Picnic last August

[Mrs. Goblin]

A contingent from our local regency group (baers.org) attended a Pride and Prejudice themed picnic (with dancing!) put on by another local group (peers.org) in August. I prepared a Regency appropriate picnic and shared it around.

Menu:
beef and mushroom pie
Salmagundi (composed salad)
pears poached in wine
Seedy Cake
potted Cheshire cheese
Three British Cheeses, left to right: blue Stilton, Wensleydale, Double Gloucester

And to fill in the cracks, bread, butter, grapes, fresh blackberries, homemade preserves (I didn't make them, one of our other members did) and clotted cream. We also had a thermos of hot water for tea and a selection of rose and violet comfits to end the meal.

I got my recipes fom a number of sources including the "Lobscouse and Spotted Dog" cookbook, a british food writer called Michael Smith, a reproduction copy of Hannah Glasse's "The Art of Cookery..." and a book published by the British National Trust called "The Art of Dining" that was also useful for discussions of how food was brought to the table and how menus were commonly arranged.

I did a less elaborate picnic featuring a meat pie several years before for an event that was rained out, so I had to scramble to find willing stomachs to help eat all the food sitting around unloved. That has a web page here: goblinrevolution.org/cgi-bin/pic_index.cgi?list=indicies/pieparty.index

[Mme de Beaufort]

Nice Christy. BTW, you should sign your ORG up on RSA. Do you want a BAERS section in the groups?

[Mme de Beaufort]

I made a Pork Pie for our own August Party, and that thing was GONE in record time. I was told it was delicious, I'll have to take their word for it. The buffet that day was stripped bare.

[Mrs. Goblin]

admin said:

Nice Christy. BTW, you should sign your ORG up on RSA. Do you want a BAERS section in the groups?

Yes, and Yes! But I don't have the brain to do more than random drive by comments here until Goblin, Esq. returns from work to watch the heir.

[Mrs. Goblin]

admin said:

I made a Pork Pie for our own August Party, and that thing was GONE in record time. I was told it was delicious, I'll have to take their word for it. The buffet that day was stripped bare.

What did you use for a recipe? I liked the directions for coffin raising from "Lobscouse and Spotted Dog" but I'm not too thrilled with their fillings. I found Hannah Glasse's suggestions for fillings to be very tasty, but like many old cookbooks, the directions were sparse, to say the least. So, I improvised.

[Mme de Beaufort]

I'll transcribe it from my notebook. It's based on a traditional English recipe. I have to dig it out of my shelf and take the time to type it up; and being both lazy and exhausted simultaneously, it will have to wait until sometime this weekend. I promise I will post it *sometime*. I know I emailed it to several members who asked for the recipe.

It is neither easy nor quick, but worth the effort.

[Mrs. Goblin]

admin said:

I'll transcribe it from my notebook. It's based on a traditional English recipe. I have to dig it out of my shelf and take the time to type it up; and being both lazy and exhausted simultaneously, it will have to wait until sometime this weekend. I promise I will post it *sometime*. I know I emailed it to several members who asked for the recipe.

It is neither easy nor quick, but worth the effort.

Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to get a chance to try it out anytime soon.

Do we want to start a thread for recipes?

[Mme de Beaufort]

Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to get a chance to try it out anytime soon.

Do we want to start a thread for recipes?

Go for it! I know I'd love it.

[lahoo88]

Did you take just plain water/cordial and if what did or what would (appropriate) you bring it in? Ta

[Mme de Beaufort]

We didn't provide food at any of our picnics. We see our picnics as an opportunity to gather in costume that does not cost our members anything (except perhaps a park-fee if it applies). Our policy is to have folks bring their own picnic baskets. I know there are some groups that set up a table and have shared dishes and refreshments, and many folks probably try to be accurate in what they bring; however we have yet to do such a thing. On the most part, people brought their own food and drinks, and some brought them in ugly coolers ::teehee::

I brought a picnic basket with bottled sparkling water (oh dear). I'd imagine the period picnicers would have brought wine or port in bottles for the picnicers--and corked clay or glass bottles for other drinks to keep them cool--but that's pure speculation. I know some of our members brought those things and fine stemware to enjoy it in.