Jan and John Maggs Antiques
Cooking on the Hearth
A fire in our keeping room fireplace during the Christmas season. (Photo: Judy Maggs)
Our colonial ancestors brought with them from Europe a tradition of cooking on an open fire. The large fireplace was an essential component of the earliest homes built by this country's 17th and 18th century immigrants. Preparation of food was done almost exclusively by the female side of the family. Anyone who has ever lifted a large, empty cast iron pot will have great respect for the women and girls who moved them about the hearth filled with soup or stew.
The past few decades have generated a revival of interest in hearth cooking. The cooking implements that once sat in the fireplace collecting soot are being scrubbed and put to use in the home. Whether you're an experienced open-flame chef or a beginner, you may find material of interest in the following pages.