Grow and Prosper
We do not want to just survive; we want to live and thrive!
A few decades after the first landing, when everyone was settling into their new land and finding their way around the challenges of surviving, the colonies began to grow and prosper. Imports were coming in and exports were going out. This meant better cooking tools, ingredients, and methods. Our melting pot of a country began to utilize lessons taught from settlers who came from all over the world.
We actually ate better than most Europeans. Throughout the United Kingdom, eating a combination of meat and wheat flour was a sign of wealth, whereas the colonists were having meat every day. Widespread famine was not a problem here as it was in countries such as Ireland and England. Those in the Northeast regularly ate beef, pork, veal, and lamb; they also kept chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks.
Imports such as fortified wines, rum, raisins, currants, lemons, and nutmeg all made their way to the ports along the East Coast, making meals that much more enjoyable. Creativity was key as they used imports and native ingredients to create what we now consider classic all-American dishes.
Also during this time, the fishing industry began to take off. Although the Native Americans had first taught the settlers how to fish, the settlers turned their newfound skills into a thriving business. Cod was the colonists’ cash cow. Cha-ching. It was widely sought after throughout the world, and the fish were dried, salted, and sold to Europeans.
Molasses was an interesting ingredient—it was not popular with the Europeans so much, but it quickly became a staple in the colonial home. Settlers in the Northeast used it with baked beans, soups, and marinades, and they even mixed it with bourbon. It was used in baking desserts and breads and used as a treat for kids when mixed with milk. Unfortunately, its checkered past involves what was called the Triangular Trade—a lousy triangle of trade between Africa, the Caribbean, and New England, which moved molasses, rum, and slaves among the three locations. While molasses was considerably cheaper than sugar, it came at an ultimate price that left a dark mark on American history.
Other exports by region include:
New England
Cattle
Lumber
Fish
Fur
Corn
Whale products
Raw wool
Dried meats
Wheat flour
Middle Colonies
Horses
Beer
Flax
Apples
Rope
Bricks
Tobacco
Bread
Southern Colonies
Tobacco
Fruit
Lumber
Clay
Beaver
Iron
Rice
Silkworms
Furniture
Olives
Capers
Pottery
Pork