ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

The Virginia House-Wife

The Virginia Housewife was a big book of recipes and household advice written a long time ago by a lady named Mary Randolph. Think of it like a giant cookbook with advice on how to take care of a home and a family.

Mary Randolph wanted to help other people in Virginia (a place in America) learn how to cook really yummy food and keep their homes clean and tidy. She wrote down a lot of recipes for things like cakes, soups, and even how to make your own soap!

She also gave advice on how to be a good host or hostess and how to take care of your family when they were sick. She even suggested ways to dress nicely so people would think you were polite and well-mannered.

The book was really helpful for people who lived a long time ago because they didn't have the internet or TV like we do now. They really needed a book like The Virginia Housewife to learn how to cook yummy food and keep their homes looking nice.