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.