The Farmer’s Wife, a monthly magazine published in Minnesota between the years 1893 and 1939, provided a sense of community among hard-working rural women. In a time before high-speed internet connected us all, the magazine was a forum for farmer’s wives’ questions and concerns and assisted them in the day-to-day goings-on about the farm—everything from raising chickens and slaughtering hogs, to managing scant funds and dressing the children, to keeping house and running the kitchen.

The Farmer’s Wife was also the main source for new recipes and information about cooking techniques, culled from staff experts, bulletins issued by the USDA, and various extension services across the country. The Best of the Farmer’s Wife Cookbook collects favorite recipes and tips from all the magazines into one convenient volume.

Look no further for that recipe for award-winning cherry pie you remember from your youth. Or for those irresistible barbecue ribs that were a hit at every Fourth of July picnic. On these pages you’ll find time-tested recipes for classic pot roasts, blue-ribbon breads, model potato salads, and old-fashioned pies and cakes. Slow cooker recipes and a guide to home canning with instructions for making jams, jellies, pickles, and relishes are also included. Recipes have been updated to match the conveniences and ingredients of the modern kitchen. The Best of the Farmer’s Wife Cookbook is sure to satisfy readers in search of the flavors of farm country or those simply on the lookout for a piece of home-baked nostalgia.

Here’s a sampling of the recipes you’ll find inside:

• Macaroni and Cheese
• Pot Pie
• Southern Fried Chicken
• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Corn Chowder
• Swedish Meatballs
• Sour Milk Griddle Cakes
• Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Cherry Batter Pudding
• Scotch Shortbread
• Gingerbread Banana Shortcake
• Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
• Michigan Cherry Pie
• Apple Plum Jam
• English Orange Marmalade
• Pear Honey