First families favorite feasts

President's Day is not a holiday most people associate with food. But Presidents are people too, so they must eat something! Did George Washington really like cherry pie? Then why did he chopped down that tree? Can President Bush's dislike for broccoli be traced back to a bad casserole experience he had as a child? Does President Clinton really like fast food?

Martha and George Washington loved to entertain and much of this entertaining took place around the table. There are many documents describing meals at the Washington home. Senator Maclay of Pennsylvania tells us of a delicous meal "the best of its kind I ever was at..." made up of "soup, fish roasted and boiled, meats, sammon, fowl, etc.", followed by a dessert of "apple pies, puddings, etc.; then iced creams, jellies etc.; then watermelons, musk melons, apples, peaches and nuts."

Joshua Brookes wrote the "Washington's became pleasant, free and sociable at the table." During the War of Independence records indicate the Washington's spent over $1000 a month on food. After George's term in office the entertaining continued at their beloved Mount Vernon. Bacon must have been on the menu quite a bit, because over eight tons of pork were sent to the smoke house each year.

The Lincolns on the other hand canceled all official dinners during the civil war. Afterwards, upon their return to entertaining, they never served wine or spirits with their meals. Mrs. Lincoln is quoted as saying, "I never use any and Mr. Lincoln never touches any." Mr. Lincoln's favorite food was fricasseed chicken and although we have no recipes from the kitchen of the Lincoln White House we do know that Mrs. Lincoln bought a copy of "Miss Leslie's Directions for Cookery" which includes a delicious recipe for fricasseed chicken.

Historically the First Lady has been much more involved in food than the President so in order to find out what our current President likes to eat I called Mrs. Clinton's press secretary. "The Clintons have no one favorite food." Neil Lattimore told me, "They like a variety of healthy, low fat foods, snacking on fruits and vegetables." When asked about the Presidents fast food habits Mr. Latimore told me there was more to the fry story than was reported. After his morning jog Mr. Clinton would stop at his favorite fast food franchises for a cup of coffee, not an order of frys.

Mr. Latimore also told me that Mrs. Clinton likes HOT and SPICY foods. Salsa and low fat chips are one of her favorites. Here is a recipe for a flavorful salsa that is great to snack on. Who knows maybe she'll try it when she reads this column!

Spicy Salsa
3 medium tomatoes
1/2 a medium white onions
3 cloves garlic
1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 bunch cilantro
2 jalapenos
3 tablespoons lime juice

Chop the tomatoes into 1/8 inch cubes, dice the onion into small pieces, crush the garlic and combine all in a large bowl with the tomato sauce. Finely chop the cilantro and jalapenos and add them, as well as the lime juice, to the tomato mixture.

Marinate the salsa overnight for a fuller more intense flavor. Makes approximately 4 cups. Serve with low fat corn chips or your favorite Mexican food.

Note: Jalipinos vary in strength so if your tongue is tender start off with just half a pepper and work up from there.

Food is life. May the plenty that graces your table truly be a vast repast.

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