Valentine's Day Colonial Style at Pottsgrove Manor

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottsgrove Manor. 

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Connie Unangst

If that's true, it is also true that the way to a woman's heart is paved with chocolate. 

On Saturday, Feb. 13, a cooking demonstration at Pottstown's own Pottsgrove Manor will show how our colonial forebears handled chocolate.

The demonstration will be held between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for demonstrations of open-hearth cooking with the program “Valentine’s Day, the Colonial Way.”

In the colonial era, before the invention of the techniques that give chocolate the smooth consistency people know and love today, chocolate was usually consumed as either a hot beverage or as an ingredient in various “made” dishes. 

In this program, historic cook Connie Unangst will prepare a variety of 18th-century recipes using chocolate. 

Visitors can stop in the kitchen at any time during the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see what’s cooking. Guided tours of the manor will also be offered on the hour throughout the day, and the site’s museum shop will also be open. 

There is a suggested donation of $2 per person for this program.

Visitors can also take a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours begin on the hour. 

The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m.
Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422. 

Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. 

For more information, call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. 

Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Get More Iron in Your Diet

Deborah Peterson will lead the workshop.

Forget the "Iron Chef," stop by Pottsgrove Manor Oct. 19 and check out the Cast Iron Chef.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, Pottstown's own Pottsgrove Manor will host an open-hearth cooking workshop entitled “Cast-Iron Chef” in the manor’s reconstructed colonial kitchen. 

A common material for cooking equipment in past centuries, cast-iron is experiencing a resurgence in popularity among modern cooks for its durability and versatility. 

In this hands-on workshop, historic cook Deborah Peterson will teach participants how to cook with and care for cast iron cookware. 

Historically and seasonally appropriate dishes of the colonial period will be prepared and consumed by the participants. 

The workshop is open to participants ages 12 and up, but those under 16 should be accompanied by an adult. 

There is a fee of $50 per person. 

To ensure one-on-one instruction, the class size is limited to eight. 

Registration forms may be picked up at Pottsgrove Manor or downloaded online at http://montcopa.org/DocumentCenter/View/4381. 

The workshop is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts Family,” which runs until Nov. 3 and can be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m. 

The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014. 

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King St. near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown. 

Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. 

For more information, call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. 

Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.