Pack the Skillet

from the introduction:
When the earliest settlers came to this country, they left behind house and home, many personal possessions, church, family, friends, familiar lifestyle and diet. They gave up much of the "near and dear" for the "far and wide," but in abandoning security they found adventure and lived out their aspirations. We can thank these dream-doers for the American spirit of independence and discovery. This book will use entries from journals and diaries to illustrate certain aspects of pioneer life, with special emphasis on food. While the pioneers were actually traversing the land, a campfire and a frying pan represented, for the most part, the kitchen and its equipment. When they reached their destination, their initial housing was ofttimes primitive. Most cooking was simple, and "low-tech." Some old-timey recipes are adaptable for use today, while others are just fun to try out, so unpack the skillet and light the fires.