Wednesday, April 17, 2013

"Not When It's Hot!"- No Fire Food

As Spring rolls through, we know that summer will be just around the corner. While we do look forward to the warmer temperatures and the blooming flowers, most of us do not want to bend over an open fire all day in order to feed our living history crowd. So what do we do?
Luckily there are options!
Bread- Try to pre-bake ahead of the event- Bread, Biscuits, cakes, cookies, etc. These can be made in the off-season and stored in the freezer until the even (this will also keep your house from getting hot)
Fruit-Fresh, seasonal fruit is a great option for summer months. Apples, oranges, watermelon, peaches, berries- these will also help keep hydration levels up!
The Virginia Housewife, 1838

Vegetables- Fresh produce is a wonderful thing to have a basket of. Pick & chose what is wanted at a time- eat cucumbers, tomatoes, celery alone or on sandwiches. Try some salads with a nice vinaigrette  These are nice alternatives to "heavy foods" and will keep you full without that "sick" feeling. Also, keep some pickles around! These are also great to throw in a salad or to snack on, plus the vinegar content keeps electrolytes happy!
Meats-Cold ham, cold roast chicken, summer sausages. Pre-cook ham & chicken before the event, then enjoy it cold as a main dish, on a sandwich, or as a topping on salad.
Beverages- Water, water, water!!! I can't say it enough! Drink water! Try to stay away from the sugary alternatives (Gatorade,etc.). Drink even when you do not think you need it, start hydrating before events. Start drinking plenty of water a few days before the planned summer event.  Lemonade is also quick & easy to make at events. Fruit waters were also found in the period (strawberries, mmmmmm). Another option is Switchel- (1 gal. of water, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup molasses  1 cup vinegar, 1 tsp ginger). Switchel is used to replace & replenish what the body has lost (think modern sports drinks), but the ingredients are all natural!
Ice Cream- There are numerous references to "ices" and "creams". Enjoy a nice fruit-flavored ice cream to keep cool!




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