The Saturday Sip: July 15, 2023
Your etiquette tip, quote and an Emily Post Cookbook recipe to start your weekend off right!
The Tip
Be clear when issuing an invitation as to what it is for and when. By saying something vague like, “Would you like to get together sometime soon?” you aren’t giving the other person much to respond to. While “Would you like to get together sometime?” might be a good first question to see if someone is interested in hanging out, it should be followed up with a specific ask. “How about dinner and a movie next weekend?” or “Great, how about we grab our rackets and hit the court this Thursday after work?” By being specific, you’ve given the other person something concrete to respond to, which is always polite.
The Recipes
Lizzie’s dad, Peter, has a real love for Spaghetti alle Vongole (Spaghetti with Clams) so when she found a version of it in Emily’s cookbook it was a must share! While Emily uses canned minced clams for this recipe - and makes some…interesting suggestions, we can’t emphasize enough what a delight fresh clams are to this dish. [Please note, there was a lot of ignoring of our Grammarly app going on with this one in order to bring it to you as Emily presented it.]
Emily Post’s Cookbook, 1951, pg. 224
Quick Spaghetti With Clams
Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients
1/4 lb. spaghetti
6-oz. can minced clams
2 tsp. chopped parsley
3 tbs. butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Boil spaghetti 8 minutes in rapidly boiling water. Do not put salt in the water until tasting after adding clams, which will probably have enough salt to season the spaghetti. Drain in colander, hold under running hot water for 1/4 minute [15 seconds]. Drain and return to saucepan in which it was cooked.
Heat clams in their juice and mix into the spaghetti. Sprinkle with the parsley, add butter and cheese, and serve.
In Italy they prefer to substitute olive oil for butter in spaghetti when served with clams, and in this case they omit the cheese. To our taste the cheese is required, and it also makes the spaghetti much easier to eat by making it less slippery.
The Quote
“The rule is against elbows on the table while eating. If not using the arm as a lever swinging a fork or spoon from plate to mouth, it really doesn’t make much difference.” - Emily Post
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Thank you for spending a bit of your day with us. We hope you’ve enjoyed the Saturday Sip today! Let us know in the comments if it’s inspired any Italian seafood and spaghetti dishes for your table this weekend! And remember, the Monday thread is open to all!
Up next is Monday’s Awesome Etiquette podcast with the Etiquette Extra and Community Member Bonus Question of the Week!
Until then,
Lizzie and Dan
Emily Post on the widow’s walk of her 34 Fuller Street, Edgartown home on Martha’s Vineyard. For all of us Post family members, (and many of our friends who visited or stayed with us at the house) the widow’s walk on Emily’s house was a special place - even if the stairs up to it were frighteningly steep!
Straight forward, delicious, and entertaining. I love your posts!