Monday, October 20, 2008

Great Turnout

Yesterday we did a small "shakedown" outdoor cooking demonstration and it was very well received by the visitors. We made biscuits in a Dutch oven and then offered visitors a sampling of the biscuits with some fresh butter and apple butter. We had over a 100 visitors yesterday and there wasn't much left to clean up. Thanks to everyone who came out. Please be sure and come back on Sunday, November 9th in the afternoon for a much bigger and more interactive...and more things to taste test...cooking demonstration.

Friday, October 17, 2008

We'll be Cooking Sunday

If you happen to be in the area on Sunday, please stop by and enjoy a sample of our wonderful biscuits and some real butter. We'll start the fires around noon, so we should have some wonderful, hot and delicious treats by 1:30pm or so.

A bigger cooking demonstration will be taking place on the afternoon of Sunday, November 9th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend and sample some wonderful food hot and fresh from our Dutch ovens.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Cooking Demonstrations

The Friends of the Menard Home are planning to start doing some outdoor cooking demonstrations over an open fire in Dutch Ovens or bake kettles as they were called in earlier days. Specific weekends haven't been set as of yet for the demonstrations, but a variety of tasty foods will be prepared by the volunteers. Make sure you keep an eye on the Blog for upcoming dates and times.

Monday, October 6, 2008

What a Great Day!

We had Menard's Birthday Celebration yesterday and I don't think we could have picked a better day for a party, the weather was just spectacular. The turnout wasn't to terribly heavy, but considering the number of events happening in the area on Sunday it was a respectable showing. The Friends of the Menard Home served cake, pastries and lemonade to all the visitors who came out and the guest were pleasantly surprised at the changes in the room and furniture configurations that have taken place over the last few weeks.

Thank you to all of those who came out and showed their support for the Menard Home. We greatly appreciate it.

Photos of Chimney Repairs in Progress

Contracting is being done by Lake Contracting and subcontracting by Diecker-Terry, Masonry, Inc. out of Marissa, IL. You be the judge

The Current Condition & Maintenance Issues of the Menard Home

If you don't like the photos, please call and write our Legislatures. Addresses can be found in the right hand column of this blog.

Maintainance Issues at the Menard Home

Houston We Have a PROBLEM!!!!!

This is what the southeast dormer looks like from the attic. The light you're seeing is daylight...guess what happens when it rains!?!!???!!!


Houston We Have Another Problem!!!

Houston We Have Another Problem!!!
This is what is happening in the nursery with all the heavy rain.

Baked Whole Pumpkin

1 (5-7 lb) pumpkin
6 Whole eggs
2 Cup Whipping cream
½ cup Brown sugar
1 tablespoon Molasses
½ teaspoon Fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Ginger
2 tablespoon Butter

This dish was a favorite of George Washington. While it was called a pie in the old days, it's certainly not what we call a pie now. Here the custard pie is found inside the pumpkin and the whole thing is to be served up with a bit of anticipation for a very different pumpkin dessert. Cut the lid off the pumpkin just as you would for a jack-o'-lantern. Remove the seeds and save for toasting later. Mix the remaining ingredients together with the exception of the butter. Fill the pumpkin with this mixture and top with the butter. Cover with the pumpkin lid and place in a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until the mixture has set like a custard. Serve from the pumpkin at your table, scraping some of the meat from the pumpkin with each serving. This is an interesting substitution for the usual pumpkin pie.

Herb Garden

The Menard Home Herb Garden has an extensive collection of herbs which were used during the 19th Century. These herbs were not used just for cooking but were also used for medicinal purposes as well.

The Menard Home Herb Garden in Early Spring 2008

Closed is Closed!!!!!!! 12/01/2008-04/22/2009

Closed is Closed!!!!!!! 12/01/2008-04/22/2009
Please remember this, least we forget and history repeats itself. Be ever vigilant and protect our beloved home.