Emma Pike Ewing was born on a farm in Broome County, New York. After marrying, she felt there was a lack of information on domestic affairs, especially cooking. This prompted Ewing to write her first book, Cooking and Castle-Building, released in 1880. That same year she started her own cooking school in Chicago and took on a professorship at the Iowa Agricultural College. In 1898 she founded the Model Home School of Household Economics. While teaching, she wrote various works, such as Soup and Soup Making (1882), Salad and Salad Making (1884), the book, Cookery Manuals (1890), The Art of Cookery (1896), and Text-Book of Cookery, (1897).

This rare first edition, published in 1896, is in good vintage condition. The pages are intact and clean, however the cover is soiled and corners are worn.