The Blue Grass Cook Book

African American cooks were not strangers in the kitchens of the Old South, but white southerners often failed to acknowledge their contributions. One of the first exceptions was Kentucky socialite Minnie C. Fox, who recognized the significant influence and importance of the African American cooks and wrote The Blue Grass Cook Book, first published in 1904.

From biscuits and hams to ice creams and puddings, this cookbook is a collection of over three hundred recipes from family and friends,...