A holiday warm up

Keeping It Simple

“Do you know about the Rule of 3?” Robin asked, as we thought about food for the weekend at the farm.

“Is that when you have just three seconds to pick up food dropped on the floor before germs can attach?”

“No, not that one.”

“Then you must mean the writer’s Rule of 3, that makes phrases more memorable in groups of three. Like ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'”

1-2-3

“I’m talking about the Entertaining Rule of 3—and no, it’s not three jokes told in a row. It’s the rule that says, if you serve more than three items (plus dessert), you’re setting yourself up to be exhausted before your guests arrive.”

“Hmm . . . interesting. I do have tendencies to over cook. My mother always had several vegetable side dishes for dinner. At the time, I didn’t appreciate our over-vegged table, especially when my friends down the street were eating Oscar Meyer wieners.”

“I know it will take restraint,” she said, but I think we should try the Entertaining Rule of 3  at the farm—especially during the summer. 

“Give me an example,” I asked.

This is what I call “taking the cookin’ out of the kitchen.”

“Well, we could put a meal on a stick along with a few veggies like we often do. That way you get your vegetables and meat all in one, plus a few grill marks and a smoky flavor.

“Then all you need is a side dish. Maybe an ear of corn, or new potatoes and peas. Or a veggie salad or tomatoes, when they’re available. I like the idea of sticking to seasonal, easily available foods.”

I agreed.

As to Dessert

When it comes to dessert, there are so many possibilities with the red, white and blue colors. That could be as simple as fresh strawberries over slices of pound cake crowned with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream. Sprinkle with a few blueberries or serve on a blue-patterned plate. A fresh cherry pie makes for a splendid celebration.

You can poke a small American flag atop most any dessert and you have an appropriate holiday finale.

Fresh cherry pie

Pound Cake with Strawberries and Strawberry Ice Cream. A few blueberries would help here.

Or, Stun Your Family and Friends with This Patriotic Pie

If you want to get creative, this American Flag pie is a great salute to the holiday.

Prediction: The 4th of July weekend is some days away, so I’m sure we’ll be able to alter the menu several times before then. It’s a work in progress. 

Get Ready for a Happy Fourth

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks and soldiers, who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics, where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad get iffy, and the flies die from happiness.

You may think you have overeaten, but it’s patriotism.” ~Erma Bombeck (note that she uses the Writer’s Rule of 3 twice!)