The Saturday Sip: April 13, 2024
Your etiquette tip, quote and an Emily Post Cookbook recipe to start your weekend off right!
The Tip
A recent podcast question was, “Do I have to tip the person who prepares my taxes?” The answer is no. While tipping has been seen being requested in many unfamiliar places, tax preparation is not one of them at this time.
The Recipe
Spring is in the air, and this fresh sidedish sounded like just the ticket to celebrate!
Emily Post’s Cookbook, 1951, pg. 198 *Please note that recipes are copied as exactly as possible, including grammatical errors and inconsistencies.
Peas À La Fançaise
Time: 25 to 30 minutes (after shelling peas)
Serves: 4
Ingredients
2 lbs. fresh peas (shelled)
Outside leaves of a head of lettuce (enough to cover the pan bottom with a few layers)
A pinch of thyme or a few leaves of fresh mint
4 small onions, peeled and quartered
2 tbs. butter
1 tsp. sugar
Directions
Shell 2 lbs. of fresh peas. Take nice outside leaves of lettuce, wash them, and line a heavy iron skillet with a close-fitting cover with two or three layers of them just as they are shaken from the water. Pour in the peas and cover. This is essential, as it is the confined steam that cooks the peas. No water is added to the lettuce leaves other than that which clings to them. (Should the leaves be completely dry, the must be freshly dipped in water and shaken.) Add a pinch of thyme of a few leaves of fresh mint, 4 small onions, peeled and cut into quarters, 2 tbs. butter, and 1 tsp. of sugar.
Place the skillet over lowest heat where it will simmer slowly but not burn. When the peas are done (about 20 minutes), pour them from the skillet with the pieces of onion but discard the lettuce. The peas should be moist, but there should be no water left in the skillet.
The Quote
“The garden party is merely an afternoon tea out of doors. It may be as elaborate as a sit-down wedding breakfast or as simple as a miniature strawberry festival.” - Emily Post
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We hope you’ve enjoyed the Sip today. How do you like your peas? Let us know in the comments. Can’t post here? Head over to the Monday post comment thread, where the comment section is open to everyone.
Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate episode 500 of the Awesome Etiquette Podcast! If you haven’t checked the episode out yet, you can do so here.
Cheers!
Lizzie and Dan
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Emily Post walks through her garden at her Fuller Street house in Edgartown, MA.