Cracker Country

From Cracker Country, a rural Florida museum, Feb. 2008.  After sustaining a serious burn to my left hand I assumed the role of teacher rather than cook for a while.  The bandage is barely visible, hidden behind my book, Victoria’s Home Companion.  With a little supervision from me, my very dear friends, Jon Thomas and Briar Stephens, and their young friend, became masters at biscuit baking, doing what I could not with one hand.  Jon Thomas and I made several trips to the garden to cut fresh greens which he helped chop, wash, and cook.  Their older brother, Andrew, was also a tremendous help, and with the help of several very sweet lady friends who washed the never-ending supply of dirty dishes, I was able to assume my duties within a few days.  I demonstrated cooking and the importance of “putting up” food for off-seasons, making sour-kraut, tangerine marmalade, and chow chow, and by the end of the event my hand had thankfully healed beautifully. 

Many thanks to the paramedics, and the doctors, nurses, and staff of the Seffner Doctors Walk-In Clinic who not only performed miracles in treating my injury, but did so with a ready smile and great compassion. 

Tipton-Haynes

"New and old volunteers were so excited about our site after spending three days in "An Antebellum Workshop" with Victoria. There was great interaction and hands-on activities that really got them involved. Victoria shared written information to help us put together An Antebellum Primer for volunteers to continue learning after the workshop. Not only did the participants learn much, they also laughed and had fun. Victoria has started this site in the correct direction to develop the authentic interpretation of the antebellum home of Landon Carter Haynes that we wish to have for educational programs for school children and the public." -- Penny McLaughlin, Executive Director

Cracker Country

Mrs. Rumble cooked a variety of period foods from her book, Victoria's Home Companion; Or, The Whole Art of Cooking in the Smith house in Cracker Country for the entire 12 days of the Florida State Fair. An estimated quarter of a million visitors attend the fair annually, a large number of whom also visit with the crafters in Cracker Country. The Smith house was built in 1894 in Pasco County, Florida and remains as it was originally built. During the course of the 12 days countless pans of buttermilk biscuits, fruit cobblers, stews and soups, fresh collard greens and broccoli from the village garden, and chicken curry were enjoyed by employees, crafters, and visitors who stopped by to visit. Books were autographed for those who wanted to prepare the dishes themselves at home. Mrs. Rumble is already looking forward to returning to Cracker Country in February 2007.