The Past Few Months... Winter Update

In historical American cookery, all four seasons have their perks. This winter has been extremely enjoyable, as roaring hearth fires are quite pleasant in the colder months, our supplies of fresh meat are plentiful and our vegetables have kept moderately well. I have been able to cook in relative peace, not having to worry about weedy garden beds or a thousand flies in the kitchen. Naturally, winter also has its anxieties, as we have to keep a diligent eye on the food stores to ensure their quality and rationing.

Among this winters most pleasant experiences was Coggeshall Farm's Winter Frolic. While cooking alone is sometimes fun, cooking with friends & for friends is so much more rewarding. I have stayed busy and kept the kitchen warm by revisiting lots of old favorites, and experimenting with a few new receipts as well. Some of my more recent explorations include Amelia Simmons' spruce beer, molasses gingerbread cakes, and potato pudding.