Having That Morning Cup of Coffee Inside Simons Mansion

Melissa’s first casual glimpse of John happened during her first day at Simons Mansion, in the morning room, where John sipped his coffee. Back home, Melissa’s mother plugged an electric percolator into the wall, but making fresh coffee in nineteenth century Munsonville was a little more complicated.

John’s Coffee

Dry coffee beans a long time before roasting. Roast it quickly, stirring constantly, or it will taste bitter. Add a chestnut-sized piece of butter and close tightly. Grind beans only when ready to use.

2 great spoonfuls coffee

1 pint hot water

1 egg OR 1 square fish skin (see below), to clarify coffee

½ teacup cold water

Mix coffee with the egg, pour on water, and boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour on cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes, then strain through cheesecloth and serve.

From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. www.bbbswillgrundy.org

Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html

Trudi led Melissa to the morning room. At once, Melissa recognized it as the parlor where Kimberly spilt tea on her, the night she woke to find a sneering John Simons braced over her chest. However this morning John, dressed in grey striped pants and black vest, sitting at the small table by the large west window, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper, looked anything but vicious. "Bryony," Chapter 15: Playing Bryony

I dunno, the thought of my coffee touching either eggs or fish skins...BLECH!