Mrs. Charles Darwin’s Recipe Book Provides Tasty Link to the Past

Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book contains updated recipes from Emma Wedgwood Darwin's cookery notebook.

In case the recent 200-year anniversary of the birth of the first evolutionary scientist, Charles Darwin, escaped your attention, we want to suggest a unique way to celebrate the famous English naturalist’s life: Peruse the 55 recipes within Mrs. Charles Darwin’s Recipe Book (Glitterati, 2008).

Compiled, tested and updated by Dusha Bateson and Weslie Janeway, the recipes culled from the cookery notebook of Emma Wedgwood Darwin include cheese straws, compote of apples, fish croquettes, Nesselrode pudding and quince jelly. The book also contains botanical illustrations and information about the Darwins. Following is one of Emma’s deliciously fragrant desserts.

Pears to Stew

2 large pears

1 tablespoon sugar

6 cloves

1 strip of lemon peel

Preheat oven to 200º F. Cut the pears into quarters. Peel and core them. (If they are very large, cut the pieces in half again.) Place them in an ovenproof casserole. Add 2–3 tablespoons of water and a sprinkling of sugar. Add the cloves and lemon peel, cover and cook in a very low oven for 4 hours.

Serves 4

NUTRITION SCORE (per serving)

73 calories (1% from fat)

Fat 0.1 g

Carbs 19 g

Protein 0.4 g

Fiber 3.2 g

Calcium 9 mg

Iron 0.2 mg

Sodium 1 mg

We love dishes that have been, as in this case, “revived and updated.” Do you have family recipes that have been modernized over the generations?

Tags: British people, Charles Darwin, Darwin-Wedgwood family, Emma Darwin, Emma Wedgwood Darwin, English people, first evolutionary scientist, Hospitality/Recreation, Human Interest, Quince, Science