Apple seeds were brought to the New World by the Pilgrims in 1620? Apple pie, formerly called house pie by the poor, was the universal favorite American food in the 1700's. [4: 8]

Traditional American cooking is basically British? Americans may dine out at French or Greek restaurants, but at home, Americans essentially are British. Early immigrants were stubborn, and refused new foods. They brought familiar foods from England. We say, "as American as apple pie" --- but apple pie is British. [4: 9]

Native Americans introduced chewing gum to the pilgrims? In New England, Indians chewed resin from black spruce when they were hungry, and this gum eased hunger pangs. The first commercial manufacture of chewing gum in America was in Maine, about 1850. Following the Indian practice, the commercial chewing gum was spruce resin flavored. [4: 13]

Hang Town Fry was an omelet made of oysters and eggs? This dish was concocted at Hang Town (modern Placerville, California) during the Gold Rush era and made from the two most expensive items on the menu. Some say the dish was invented at the Cary House Restaurant. Miners who struck it rich in the gold fields asked for the most expensive dinner their new money could buy. [4: 10]

The song, My Darling Clementine, has a verse about shoes that goes...herring boxes without topses? This curious line is a reference to canned food. The first foods canned commercially were lobster and salmon, and these appeared around 1849. [4: 11]

Steamboats and later railroads increased commerce and changed the way people ate on the frontier? Transportation increased availability of yeast. Wheat bread made with yeast would ultimately replace varieties of hardtack and sourdough bread. [4: 15]

During the 19th century, most Americans followed distinct winter and summer dietary patterns? Farmers slaughtered their livestock soon after the first freeze in the fall. Afterwards, butchers salted and smoked the fresh meat to reduce spoilage. American farm families consumed fresh meat primarily in Autumn. [4: 14]