November 21, 2024

VIDEO: Leather Britches-18th Century Appalachian Style Green Bean Preservation/Cooking


Homegrown “Leather Britches” were a major hit tonight on the homestead! They have such an interesting history and place in 18th century and Appalachian style food preservation/cooking! This is how the pioneers did it! If properly stored, they can keep for up to 2 years. Mine, here, are 1 year old and cooked up great! My next batch will definitely be made in my Dutch Oven on my cowboy grill or wood stove. Need less to say, this whole process was a wonderful teaching experience my children not to mention they are simple, delicious, and so rewarding to make in all stages! Enjoy!

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28 thoughts on “VIDEO: Leather Britches-18th Century Appalachian Style Green Bean Preservation/Cooking

  1. Years ago I read pioneer novel and they mentioned hanging leather britches above the fireplace. This is a gem of knowledge to to it done and prepared for a meal!!! Thank you!

  2. When preparing your beans for stringing,did you blanch them first to stop the aging? I really need an answer as I tried leather britches once and they didn't turn out so well.

  3. I grow up doing this in Southeast KY, my mammaw done this, But I can't remember how long they can be preserved How long can they Last after stringing them?

  4. I’m from eastern Kentucky. Every thanksgiving and Christmas since my great grandparents generation we had these with holiday dinners. We called them “shuck” beans. My mother grows/buys green beans, white half runners, She will dry them in the sun on big unused window screens and store them until holiday. My grandmother would string them up and hang them in her garage. Soak in cold water overnight, and I cook them for about an hour until tender with bacon grease. People tend to over cook these and you really don’t have to. It’s not the holidays until mom cooks these up.

  5. They look delicious!! An that is so talented of whoever invented that thought. I had never ever heard of such a thing.. But truly an ingenious thing to do if u have a big harvest of green beans as u apparently do. I am seriously impressed by this skill of yours.. Beautiful.. Thank you for sharing this idea with us.

  6. What is your favorite Cherokee bean to do this with?
    I live not too far from Cherokee, and would like to grow the best Cherokee bean for this. Thank you for what you do to preserve our heritage!

  7. Mom always washed them two or three times, then soaked them overnight in water. She then poured off the water and let them cook on top of the coal stove all day, in a Dutch oven. They were special.

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