Peggy did not stay with the “Thoroughbroads” long but she made a huge impact when she was able to attend or host. She had a full-time job with a local paint company, but could get away from time to time and it was always a delight. Her hobbies kept us entertained and she was a wonderful story teller of her adventures.

An avid antique collector of very early Americana, long before it became fashionable, she invited us all to her home for a luncheon.  Upon arrival, she greeted us in full Williamsburg attire, the house smelled wonderful as she handed us a vintage recipe beverage she had uncovered. We were in for a great day, for she had cooked the entire meal in her living room fireplace with her vintage cast iron cookware…and it was still bubbling over the warming coals as we came in.

The living room, or rather the gathering room, was full of lovely copper items, vintage books and wooden ware she had collected and loaded the bookshelves with. The furniture was overstuffed colonial styled seating and placed over an old hooked rug. The walls had early primitive paintings and pottery pieces, a bittersweet wreath and candlesticks with beeswax candles were lit on the mantel and comfy quilts were available for anyone who might be a little chilly on this early fall day. It was a very welcoming home in the country just outside of “the Ville”.

The table was set with her collection of various pieces of glassware silver and linens. Meant not to match..she was ahead of her time back in the 80’s. The food was served into bowls and small plates by our hostess directly from the pots in the fireplace. The iron swing arm pot holder attached to the inside of the brick fireplace held a cast iron pot full of a vegetable and beef stew, out of another cast iron piece came corn bread, and an iron Dutch oven was full of cobbler…this piece was unique as the top had a deep rim where the red-hot coals were placed to cook the top of the cobbler as well as the bottom.

As we enjoyed the delicious meal Peggy told us stories of where all the iron came from, auctions, trades with other collectors, flea markets and yard sales. We felt we were right there with her bargaining our way to a lovely day like today where we would enjoy the history of early cooking and vintage recipes from the women who helped build our country. We left with a new appreciation for how lucky we all were.

For colonial recipes, additional pioneer stories and history visit www.tashatudorandfamily.com