The old saying, “Did you come for a coal of fire?” will have greater meaning for those who participate in the Hearthside Meals event at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama on Saturday.
The old-time saying was often asked when a visitor seemed to be in a hurry to rush off.
Back years ago, people would often go to a neighbor’s house to borrow a hot coal of fire to restart their own fire once it had gone out. They would get a hot coal and rush home to get their own fire going once again.
Understanding of that old saying will be brought to those who participate in the Hearthside Meal because they will be cooking with hot coals and on a wood stove. And, keeping the coals hot will determine the success of the hearthside meal.
B.B. and Nita Palmer will demonstrate the art of cooking over hot coals and on a wood stove but first they will instruct the participants on just how to get started.
“You’ve got to have heat to cook and cooking over coals or on a wood stove is not as simple as turning a knob,” B.B. Palmer said. “There’s an art to old-time cooking and to my way of thinking, there’s nothing better than a stew cooked in a Dutch oven over coals or cornbread baked in a wood stove.”
Those who participate in Hearthside Meals will have a hands-on experience, from churning the butter to tending fires that cook the stew and bake the cobbler.
“Everybody will get a chance to cook and eat,” Palmer said. “We’ll have a one-pot meal that they will be able to cook and enjoy on their own. We’ll demonstrate as we cook and we’ll give everybody a chance to try their hands at all we do.”
When the hearthside meal is cooked to perfection or satisfaction, everyone will sit down together for a time of food, fellowship and fun.
The Palmers will have several door prizes to give away and all participants in the Hearthside Meal will leave with the knowledge of how to make-do with what you have and enjoy the doing of it.
Fives slots are still available for Hearthside Meals from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama. Registration fee is $15. For reservations, call 334-566-3597.