As a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln enjoyed the homemade fruit pies baked by the ladies of New Salem, Illinois. After he left for Washington, these ladies would ship fruit pies to the White House, decorated with steam gashes in the shapes of stars, letters to indicate the type of fruit, or "L" for Lincoln. President Lincoln cherished their thoughtfulness and enjoyed pies like this classic recipe:

On May 16, 1861, she visited the firm of E.V. Haughwout and Co. "Importers and Decorators of French China." Haughwout's had designed dinnerware for the Executive Mansion during the administration of President Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) - a splendid dinner service with a seal of the United States emblazoned on each piece. Although the commission was never approved, Haughwout's highlighted the china at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in New York in 1853. When they showed the pattern to Mrs. Lincoln, she was thrilled. She approved it with one change: instead of the proposed blue border, she asked for a strong magenta color called "solferino." In September of 1861, Haughwout and Co. delivered the full set of fine porcelain - 190 pieces - decorated in "royal purple and double gilt." It included: 2 bowls for salad 4 shells for pickles 4 meat platters in each of 6 sizes (9", 10", 13", 15", 18", and 20") 4 fish platters in various sizes and forms 2 butter dishes with drainers and covers 6 uncovered vegetable dishes or "bakers" 96 nine-inch dinner plates 48 soup plates 4 large water pitchers 2 bowls for ice

There were also a fine porcelain dessert service of 208 pieces, a breakfast and tea service of 260 pieces and center pieces, and two large punch bowls. Later, still more pieces were added. The variety of pieces reflects the demands of fashion during those times. When huge formal meals were presented in well-to-do houses, the presentation was far more important than the quality (or hotness) of the food.