My husband and I did a bit of time traveling and went to Virginia in the 18th century. I thought I would be able to witness bread being made, and tie that into my “try a craft quest”, but not a loaf was made in my presence. I did get to enjoy the ginger cakes at the Raleigh Tavern Bakery in Williamsburg, but they were pre-packaged (they definitely are much better straight out of the oven). In Jamestown Settlement, historical interpreters talked about traditional food such as corncake and stews cooked by the Powhatan. In the fort, they were cooking bacon (and trying to keep the chickens from nesting in the fireplace). We went to Yorktown during the Revolutionary war and visited a tobacco farm. The person I spoke to said that cornbread, made with mashed corn and not wheat, was much easier to make on a hearth. The method was to throw coals on the floor and place your cooking device on top of that, such as a lidded pot or fry pan.
The visit was interesting. We purchased a historic triangle ticket, which gives you access to Colonial Williamsburg (but you still have to pay for parking), Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. I would recommend if you are planning a visit to come later in the spring, as it was very cold and other attractions, such as Busch Gardens, were only open for limited hours. Outdoor stalls at Colonial Williamsburg were closed. Some restaurants are not open on Mondays.
Going back to my “Try a Craft”, I am just not inspired by baking. I thought I would get into the science experiment that is sourdough starter, but it reminds me too much of all the plants I have killed over the years. I just don’t want to fuss with it. I definitely prefer crafts that can be put down and walked away from, can be done while sitting, and don’t have the high stakes of either feeding my family or being thrown in the garbage. I kept going to my other side-craft, learning how to do digital art. I read through “Quick and Simple Painting in Procreate” during the trip and did some of the tutorial paintings. I have one more week of bread month. Maybe I should try sweet breads, like cinnamon rolls or banana bread.
Other books:
- Everyday Bread by America’s Test Kitchen
- Artisanal Bread in your Bread Machine
- Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day
