‘Culinary History of Southern Delaware’ author Denise Clemons to speak Jan. 10

Local author and Cape Gazette columnist Denise Clemons will be the guest speaker at the Lewes Historical Society’s Museum Speaker Series at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, at the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center in the Lewes History Museum, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes.

Well known for her weekly cooking column Cape Flavors since 2005, Clemons will discuss the evolution of cookbooks in the United States from their colonial inception to the continued popularity of the books to date.

Clemons’s own cookbook, “A Culinary History of Southern Delaware: Scrapple, Beach Plums and Muskrat,” was published in August 2016 by the History Press and is available throughout the state. The book explores the history behind local ingredients and how recipes have historically connected residents of Southern Delaware.

During her presentation, Clemons will illustrate how the content and format of cookbooks has changed over the years reflecting social, cultural and economic trends. Examples of older “receipts,” fancy recipes and humorous advice to homemakers will be highlighted. Attendees will be treated to a personally made culinary delight based on one of Clemons’s own historic cookbooks.

The popularity of cookbooks has survived the shift to digital. Close to 18 million cookbooks were sold in the United States alone in 2017. A 21 percent increase in sales was recorded in the first six months of 2018. The continued escalation of interest in cookbooks could reflect on society’s current anxiety over diet and the food people eat. Increased sales could also be an example of Americans placing more faith and trust in recipes that have spanned generations and are still in use today.

This event is free and open to the public. No reservation is required.