Life
11 Recipes with Higher Approval Ratings than the Presidents Who Loved Them
Look, it isn’t easy being President of the United States. There are policies to make and promises to break — and you can’t do it on an empty stomach. While we may not always agree with the Oval Office, one thing is certain: our presidents know how to eat. In honor of Presidents’ Day this week, we’re looking back at our favorite recipes from the White House kitchen. Get ready to feast like a leader of the free world.
Image: Joy the Baker
George Washington's Cherry Pies
George Washington and cherries go together like tea and the Boston Harbor. Our first Commander in Chief would have loved these mini pies by Bakerella as he fought the good fight.
Image: Bakerella
Thomas Jefferson's Waffles
Jefferson was probably the biggest foodie to ever hold the title of POTUS. He had Parmesan in Italy and chocolates in France — but don’t get between this man and his Belgian waffles. He brought a waffle maker back from Europe in 1789, setting off a nationwide trend. Joy the Baker’s recipe is great fuel for late-night Declaration drafting.
Image: Joy the Baker
Andrew Jackson's Cheddar Gougères
When a New York dairy farmer sent Jackson a 1400-pound block of cheese to show his allegiance, the president decided to throw the world’s most epic cheese party at the White House. These cheddar-stuffed gougères from A Cozy Kitchen would have come in handy.
Image: A Cozy Kitchen
Abraham Lincoln's Gingerbread Men
Though Lincoln was never a big eater, this POTUS loved his gingerbread men. Brown Eyed Baker has the perfect recipe, just like mama used to make in the log cabin…
Image: Brown Eyed Baker
Ulysses S. Grant's Rice Pudding
What does a tough, hardy war hero like to eat? Grant was a fan of rice pudding, apparently. After a long siege, a man just needs some dessert, okay? Joy the Baker’s maple and ginger rice pudding is a cure for whatever ails you.
Image: Joy the Baker
Teddy Roosevelt's Fried Chicken
Surprising exactly no one, our favorite trust-busting, stick-wielding badass was a fried chicken man. This spicy variation from The Comfort of Cooking would have been right up his alley.
Image: The Comfort of Cooking
Woodrow Wilson's Ice Cream
World War I getting you down? Sounds like you could use a pint of Wilson-inspired strawberry ice cream, courtesy of Hummingbird High.
Image: Hummingbird High
Herbert Hoover's Sweet Potato Casserole
What depression? Hoover drowned his worries with sweet potato casserole, like this creamy recipe from Damn Delicious.
Image: Damn Delicious
Dwight Eisenhower's Sugar Cookies
Ike might have had a thing for frozen TV dinners, but he made up for it with his taste in sweets. We unearthed Mamie Eisenhower’s recipe from the presidential archives.
Image: My Baking Addiction
Jimmy Carter's Baked Eggplant
Sure, Carter was a peanut farmer…but did you know that the president emeritus is also nuts for eggplant? Green Kitchen Stories has just the thing for you, Jimmy.
Image: Green Kitchen Stories
Barack Obama's Burgers
Perks of being President? No one can judge you for throwing down with some foreign dignitaries over burgers. It may not be Ray’s, but this recipe from Up Close and Tasty is sure to be Obama’s new favorite.
Image: Up Close and Tasty
