Did you know one of the great Roman rituals was to have a dinner party?
If a Roman held status in the community it was the accepted rule for the family to host regular dinner parties. Just as the Romans went to Roman baths to network and influence their local dignitaries, dinner parties in the home were another means to help further the career of the host. The Romans were truly class conscious - remember learning about the Plebeians and the Patricians?
In the old Roman days things were very much separated into male and female roles - so it was the wife's role to prepare every aspect of the dinner party since the husband had been at work all day. But it was the servants who worked the hardest during the entire afternoon gathering and preparing everything for the meal.
O.K. - who is lucky enough to have home help with cooking these days? We may have to cut a few corners but you can still have fun with a Roman Dinner Party idea.
Invite your guests over by sending them a photocopy of a world map with an arrow to Rome and date it the 9th century B.C. or use a parchment scroll with your text painted in ink then sealed with wax and tied with an elegant ribbon.
Ask guests to come dressed Toga and all! Or as guests arrive you could adorn them with a white sheet each. Togas looked like a white sheet about nine yards long and were arranged very carefully, in a stylish way. Elaborate jewellery was also popular.
To create an atmosphere in your dining room display anything you have that is made of marble or mosaic or hang a mural as a back drop. Drape garlands of ivy or myrtle over tables or hanging overhead. Drape gold lame where it looks effective.
Imagine if you could create the appearance of columns. If you want to go all out you could arrange to hire some columns. These are sometimes used as props for weddings and the like.
The Romans ate at rectangular tables which were low to the ground and surrounded at three sides by low couches. The men would recline as they ate - the women would sit. But we can be equal these days! The tables would hold jugs of wine and bowls of fruit along with tepid water so the Romans could clean their hands between each course. One thing to keep in mind with a Roman dinner party is that the appearance and flavour of the food had to be just right - they were meticulous with their presentation.
The meals were often served in Samian pottery for their elegant appearance so earthenware or some rustic looking pottery serving bowls and urns would look effective. Imagine a crisp white table cloth scattered with red rose petals or a gold metal bird cage as a center piece.
The background music should be soft and gentle - the lyre was the most popular instrument as were flutes and harps. You get the drift.
The most widespread vegetables used to create meals of the day were made using broad beans, lentils and chick peas, lettuces, cabbages and leeks. The available fruits at first were apples, pears, wild cherries, plums, grapes, walnuts, almonds and chestnuts. Also dates that were imported from north Africa.
In the Roman days the dinner was made up of three main courses just is as the case today but there could be many more created to impress the guests.. which is what the Roman dinner party was all about.
The first course, the starter, could consist of eggs prepared in many different ways. Also available to guests would be a selection of salads, vegetables, shellfish, snails or the Roman delicacy - roasted, stuffed dormice which are small rodents! Usually the dormice were stuffed with minced pork, pepper, pine kernels, and liquamen which was a fish sauce.
As for the main course, this would invariably consist of some meat dish like beef, lamb and pork - or fish. The thing to remember is that you can try to cook an authentic meal (I will add some links to recipe sites in my blog where i will re post this article with links) but you can also create what you think would look great and work. Like a large roasted chicken or meat served on a lovely platter set in the middle of the table and surrounded by succulent roasted vegetables.
The dinner party would end with a dessert such as fruit, cake or pudding.
The Roman meal would take place over a few hours - they would take breaks between courses to allow each course to digest, to chat and to drink more wine.
Wine is a must - it was the beverage of the Roman world like it was with the Ancient Greeks. Mulsum was a very popular honeyed wine.
After the meal guests would assemble in a main room to listen to poetry being recited or for a reading from one the classics and then they would be given a tour of the mosaics and art works so as to further impress.
So there you have it. This is a fun idea and certainly something different for your next dinner party.
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If you normally throw away your pumpkin seeds after you have hollowed out your Jack-O-Lantern, spare a thought for the pumpkin seeds benefits. I think we are all now aware of how healthy seeds are for your dietary needs. See below for a Pumpkin Seed Recipe that even the children will enjoy. Before roasting seeds they must be prepared. After you have hollowed out your Jack-O-Lantern, place all the seeds in a bowl. You need to remove all the stringing pumpkin flesh from the seeds. Pumpkin seeds will dry and be harder to clean if you don't do this as soon as you have finished hollowing out your pumpkin, so ensure you clean them while the flesh is still moist.
Place the seeds in a strainer and rinse under cold water removing any flesh that is still left on the seeds. The seeds then need to be spread on a sheet of waxed paper and left to dry overnight. If you want the seeds salted then place in a bowl of saltwater first and leave overnight. Next day remove from the bowl and spread on waxed paper leave overnight to dry. If you are roasting seeds in the oven or in the microwave the preparation is the same.
Pumpkin Seed Recipe (seeds cooked in the microwave)
Take a rectangular baking dish which is suitable for microwave cooking and place salted butter in the baking dish. Heat the butter for approximately 30 seconds. Add the seeds and coat with the melted butter. Next spread the seeds over the base of the dish in one single even layer. Roasting pumpkin seeds should take about 8 minutes on high (until they are a light golden color) but if you set the microwave for 2 minutes at a time and keep stirring the cooking seeds to prevent them from burning you will be able to get a better idea as to how long they will take as some microwaves are more powerful than others. After cooking, pumpkin seeds can be sprinkled your favorite seasoning.
Pumpkin Seed Recipe (seeds cooked in the Oven)
After you have finished preparing your seeds, place them in a roasting dish or tray and spray with butter spray. If you have a gas oven it needs to be on gas mark 4. (For electric ovens 350 F,180 C). Roasting pumpkin seeds should take about one hour to cook until a light golden brown. After cooking, seeds can be sprinkled with your favorite seasoning and then allow the seeds to cool before being eaten. After Halloween, for a change why not try cooking seeds from butternut and acorn squash prepare and cook in exactly the same way as roasting pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin seeds - How to Store Your Pumpkin Seeds - Pumpkin seeds will last a good while after you have cooked them so if you feel energetic and have plenty of seeds then you could make a large batch for whenever you fancy some. At room temperature in an airtight container the seeds will last for up to three months but up to 12 months if you store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Baked seeds are a great source of fibre and nutrition. If you are trying to lose weight use low fat butter or butter spray when you roasting pumpkin seeds and then if you feel a little peckish at any time have some seeds. Pumpkin seeds will benefit you much more than from a fattening nibble. You can store your pumpkin seeds in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 3 months. If you choose to refrigerate them, they will last for up to a year in an air tight container.
Pumpkin seeds benefits are many, amongst other things they are a very good source of the minerals phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, amino acids and zinc. Eating seeds will improve your nutrition. Seeds are also a good source of other minerals including zinc, iron and copper and a good source of protein Vitamin C and other nutrients, such as Niacin, Vitamin E, and vitamin K, Calcium, Iron and other vitamins, and are even said to lower cholesterol, improve bladder function, ease depression and prevent kidney stones.
A free gift of" Delicious Pumpkin Recipes" is available for you and can be downloaded directly from the site. "Delicious Pumpkin Recipes" features delicious recipes like the Russian stuffed pumpkin recipe , Stir fried pumpkin recipe, a delicious pumpkin recipe for fruit cake and a pumpkin recipe for tasty soup.
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No matter how many times I've set up a new home, there have always been too many trips to a variety of stores for a couple more things to make my new house a home. This check list is the result of my involvement the last couple of years investing in Florida properties that I renovate and then stock with everything including the silverware. Seasonal real estate buyers in the market will pay a premium for turn-key homes, where all they have to do is wheel their luggage in. My latest and fourth book 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home started me on this enjoyable voyage of helping others through their home purchase and selling maze.
Kitchen
Cutting board
Microwave
Coffee maker
Electric mixer
Toaster
Blender
1-Quart covered saucepan
2-Quart covered saucepan
4-Quart pot
10 Inch skillet with cover
2-Quart rectangular baking dish
15" X 10" X 2" baking pan
2-Cookie sheets
Wire cooling racks
Mixing bowl set
Timer
Bottle opener
Wine opener/ corkscrew
Can opener
Glass measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Colander
Steamer
Chef's knife
Paring knife
Serrated knife
Knife sharpener
Rubber spatulas
Tongs
Slotted spoon
Vegetable peeler
Wooden spoons
Ladle
Dish towels
Pot holders
Silverware, serving spoons
Everyday dinnerware, serving bowls,soup bowls
Glassware
Salt and pepper shakers
Glass pitcher
Coffee mugs
Paper towel holder
Storage containers
Furniture
Sofa
Lounge chair
Coffee and end tables
Entertainment center
Dining table and side chairs
Head board and foot board
Box spring and mattress
Nightstands
Dresser
Desk/Computer station
Accessories
Votive candle holders
Votive candles
Floor and table lamps
Casual throw pillows
Artwork
Decorative mirrors
Window treatments
Area rugs
Flower vase
Green plants
Plant stands
Linens
Bed sheets, pillowcases
Bed skirt
Blanket
Casual throw
Mattress pad
Bath towels
Bath mat
Shower curtain
Shower curtain liner
Shower curtain hooks
Shower curtain rods
Guest towels
Dish towels
Place mats and napkins
Tablecloth
Cleaning and household supplies
Vacuum cleaner
Ironing board and cover
Iron
Broom and dust pan
Floor mop
Cleaning bucket
Dish soap
Dishwasher detergent
Scrub pads
Sponges
Rags
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Wax paper
Plastic storage bags
Plastic garbage bags
Paper towels
Paper Napkins
Kleenex
Toilet paper
Glass cleaner
Soap and scum cleaner
Floor cleaner
Dust cleaner
Laundry detergent, dryer sheets,liquid softener
Spray starch
Kitchen waste basket
Bathroom waste basket
Miscellaneous
Laundry basket
Clothes hangers, shirts, pants, ties
Wine rack
First aid kit
Sewing kit
Smoke detector
Carbon Monoxide detector
Fire extinguisher
Full length mirror
Tool kit, hammer,screw drivers
Hardware, nails,drywall screws,picture hanging hooks
Extension cords
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