Melanie Steel Thompson is not new to Gazette-Journal readers. In 1988 Melanie’s mother Jean Steel’s cooking was featured, with notes about how she adapted her English recipes and American dishes and ingredients in their meals. Melanie Steel was included in the story. The family had only been living in Mathews for a year or so having left their home in England in 1981 for a church pastorate elsewhere in the USA. Six years later Melanie’s father Tom (the Rev. Thomas Steel) had accepted the pastorate at Peniel Friends Church. In 2008 Melanie was featured for her extraordinary cakes. Since her introduction years earlier, she was now Melanie Thompson, living in Gloucester, married to John Thompson. They recently celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary. They have two adult children, Caroline and Aiden. Today Melanie says, “I am chief cook, bottle-washer and driver. But I still love to cook and bake. I learned this from my mother and grandmother.” Since her mother’s passing, Melanie has bee...