Baby, it’s (still) cold outside, to loosely quote the classic Frank Loesser song.

When the late winter wind blows, temperatures plummet, a battalion of snowmen bivouac in the backyard and fingers stiffen like Popsicles, what better way to defrost and refuel than with an evening of family fireplace cooking.

Yes, fireplace cooking. Though summer is months away in Maine, campfire creations are well within reach.

Fireplace – or hearth – cooking can be traced back many centuries when the only method of preparing palatable meals was to stoop for hours over large, often dangerous open fires and flying embers. Using unwieldy spits, pottery, iron cauldrons, sharp hooks, heavy ironware and other cooking instruments, meal preparation was not for the faint of heart. In fact, throughout history and as recently as the 19th century, it wasn’t unusual for people to suffer disfiguring injuries or death from fireplace cooking accidents. In colonial times, these accidents were the second leading cause of death for women, topped only by childbirth.

Today, with proper precautions, fireplace meals can be safe, easy and fun. These meals run the gamut from traditional hot dogs or sausages (be sure to use specially-designed fireplace skewers or long sticks made of green wood that won’t catch fire) to soups, stews, beef, fish or chicken, slow-cooked in a campfire/fireplace Dutch oven with legs, or prepared in a cast iron skillet (both available online or at cooking supply stores).

Awareness of safety and the use of the right cooking tools are critical to making the meal not only delicious but accident-free. For instance, some recipes call for the skillet to be placed right on the embers, but great care should be taken to make sure that shifting doesn’t cause a ruined dinner and a potential fire.

For that reason, another method of fireplace preparation involves placing a surface like a grate atop bricks on either side of the embers to support the dish. Investing in something like a Tuscan grill, which operates on similar principles, is another option. It’s also best to start with seasoned hardwood like hickory or fruit trees (which burn slowly) and a roaring fire that reduces to white hot embers before the cooking begins, as cooking is generally done on or over the embers.

Much like the Peruvians who nestled papayas in embers for roasting, potatoes and vegetables can be wrapped tightly in foil and cooked the same way. For dessert, skewered, gooey marshmallows can top rich squares of chocolate and crisp graham crackers for all-time favorite s’mores, and a long-handled fireplace popcorn popper can warm up the coldest night with buttery, salty, aromatic kernels.

Try these easy family fireplace recipes and celebrate the flavors of a winter’s eve:

Fish in the Fireplace

Fish (whole)

Fresh herbs

Olive oil

Sliced lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Stuff a whole fish with lemon and fresh herbs of your choice; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Heat a cast iron skillet on hot embers; add some olive oil to the pan and then the fish. The fish can also be brushed with olive oil and placed directly on a raised, heated grill over embers.

Cook until crispy on the outside and flaky inside; cooking time will vary.

Fireplace sausage and potatoes

3 baking potatoes, cut into small chunks

1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil

1/8 cup finely chopped onions

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Precooked sausages

Ketchup and mustard (optional)

In a cast iron pot, mix together potatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place pot on embers — or on a grate over the embers — and stir often. Cook about 15 to 20 minutes, until potatoes pierce easily with fork. Roast sausages on skewers over flames, turning until browned (about five minutes). Serve together with condiments, if desired.

Safety first

Safety is the first concern when fireplace cooking. Some things to keep in mind:

— Make sure the flue of the chimney is open before you build your fire.

— Keep all coals on the hearth and behind the screen if possible.

— Always use pot holders or oven mitts when moving cookware around in the fireplace.

— Hooks, trivets, special grills and other fireplace cooking implements are available at retailers who specialize in fireplace tools and equipment.

For more on safety and on fireplace cooking: