Country stores were the shopping center, post office, gathering place and center of activity in almost every town across early america. The front porch attracted the talkers and checker players when the weather was warm and the pot-bellied stove drew them in all winter.
Children studied the glass showcases deciding which brightly colored candies to buy with their pennies, while their mothers chose muslin or calico to make into a shirt or dress. Groceries were loaded into the wagon and the family would linger to talk to friends and acquaintances and catch up on the latest news.
Today many old country stores are museums or have been restored for use as antique shops or quaint restaurants. If you are lucky, the country store you visit will offer such old-fashioned favorites as apple butter and mulled cider, and menu selections will include cornbread, apple fritters, gingerbread and buttermilk pie. All are included in the 71 recipes in this book, which reminds us of a quieter, simpler past.
