The Saturday Sip: December 24th, 2023
Your inspirational etiquette tip, Emily Post quote and an Emily Post Cookbook recipe to start your weekend off right!
The Tip
Most of us engage in a lot of small talk throughout the holiday season as we gather with friends, family, and coworkers. It’s smart to remember to stick to lighter topics especially when we are at parties where we don’t know guests as well. Sparking a political conversation with your favorite Aunt with whom you’ve discussed politics with before is great. But if you don’t know someone’s beliefs it’s not the best topic to lean on. Consider leaning in to tier-one topics of conversation before you head out to your next holiday gathering:
TIER I - Small Talk The weather, upcoming local or national events, the shared experience (the party you are at, its atmosphere, food, etc…) sports, pop culture, fashion, music, movies/TV shows, podcasts, food, activities, hobbies and interests, new technology, world discovery (those new photos of space, the tunnels that might lead to Cleopatra’s tomb, etc…).
These topics are often low stakes, while people might be enthusiasts, the topics themselves are typically light enough that talking about them (even differences of opinion on them) won’t rattle someone at their core or make them feel like their fundamental beliefs are being challenged (that is unless they are a die-hard Raider’s fan).
The Recipes
This week we’re bringing you two side dish recipes, one that is such an American classic we were glad to find Emily’s version not only makes it from scratch but gives us a soup-can option too. The second recipe is simply because Lizzie is getting excited about spending Christmas with her sister, Anna, and it tickled her pink to find a recipe with Anna’s name in it. Enjoy!
String Beans and Mushrooms
This is an unusual combination [HA! It became an American classic casserole!] but one so good that it is sure to reappear often on any table where it has once been tried.
Pg 169 of The Emily Post Cookbook, 1951
Time: 25 Minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
1/2 lb of mushrooms
2 Tbsp [salted] butter
1 1/2 lbs freshly boiled and drained string beans [green beans]
1/4 cup sour cream
[salt and pepper to taste]
Directions
Cut up 1/2 lb. of mushrooms and cook them for 3 or 4 minutes in 2 tablespoons of butter. Add 1 1/2 lbs. of freshly boiled and drained string beans. Add 1/4 cup of sour cream, stir together, cover, and simmer 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve as a single vegetable.
NOTE: If you have no mushrooms or sour cream, try 1 can of mushroom soup with the beans. This will make a fair [!!!] (but only fair) substitute for the delicious taste of the combined beans and fresh mushrooms.
Potatoes Anna
Note: this recipe requires a rounded mold to bake the potatoes in.
Pg 204 of The Emily Post Cookbook, 1951
Time: 1 hour
Serves: 4
Ingredients
6 medium raw potatoes sliced thinly and evenly
Butter for greasing the mold
Salt and pepper to sprinkle
1 cup melted butter
Directions
[Preheat oven to 425 degrees F] Wash and peel 6 medium-sized raw potatoes. Slice them in a vegetable slicer to get thin uniform slices. Butter a round mold. Put a layer of the potatoes in the bottom, taking great care to have them even. Sprinkle with pepper and salt. Then pour a little melted butter over them. (About 1 cup of melted butter will be needed in all.) Put in another layer of potatoes, salt, pepper, and butter. Repeat until the mold is nearly full.
Put the mold in a hot oven (425 degrees F.) and bake for an hour. Turn the mold upside down on a platter. Let it drain for a few minutes, then remove the mold. The potatoes should be a light brown and have the shape of the mold.
The Quote
That’s it for the Saturday Sip, we hope you enjoyed a little Emily Post inspiration to start your weekend. Don’t forget to let us know if you try either of the recipes and keep an eye out for Monday’s podcast post and etiquette extra!
Best,
Lizzie and Dan
LAST MINUTE GIFTS
If you’re looking for a last-minute gift we’ve got some great options!
DIGITAL COPY of Emily Post’s Etiquette - The Centennial Edition (and other books from our library!)
AUDIO BOOK VERSION of Emily Post’s Etiquette - The Centennial Edition ready by our very own Lizzie Post (she does Emily’s voice like no other!) Higher Etiquette is also available as an audiobook.
GIFT A SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS SUBSTACK - Our launch promotion will be ending soon, consider the gift that gives all year long by gifting a subscription to this Substack, your recipient will receive the ads-free version of the podcast, a weekly bonus question, access to discussion threads, live calls with Dan and Lizzie and more!
CORPORATE GIFT - A subscription to our Substack is a great way to keep the employees at your organization thinking about consideration, respect, and honesty all year long. It’s not only a work benefit but it will inspire these principles in their personal lives too. Consider a group subscription to our substack and your team will receive the ads-free version of the podcast, a weekly bonus question, access to discussion threads, live calls with Dan and Lizzie, and more! Now offering 10% off!