Programs and Demonstrations



I ce Cream, Franklin on Food, Chocolate, Gingerbread,
Curds & Whey, Scottish Highlands Cooking,
Shipboard Cooking, Puddings, Tea,

Beverages, Salt, Native American Cooking

E-mail Susan if you are interested in a program, for more information
on programs, or for additional programs not listed here.



18th Century Ice Cream

From harvesting ice to moulding of ice cream, this demonstration involves the production of ice cream in a reproduction 18th century sabotiere. Only documented 18th century flavors are reproduced using original receipts (recipes). Hearth or fire not required. Hands-on activities for children can be incorporated.

 

Franklin on Food
"Food not costly vain, but plentifully good." An 18th century foodways program based on receipts in the Benjamin Franklin papers and quotes from Poor Richard's Almanack. This program can be done with or without fire pit or hearth.

 

Chocolate
From cacao bean to chocolate, this demonstration can be simply the use of the metate to process chocolate nibs to pure chocolate, or the entire process from roasting raw cacao beans to the chocolate product. 17th and 18th century chocolate receipts may be demonstrated if desired. Hearth is not required for the demonstration of the metate.

 

Evolution of the Gingerbread Man
The story of gingerbread is a fascinating story as it evolves from a mixture of ginger and breadcrumbs to its present day form. This program provides actual product made from original receipts to tell the history. If hearth is available, an appropriate receipt of gingerbread can be prepared as part of the program.

 

Curds and Whey
The cheese making process is demonstrated with rennet and raw milk and shows the preparation of both soft and hard cheeses. Actual demonstration is available only during the months that milk was available in the 18th century. Presentations, showing all aspects of the cheese making process, are available year round. Hearth is necessary for actual cheese production.

 

Foods of the Scottish Highlands
This is an excellent presentation for Celtic festivals. Typical Scottish foods are prepared using a girdle, bakstone, and spurtle while the smell of peat is in the air. This presentation is based for fire pits outdoors or hearth. Presentation is possible without actual cooking. Hands on activities for children are included.

 

Shipboard Cooking
What was the food like on shipboard in the 18th century? This presentation focuses on demonstrating the typical shipboard fare of both American and English vessels. The use of braziers is available for actual production of foods but the presentation can be done without. Hands on activities for children can be incorporated.

 

Everything hath an end and a Pudding has Two..
The history and evolution of the English pudding provided with original receipts. This program can be presented with or without hearth. With hearth or fire pit capabilities, actual receipts and processes can be demonstrated.

 

18th Century Tea
The etiquette and meaning of taking tea in the 18th century is explored with reproductions and artifacts. Each piece of equipage is demonstrated and discussed as well as the differences in the basic types of tea.

 

Beverages in the 18th Century
Tea is just one of many 18th century beverages and with each beverage came the proper drinking vessel. This presentation shows with reproductions and basic ingredients, many of the beverages commonly used—tea, coffee, chocolate, ale, beer, punch, posset and several others. This program can be presented with samples of some of the beverages.

 

Salt
Salt is the one rock that humans need and consume. It is such a basic substance in our lives that it is rarely given much thought. Salt has a fascinating history and story. This presentation tells the story with different samples of salts and reproduction artifacts.

Native American
Native American demonstrations that focus on the foodways of the Eastern Woodland Indian (which include Lenape, Iroquois, Wampanoag, Penobscot and others) are available with fire or without. Presentations can be done either outdoors or indoors. The actual presentation depends on the season of the year. Actual foods can be produced and demonstrated or it can be a static display.

 

Other programs are available on request. Please contact Susan if you have any questions or need more information. 

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