Oh Delaware, here you are, waiting patiently for your chance in the spotlight
This week we travel to Claymont, Delaware. Claymont was originally occupied by aboriginal Indians of the Middle Wooand period who lived along Naamans Creek.
Dutch colonists arrived in tbe 17th century and named the area Naamans after the Chief of the Lenape Indians. The settlement grew rapidly. Before long, farms started popping up and the town had a gristmill.
Sitting along the Delaware River, Claymont has been a two-way thoroughfare for travel to and from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., since colonial days.
In 1838, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad built a station in Claymont.
The area developed from a primarily agricultural community to a suburban resort area for wealthy Philadelphia families.
In 1856, Naamans was renamed as Claymont after the Reverend John B. Clemson, pastor of the Episcopal church. He relocated here with his family from their plantation, Claymont Court, in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Today, Claymont is a town of about 10,000 people and still full of rich history all the way back when our country was just being born.
Onto the recipe! When I started this “1 recipe per state journey”, I had some gaps in my own cookbook collection that needed to be filled. Luckily, I was able to use the Intrer-Library Loan service at my library to retrieve some states that I just couldn’t put my hands on otherwise.
By emailing the ILL department and telling them what I was doing, they helped me locate a book that was perfect for my project. “The Delaware Heritage Cookbook” dropped in my lap and it was absolutely full of great foods to try.
I settled on Corn Chowder. Yum!
Couple of things:
- I wasn’t sure what “salt pork” was so I used two pieces of bacon instead. Seemed to have worked fine.
- 1 cup of water wasn’t enough liquid it didn’t seem like. I added a bit more, but not cover the potatoes completely.
- I used red potatoes and left the skins on. I just think it looks pretty and it adds color.
- I threw in some thyme. I just love how it makes things taste. If you don’t want it in there, don’t put it in there. Simple!
This was great! We had it with cornbread, but crackers would also be wonderful!
The Plot Twisted 