The Magic of Fire - Open Hearth Cooking

January 23, 2011, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

The Durand-Hedden House will welcome guest 18th century cook, Mercy Ingraham, to its kitchen fireplace. Together with Durand-Hedden’s historic chef, Irene Kosinski, Mercy will introduce visitors to fascinating new open hearth cooking techniques and seasonal foodways of the past, including boiled pudding, salted cod, chicken-on-a-string and assorted pickled provisions. Mercy lives in a 1750’s era house with a walk-in fireplace and is a popular teacher of Early American domestic arts.

Children can try their hand at old-fashioned cooking chores like kneading dough and making butter.

The popular exhibit, The Woman’s Club of Maplewood: A Century of Service to Country and Community will be on view.

Shuttles, Spindle and Flyer Wheels: Hand spinning and Weaving in the 21st Century

The Essex County Hand Spinners Guild will demonstrate the magical art of spinning fibers into yarn on hand spindles and spinning wheels, some antique or traditional in appearance, and some contemporary that have a modern look. Weavers will also demonstrate how cloth is made on a variety of looms. Visitors will also be invited to try their hands at spinning and weaving.

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Membership in the Durand-Hedden House & Garden Association is open to all. Please consider your membership an invitation to join us as a volunteer or docent educator.