Celebrate Liberty - Eat the Roasted Flesh of Hooved or Cloven Beasts

"Whatsoever hath the hoof divided, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, you shall eat." Leviticus11:3 - Douhy-Rheims

"Meat first and spoon vittles to pour on! - Mark Twain

"Yeah there was ham an' there was turkey, there was caviar 
An' long tall glasses, with wine up to h'yar"  - Leo Sayer

Feast like a Patriot, this 4th of July.  With moistened eyes, tuck away in celebration of Valley Forge, Yorktown, Princeton and Monmouth.  I intend to honor our Liberty with libertine's portion of roasted flesh - hog, swine or beef. I will not eschew fruit du mer swimming, crawling or clinging if so offered, let me just tell you. I am a Patriot.

That first Fourth of July is believed to have taken place at City Tavern, the Philadelphia public house that hosted many a gathering of the founding fathers. Tavern Chef Walter Staib says the menu likely would have been based on the recipes of British culinary authority Hannah Glasse, whose book “The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy” dictates not only every dish of the three-course dinner, but where it should be placed on the table.
Glasse’s July menu suggests the signers of the Declaration would have supped on roast turkey and fricasseed rabbit, pigeon, crawfish and lobsters. There would have been tongue and turnips and lamb testicles. And for dessert, apricot tarts and roasted apples, plums, jellies and custards.

Because Philadelphia was a major port, the meal likely also would have included delicacies from abroad, Staib says. Limes from the West Indies were used for lime curd. Exotic fruit such as mangoes, pineapples and coconuts might have been available, as well as spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, mace and vanilla. Plus, there was local seafood, such as salmon, sturgeon and oysters.

Don't say nothing about no salad.



Let Freedom . . .digest with ease and contement.  Happy 4th of July, Citizens

For Jack Howard, W.Houlihan,Cyril O'Brien,Jim Corbett,Steve Swerdloff,Frank Wilson, Dick Prendergast, My Dad and All Marines - Semper Fi and Happy 4th

The words are impressive - the cadence is Sousa!

"Semper fidelis" is a fabulous Latin motto
meaning that in centuries of Roman might the soldier swore that he would fight
For Caesar, never questioning if he might return
or if the enemy when they attack could be driven aback — and that's what it means.
"We're ever faithful" is the general gist in countries that are Christian
Though it means almost the same we pledge no longer to the name
Of Caesar, but to principles of the land we know and love,
Bestowing the motto in war of our readiest corps — the mighty Marines.
Men are dutiful to things contradictory —
loving all that is beautiful — knowing battle and victory.
They expect our expressions benedictory,
and they find it perplexing and vexing and odd when we are shocked.
They've forgotten the old established verities,
seeking only for fame and gold, seeing only disparities.
Those who worship the one true God are rarities
who remember the Biblical saying that God will not be mocked!
When the call to the true believer comes from the Church of God
Will they all in their heart receive Him go where He bids them trod?
Will the men who appear deserving, who to their faith are true,
answer when they are called to serving, do what she bids them do?
For many men profess their loyalty to true democracy yet bow to mockery
and bend the knee to aristocracy, for to live their creed their need is small.
And may men proclaim their worthiness, display their lowliness, disclaim their earthiness.
Oh give us strength to seek true holiness, and in word and deed to heed the call!