Press- www.quailridge.com or 800-343-1583.
I would also add of Tide and Thyme by the Annapolis Junior League- it has a lot of classic Chesapeake seafood recipes.
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