The Emily Dickinson Museum announces a book-signing of "Emily Dickinson: Profile of the Poet as Cook with Selected Recipes," by authors Jean Mudge, Nancy Brose, Juliana Dupre, and Wendy Kohler on September 25, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. at the Dickinson Homestead. The book-signing marks a new edition of the recipe book and the gift of copyright to the museum by the four authors.

The book-signing takes place on the same day that the Emily Dickinson Museum hosts its annual Marathon Poetry Reading, a talk and workshop about apples and figs, and its first-ever Dickinson Recipe Baking Contest. Judges for the Baking Contest will include the authors of "Profile of the Poet as Cook." A schedule of all the day's events and details about the Baking Contest can be found on the museum's website www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org. 

"Profile of the Poet as Cook" was first published in 1976 when the first resident-curator of the Dickinson Homestead, Jean Mudge, lived in the poet's home with her husband, Amherst College professor Lew Mudge, and their three children. At that time, the Homestead was open for public tours on a limited schedule, and co-authors Nancy Brose, Juliana Dupre, and Wendy Kohler were members of the guiding corps that gave tours to eager visitors.  

The book includes illuminating essays about the poet's culinary experience as well as sixteen Dickinson recipes and photographs of food related artifacts from the Homestead and the Evergreens. Many popular nineteenth-century recipes such as Wine Jelly and Snow Pudding are presented for the modern kitchen.

Mudge recalled the origins of the project to create an informative and useful recipe book. "One day in the early 1970s, a visitor to the Dickinson Homestead asked if I knew Dickinson's recipe for gingerbread.  Researching Dickinson manuscripts, I found not only that recipe, but enough family menus and other recipes to suggest a pamphlet."  Mudge invited Nancy Brose and Juliana Dupre to update the manuscript recipes for modern cooks, which they accomplished through a series of kitchen experiments. "I can still think of no better way of entering Emily's world than through measuring and mixing as she did the ingredients of her lifetime," said Brose. With Jean Mudge, Wendy Kohler helped edit the text, and later served as business manager for the enterprise.  

Since its first publication in 1976, the pamphlet has been in constant demand, testimony to the public's strong interest in Emily Dickinson as a gifted cook as well as a world-renowned poet. The authors of the cooking pamphlet are donating copyright to the Emily Dickinson Museum so that all proceeds directly benefit its work. "Profile of the Poet as Cook" can be purchased at the Emily Dickinson Museum Gift Shop or on-line at www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org.

The new edition and book-signing are timed to coincide with the opening of "Art has a 'Palate'": The Dickinsons and Dining, the Museum's exhibition at The Evergreens in collaboration with Museums10 summer/fall events, "Table for Ten" (www.museums10.org/tablefor10).

Emily Dickinson was well-known among friends and family for her baked goods. She even won second place (and 50 cents) for her Rye and Indian Bread in the 1856 Amherst Cattle Show.

In the spirit of her success, the Emily Dickinson Museum is sponsoring its first-ever baking contest.  Entrants may choose to make one or more of the following recipes:

Rules for entering as well as recipes for all four categories are available in a downloadable PDF from the Museum's website www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/events.

Tuesday, September 21 is the deadline for submitting an "Intention to Enter" form. Entries must be delivered to the Emily Dickinson Museum between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 25.  Prizes will be awarded at 4 p.m.  Prizes include Emily Dickinson Museum aprons. All second-place winners will also receive 50 cents.

The Emily Dickinson Museum, comprising the Dickinson Homestead and The Evergreens, is devoted to the story and legacy of poet Emily Dickinson and her family. Both properties are owned by the Trustees of Amherst College. The museum is overseen by a separate Board of Governors charged with raising its operating and capital funds. The Homestead was the birthplace and residence of the poet (1830-1886). The Evergreens was the home of the poet's brother and sister-in-law, Austin and Susan Dickinson. The official museum website is www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org. Regular museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., March 31 through December 31, 2010.  The EmilyDickinsonMuseum is located at 280 Main Street in Amherst.