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Corn -

Corn was a staple in the colonists' diet. Settlers had the Natives to thank for avoiding starvation, as they were taught the technique of growing corn.

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Corn -

The local peoples also taught the colonists how to make cornmeal. Soon after, corn was being used for a number of dishes, including johnnycakes (pancakes) and hasty pudding (porridge).

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Wild game -

Hunting was a way to get food in the 13 colonies. Animals such as deer, rabbit, and turkey would provide the settlers the protein they much needed.

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Wild game -

Though the heavy hunting and also the growth in popularity of pigeon hunting led to the extinction of one bird species: the passenger pigeon. Colonists would eat these in many different ways.

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Lobster -

Lobster was very abundant, so it naturally became a staple in the colonists' diet. Not only did settlers eat them, but they also used the mollusks to fertilize their crops.

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Lobster -

The boats developed to catch lobster were called "smacks," and those who ran them were called smackmen. Everyone ate lobster back then, even slaves and prisoners. It definitely wasn't the delicacy it is now considered to be.

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Potted meat -

This was essentially an assortment of different cuts of meat, from different animals, stuffed in pots. These would be conserved by adding butter or lard, and tightly sealing them. 

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Potted meat -

This method would extend shelf life. So would using salt, smoke, or snow, which D. M. Kinsman calls the "Three S's" in his book 'Meat Preparation and Preservation in Colonial America.'

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Pickled foods -

Pickling food is also a popular way to conserve it, and this method sure was used in the colonies. An example includes Dutch settlers in New York, who started growing cucumbers and selling them pickled.

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Pickled foods -

Colonists would pickle a wide range of foods, including vegetables, fruits, and meat. These would be placed inside wooden barrels and filled with brine.

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Jumble cookies -

Of course, colonists also had a sweet tooth. And what better way to satisfy their sugar cravings than giving a good ol' English cookie recipe a colonial American twist?

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Jumble cookies -

These were simple enough to make, needing just eggs, flour, sugar, and milk. The recipe is said to have spread from Maryland to other parts of America.

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Pepper cake -

In addition to cookies, this cake was also a favorite among the colonists. Pepper was used as a preservative, and for sweetness they used molasses.

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Pepper cake -

Pepper cake can be described as a pretty hard cake, perhaps similar to a gingerbread man. It did last a few months, apparently.

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Alcohol -

Of course colonists needed booze. And they sure found ways to produce it. Cider was among the favorites.

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Alcohol -

But so were other drinks that settlers ended up producing, such as bourbon. And if drinking whiskey was not enough, colonists would also import molasses to make rum.

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Alcohol -

Though perhaps the most surprising alcoholic drink on record consumed in the colonies was the Welsh spiced mead known as metheglin.

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Syllabub -

In its essence, the recipe just calls for something acidic and the opposite. Think milk/whipped cream with cider/wine, for instance.

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Syllabub -

Of course, there are numerous combos to make the boozy dessert of your dreams, and settlers experimented with a few. Favorites included alcohol with whipped raspberry cream or lemon cream.

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Codfish -

Fishing did put a lot of food on the table. Codfish in particular was very popular at the time. Not only to feed the colonies, but also as an export.

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Codfish -

Codfish would be dried out and salted, and then sold. The fishing industry became so prominent that fishermen were lured to use their boats during the Revolutionary War.

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Herbs -

Food in the colonies was everything but bland. Settlers liked their herbs and they used them often, in a variety of dishes. These included basil, sage, chives, and dill, among others.

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Herbs -

At one point colonists boycotted British teas, but found a local substitute when the Oswego locals taught them how to brew wild bergamot mint.

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Herbs - Herbs were not just used to season meat and salads. Some herbs were also used for cleaning and, of course, medicinally.

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Tavern food -

Local taverns offered great 'fast food' options back then. Though we're not talking about burgers, hot dogs, or pizza. Colonists were more into bacon and ham.

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Tavern food -

Other quick bites such as sweet potato muffins and hot biscuits were usually also on the menu.

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Tavern food -

And, of course, even the most puritan of Puritans couldn't resist a slice of chocolate pecan pie. 

Sources: (Grunge)

See also: Strange foods you won't believe people used to eat

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