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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2019)
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Journey through Thyme Jodi Schneider, Columnist The picnic has an old and venerable heritage The picnic is as American as apple pie, a tradition we love and share with many cultures worldwide. The word <picnic= started show- ing up mid-18th century, drawing its origins from the French pique-nique, a social gathering where people would bring their own food and wine. But elegant meals out- doors were probably first eaten during the Middle Ages, when hunting became a favored pursuit of the lei- sure class. These medieval hunting feasts were depicted in artworks of the time, like the ballads of Robin Hood and the famous Bayeux tapestry. Medieval hunting feasts, Renaissance-era country ban- quets, and Victorian garden parties lay the foundation for today9s more laid-back out- ings. Picnics, as Americans know them today, date to the middle of the 19th century. Picnics were once grand affairs. In 1861, the defini- tive list of the Victorian pic- nic fare for England9s upper class appeared in <Mrs. Beeton9s Book of Household Management.= You didn9t eat outdoors without tables, linens, crystal, chairs, ser- vants 4 and gourmet fare, of course. It9s a far cry from our blankets and coolers, but the idea was ultimately the same. Mrs. Beeton9s Book of Household Management gave detailed instructions on how to hold a picnic. For 40 people, Mrs. Beeton insisted on, among many other things, cold roast beef, four meat pies, four roast chick- ens, two roast ducks, four dozen cheesecakes and one large cold plum pudding. To quench the picnickers9 thirst, three dozen quart bottles of beer were on the menu, as well as claret, sherry and brandy. Everyone brought food to share. Tables, lined end to end, were piled high with homemade breads and bis- cuits, cheeses, cakes, corn relish, pickle relish and watermelon rind pickles. The ever-present picnic potato salad appears in many personalized versions in old cookbooks. The <Ladies Guild CookBook,= published in 1899 by the South Chicago Methodist Episcopal Church, suggested adding chopped celery and <10-cents worth= of English walnuts. Watermelon and other foods served several pur- poses. Dessert might develop into a race to see who could eat the most pie the fastest, and watermelon supplied the ammunition for seed-spitting contests. Cakes were favorite pic- nic desserts, and few early cookbooks would be com- plete without at least one rec- ipe for devil9s food cake and one for angel food. Cheeses were included, too, especially hard cheeses that stand up well in summer, and left whole to keep better. No picnic would be com- plete without something to wash down all that delectable food. Beer has been a picnic staple practically since day one. Enjoying a cold one in the sun may seem second- nature, but its origins can be traced back to early 19th century Bavaria, Germany, where brewers would place benches and tables on the grass outside their beer stor- age cellars. Of course, picnics have been somewhat simpli- fied since then. Cold fried chicken, potato salad, chilled watermelon and beer on ice are all hallmarks of modern- day picnics. Old — The Fashion ed Potato Salad original Hellmann’s Potato Salad recipe — 2 pounds potatoes peeled and cut into one-inch chunks 1 cup Hellman’s or Best Foods Real Mayonnaise 2 tablespoons vinegar 1-1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 cup thinly sliced celery 1/2-cup chopped onion 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart pot; bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. Combine mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, sugar and pepper in large bowl. Add potatoes, celery, onion and eggs and toss gently. Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. If desired sprinkle with paprika. 33 The Nugget Newspaper Crossword By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Total Body Treatment Stonecrop Body Scrub, Wrap & Contouring Cream Plus, enjoy a • Improves Circulation • Stimulates Lymphatic Flow 20-minute facial as wrap processes. • Releases Serotonin $ • Promotes Cell Regeneration 125 Essentials Skincare Karen Keady Esthetician/Owner 541-480-1412 | 492 E. Main Ave. Mon-Sat Flexible Hours | SistersEssentials.com WELL PUMP SERVICE Pump & Electrical Contractor PRESSURE TANKS • CONSTANT-PRESSURE SYSTEMS FREQUENCY DRIVES • MOTOR CONTROLS • PUMPS A Division of 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Zach 541-420-8170 Sisters Owned CCB#178543 t