Ruth Gretzinger’s post this week on the Michigan Marketing & Design blog provides a delightful example of the power of historical research. Ruth came across a reference to “democrat cake” in a novella set in 19th century New Mexico, and wondered what it could be. She contacted JJ Jacobson, Clements Library Curator for American Culinary History, to find out more about this mysterious food. JJ was able to locate a recipe in an 1886 book called The Queen of the Kitchen. Mystery solved! If only all research projects were this delicious.