Burritt on the Mountain

Open Hearth Cooking Classes

With the Historic Cooking Guild of North Alabama

March 5, 6, & 7, 2015

March 5, 2015 - Introduction to Open Hearth Cooking

So, you have never cooked at the hearth but would like to give it a try? Or, do you just need a refresher in the basics? Then, this is the class for you! The class will be from 9:00 until 2:00 in the Chandler House. The cost of the class is $75.00. All food and equipment is provided. For more information and to obtain the required pre-registration form, contact Pat McMillion at pmcmillion@aol.com or call 256-539-3678 or 256-651-1651. The cutoff date for registration is March 2.

March 6, 2015 – Open Hearth Cooking with Historic Recipes 

Delve deeper into the cookbooks of the 19th century to cook up some tasty and historic dishes. Some experience at the hearth will be quite helpful. The class will be from 9:00-2:00 in the Chandler House. The cost of the class is $75.00. All food and equipment is provided. For more information and to obtain the required pre-registration form, contact Pat McMillion at pmcmillion@aol.com or call 256-539-3678 or 256-651-1651. The cutoff date for registration is March 2.

March 7, 2015 – Sharpening Your Hearth Cooking Skills 

Now that you have some experience with open hearth cooking, come and spend the day preparing all kinds of historic and modern recipes in the Chandler House from 9:00 until 4:00. The cost is $75.00 which covers the cost of all of the food and equipment. For more information and to obtain the required pre-registration form, contact Pat McMillion at pmcmillion@aol.com or call 256-539-3678 or 256-651-1651. The cutoff date for registration is March 2.

       

Cooking Demonstration at the McCrary Farm

McCrary Farm Event

Sunday, April 21st 

Members of the Historical Cooking Guild of Madison County left their familiar stomping ground of Burritt on the Mountain and headed north.  

Their purpose: to demonstrate historical cooking methods for the Historic Huntsville Foundation's Barbecue fundraiser.  

Their destination: the McCrary Farm of New Market.

• The farm, currently owned by Marguerite Thomas Ellison and Rosemary and Thomas McCrary, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  
• It is both an Alabama Century Farm (having been in the same family continuously for at least 100 years)  and an Alabama Heritage Farm (one that has played a significant role in Alabama history.)  
• Even more impressive is that Thomas McCrary has been farming the parcel of land himself until very recently when his health forced him to slow down just a bit at the age of 101.

Preparations

Although the event began at 2:00 p.m., guild members Sharlene Coker,  "Granny Pat" McMillion, and Lou Ann Poole started preparations days before that with menu planning and gathering supplies.  As usual, our families are very supportive and often lend a hand.  

Set Up

Safety First!

There is no reason to sacrifice a sense of historical accuracy for safety or visa versa.  A barrel makes a fabulous hiding place for a modern fire extinguisher.  

Taking time to set things up properly makes the day go more smoothly.

  We couldn't forget the hands on station for kids.

Let the Cooking Begin

The Historic Cooking Guild Of Madison County would like to thank the McCrary family and the Historic Huntsville Foundation for allowing us to be part of this event.  

We'd also like to offer special thanks to Sharlene's husband Phil Coker for building our fire pit, tending our fire, loading and unloading equipment, lifting heavy pots and pans,  watching and tasting our food, being an all around good sport, and doing it all with a smile.  We couldn't have done it without you Phil.

Pictures from Spring Cooking Day at Burritt on the Mountain