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March 17, 2025 5:40 PM   Subscribe

A Postcard advertising The Congressional Club Cookbook.
"Fourteen editions of these cookbooks have been sporadically published throughout the years by The Congressional Club, a non-profit organization chartered by Congress in 1908." In 1927, The first cookbook was published advising, "“Knead and beat 500 licks till dough is soft and blisters,” instructed Willa Eslick, future Member and wife of then-Representative Edward Eslick, in her recipe for “Beaten Biscuits.”

"These cookbooks began featuring the recipes of wives and daughters of legislators from all regions of the United States but expanded in later editions to include recipes from men and international recipes from diplomats.

Gender plays an interesting role in the history of the Congressional Club and its Cookbook. While the inclusion of men may seem an interesting choice to point out in a post emphasizing the women’s history of cookbooks, their representation signifies the changing gender dynamics within Congress. While the Congressional Club initially functioned as a community of support for only wives and daughters, as women began to hold positions within Congress with more frequency, the club expanded to offer support to male spouses as well. Men began to make an appearance in the Congressional cookbook as recipe contributors in the 1955 issue, with men-only recipes referenced in newspapers in 1961"
posted by clavdivs (2 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Thanks for this! The recipes may not be what we care for anymore, but I remember the Senate’s cafeteria bean soup being popular enough for retail sales at one point. I tried it, although I can’t remember if I did that during a vaguely remembered field trip to DC or from the can. It was OK—not the spice and vegetable level I look for these days.

One casualty of political polarization is nonpartisan Congressional extracurriculars like this. I suppose representatives should never really have been friends with people who would hurt their constituents given the chance. Still, they were coworkers after all, and back in the day many families had to socialize with the families of coworkers for lack of any option, so they made little clubs.
posted by Countess Elena at 11:39 AM on March 18


Glad to see beaten biscuits as the example. This is a vanishing American food that is perfect with thin sliced country ham. (It is also time-consuming and energy-depleting to make.)
posted by CCBC at 4:52 PM on March 18


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