Nelly Custis Lewis's Housekeeping Book

Book excerpt: "Nelly Custis Lewis, George Washington's adopted daughter, for over thirty years was the mistress of Woodlawn, a large and elegant Virginia plantation. Plantations were virtually self-sufficient, so that recipes for household cleaners, home remedies, and the care and dyeing of clothing, were essential for such a large household. The lady of the plantation was also responsible for providing huge and varied meals in pre-refrigeration days. During the 1830s, Mrs. Lewis kept the housekeeping book presented here. It is a collection of recipes and remedies which is interesting for its reflection of nineteenth-century plantation life. Many of the recipes may also be used with success today" --Dust jacket flap.