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Government Cookies: Cookbooks

Cookie recipes found in government documents.

The True essentials of a feast

The True essentials of a feast : a collection of recipes from the staff of the Library of Congress, 1987

This great book is illustrated with images taken from the collections of the Library of Congress.

The Congressional cook book; favorite national and international recipes with special articles by eminent government authorities.

This is a revised version of the 1927 edition. The Congressional Club was incorporated by an act of Congress in 1908:

“To promote acquaintance among members and to facilitate their social intercourse and to provide a place of meeting which may help to secure for them the advantages of life in the national capital.”

Members were the wives and daughters of Congressional, Supreme Court, and Cabinet members. This cookbook includes a message from Eleanor Roosevelt and an essay on nutrition from Surgeon General Dr. Hugh S. Cumming.

Aunt Sammy's radio recipes revised.

Aunt Sammy (wife of Uncle Sam) had a popular radio program from 1926-1944. So many people wanted the recipes from the show a cookbook was produced in 1927. You can find the 1931 version here.

National Archives

 Eating with Uncle Sam: Recipes and Historical Bites from the National Archives, 2012

  • Features over 150 historical and modern-day recipes from the
  • Favorites from each of the Presidential libraries.

Favorite recipes from the United Nations

Favorite recipes from the United Nations: 170 authentic dishes Edited and kitchen-tested by the American Home Economics Association, 1956.

There are multiple editions of this book published by the U.S. Committee for the United Nations. Another version with 185 recipes was published in 1959 by Robin Hood Mills in Canada.