Cooking, Craftsmanship
& Heritage Living
Learn traditional cooking,
food preservation and practical skills
passed down through generations.
Cast Iron · Historical Recipes · Old Ways
A Warm Welcome to Boonie Hicks
If you have an old cast iron pan that’s been in the family for years, we may be able to help you learn a little more of it’s history. Or perhaps you’d like to begin with an old recipe once cooked around a family table or in a camp oven.
There are old-fashioned recipes to try. Some may already be familiar, while others might become a new family favourite. You may also enjoy reading about the household skills families relied on before electricity became part of everyday life. Everything we share comes from years of careful research, hands-on experience, and a genuine love of the past.
If something here reminds you of home, family, or a favourite memory, it’ll bring a smile to our faces too.
Enjoy your visit.
Explore the Categories
Boonie Hicks explores the skills, recipes, cookware, and traditions that shaped everyday life. Browse the categories below and discover the stories, knowledge and craftsmanship passed down through generations.
Cast Iron Cookware
Identification, comparison, and use of cast iron cookware through time.
Guides · Markings · Dates · History · Use
Domestic Cookery
Honest home cooking guided by the season and simplicity.
Recipes · Preserving · Baking · Food History
Living Heritage
Traditions, skills, and everyday practices varied through time.
Household Skills · Traditions · Everyday History
Seasonal Note
Big Update In Progress
Hi everyone, I’m currently in the process of moving back to New Zealand after 25 years living in Japan and working on version 2.0 of Boonie Hicks. Exciting times ahead, I appreciate your patience with the site while things are a bit messy and being built. Thanks, everyone.
From the Journal
Among Heritage Friends
What brings us together is a shared appreciation for the past. Old recipes well-used cookware, and everyday traditions all have stories worth remembering.
An old recipe, vintage cast iron, or a traditional skill can remind us of the of the people, places, and memories that are important to us. These simple connections bring the past closer.
Enjoy your time with us.