The Saturday Sip: March 30, 2024
Your etiquette tip, quote and an Emily Post Cookbook recipe to start your weekend off right!
The Tip
When planning a birthday party, avoid putting any indication of gifts on the invitation. Guests will ask for direction around gift giving if they plan on giving something (for children’s parties, most guests will) or are looking for ideas from you. Be prepared when guests RSVP to answer questions regarding gifts. Always remember, you’re offering suggestions (not directions) since this gift isn’t obligatory.
The Recipe
Lizzie woke up craving spaghetti and meatballs and while Emily does not have a recipe in her book for it (gasp!), she does have a recipe for “An Italian Spaghetti”. We hope you enjoy it.
Emily Post’s Cookbook, 1951, pg. 223 *Please note that recipes are copied as exactly as possible, including grammatical errors and inconsistencies.
An Italian Spaghetti
Time: 3 to 4 hours for the sauce
Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 cup chopped round beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic or 3 shallots, chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 to 2/3 cup Italian dried mushrooms [Porcinis are great!]
1 can (No. 2 1/2) tomatoes (Italian [San Marzano] if possible)
1/2 can tomato paste
4 or 5 leaves fresh sweet basil or 1 tsp. dried sweet basil
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 tbs. finely chopped parsley
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
[Optional 2 oz. sherry]
1/2 lb. spaghetti
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Brown the meat in the olive oil, add the onion and shallots, and cook till onions become golden.
Soak mushrooms for a minute in 1/2 cup boiling water and add to the meat. Add also the tomatoes, tomato paste, celery, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce flame, cover, and simmer 3 hours or more. Strain through a colander, pushing all through that will go. Two oz. of sherry may be added at this point if you like the flavor.
Boil spaghetti 8 to 10 minutes, drain, and serve with the sauce over it and with the cheese.
The Quote
“Life, whether social, or business, or civic or whatever else, is a bank in which you deposit certain funds of character, intellect, and heart.” - Emily Post
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We hope you’ve enjoyed the Sip today. Any dinner party menus you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments. Can’t post here? Head over to the Monday thread, where the comment section is open to everyone.
Cheers!
Lizzie and Dan
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Lizzie and Dan hit the hill for one last sledding session before spring weather really sets in for good. Check out Monday’s podcast episode to hear of their epic run and catch the video! We won’t tell you who wins, but we can say, everyone (Sunny and Raju included) had a blast!