Prairie homes of the 1800s were often lonely places far from friends and neighbors. Farm families—anchored by strong women—became legendary for their hardy self-reliance and no-nonsense wisdom. The Prairie Farmer magazine was sometimes a woman’s only resource for advice and ideas on how to make do. In this fascinating collection—drawn from the Prairie Farmer from 1841 to 1900—are dozens of recipes for such down-home dishes as Green Corn Soup, Smothered Chicken, and Providence Cake, interspersed with tips and colorful stories submitted by the magazine’s loyal readers.