Heart to Hearth Cookery

   Yesterday was my annual Chocolate Workshop at the Johnson Ferry House in New Jersey.  The class roster was full with participants from North Jersey, Atlantic County, New Jersey and some travelling all the way from Maryland.  “Neither snow, nor rain” was to keep them from arriving at the chocolate workshop in a timely fashion ONLY to find my van parked at the park entrance gates!  The site was deemed NOT safe (due to ice) to open!!!  We were determined to make chocolate!  The site director, Nancy Cepperly was doing everything in her power for chocolate to be made.  We talked of car shuttles, alternate site parking, walking……….   With strong determination to make chocolate, several members of the class spoke to the Park Ranger (who was just simply doing his job).  The maintenance crew arrived with salt, the Park Ranger checked it out and with the eyes of the determined chocolate makers upon him, made the decision to let us drive carefully to our heated metates and 100% chocolate!  Everyone went to work immediately roasting and grinding cocao and we made chocolate, drank chocolate beverages and accomplished everything even with the delay! I want to thank my class members for their patience and determination, the site director and my staff,  the maintenance crew, and the Park Ranger!  We had a very successful and fun day making chocolate as you can see by the smiling faces and chocolate cakes on the table.  Chocolate-will be done and was.

My next workshop is a hearth cooking class at Bolton Mansion on March 19th.  Visit my website (www.hearttohearthcookery.com)  for more information on the class and what Heart to Hearth Cookery is all about.