sara

Anyone preparing special foods for Bastille Day?

mamab

Hate to ask, but what WOULD you fix for Bastille Day? We don't celebrate it, so I never thought about it.

mamagia

Well, I guess I'd serve anything French!! Here's one suggestion..........

Strawberry Souffle

1 pint fresh strawberries

1 1/4 cup sugar, divided

1 envelope unflavored gelatine

4 eggs, separated

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup heavy cream, whipped

Measure a 1 1/2-quart souffle dish for its inside circumference. Fold an eight-inch piece of waxed paper in half to make a four-inch “collar” for the outside of the souffle dish; fasten with string or paper clips. Lightly oil the surface that will touch the souffle. Clean and puree the strawberries, to get 1 1/2 cup puree. Add 1/2 cup sugar to the puree.

Remove 1/4 cup of puree and sprinkle gelatin over it. Allow to soften.

Combine egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar in top of double boiler, and cook over boiling water, stirring, until thickened. (A very low setting of a microwave can be used, with caution, to achieve thickening). Add the gelatin mixture and stir until it dissolves. Remove from heat and cool. Blend in remaining strawberry puree. Beat egg whites and salt until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until mixture is shiny and holds stiff peaks. Fold in whipped cream. Gently fold in strawberry mixture.

Turn mixture into prepared souffle dish; chill until firm. Serve chilled, with or without Brandied Strawberry Sauce.

(Serves 6).

— — —

Brandied Strawberry Sauce

1 pint fresh strawberries

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons cognac or brandy

Clean and crush strawberries.

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Stir in lemon juice and crushed fruit. Cook over medium heat, stirring until sauce is thickened and clear.

Cool slightly. Stir in cognac Chill well before serving. (Makes about 1 1/2-c. sauce).

Rob

For anyone interested... I did a little research:

Bastille Day is the National Holiday of France. It commemorates the "Fête de la Fédération" which was essentially a huge feast and gathering celebrating the successful end to the French Revolution on July 14th, 1789. The English improperly attributed this event to the "Storming of the Bastille" on July 14th, 1789 - which was exactly 1 year earlier.

The Bastille was a prison which often held people arbitrarily, and without reason, many of which were political prisoners. The French Monarchy could feel the changing of the tide and people feared for their lives as they could be accused of "taking up arms" or "defying the monarch". In mid July, citizens took up arms and broke 7 prisoners free from the jail, although none were of political importance. About 100 people died in the "revolt" and it marked the beginning of the upheaval of the French Monarchy.

The French Senate Chairman in 1880 - when the official holiday was declared - made the following statement about the selection of July 14th:

"Do not forget that behind this 14 July, where victory of the new era over the ancien régime was bought by fighting, do not forget that after the day of 14 July 1789, there was the day of 14 July 1790. … This [latter] day cannot be blamed for having shed a drop of blood, for having divided the country. It was the consecration of unity of France. … If some of you might have scruples against the first 14 July, they certainly hold none against the second. Whatever difference which might part us, something hovers over them, it is the great images of national unity, which we all desire, for which we would all stand, willing to die if necessary."

I found this pretty fascinating.