Historic Cookery

For your enjoyment and edification: another 17th Century painting that depicts a reflector oven. HUZZAH! This was posted just today on Facebook by friend and fellow CP alum (aka former Conner Prairie interpreter and thus, an occasional 1836 “husband”…ahh, good times!), the illustrious Terry Sargent.

“Drink, friendly to Nature and accommodated to General Use” was the topic last year of Deb Peterson’s annual Historic Foodways Symposium. As usual, a hearth cooking workshop was held afterwards, wherein dishes related to the event’s subject were prepared. Participants toiled happily at the two heart

During the recent “Spring Celebration” at the Queens County Farm Museum, I was busy at the hearth of the site’s Adriance Farmhouse. While a variety of modern-type activities, ranging from sheep shearing and hayrides to music and a plant sale, were taking place throughout the complex, I offered a few

I’ve known for a long time, since the beginning of this year, in fact, that I’d be cooking at the hearth of The Israel Crane House on Saturday, May 5. And, although nothing is set in stone until just before each specific day that I’m there, the “menu” of what I’ll be cooking is typically [...]

We had a great group of folks at the recent (April 15) hearth cooking class at the Israel Crane House. Everyone worked diligently on all the various dishes, and I think it’s safe to say that a fun time was had by all. Of course, the absolute BEST part was sitting down to enjoy a [...]

My “Big Week” of hearth cooking (March 20 to April 1, when I had one event after another) finally came to a close at the same spot where it all began: the Israel Crane House. That Sunday was billed as “Family Day,” since all of the properties owned by The Montclair Historical Society (MHS) were [...

On the Friday of my “Big Week” of hearth cooking events, I was off to the Queens County Farm Museum for a Teachers’ Professional Development Workshop. As part of their program, I was stationed in the Adriance Farmhouse, where I was ready, waiting, and oh-so eager (!) to share the joys of 18th centur

After spending a day happily sharing the joys of hearth cooking with a gaggle of Homeschoolers (and eating the results) at The Israel Crane House, my next Big Event was to do basically more of the same with about 60 teachers at the Queens County Farm Museum (QFM). I had devised a “menu” for the [...

Now that I’ve gotten a bit o’ rest after a busy week and have done things like cleaned up kitchen messes and organized my photos, I can now get back to blogging. HUZZAH! Besides, a report on my most recent hearth cooking adventures is long overdue. And there were several during the week of March [..

NOTE: Apparently, this entire series has been pulled, even from youtube. It’s unfortunate, as it was fantastic! Possibly, parts may still be found on youtube, so my suggestion is to look there. I’m disappointed, that’s for sure! I apologize for any inconvenience. _______________ I recently re-discov