A Special Jelly Bean “Wreath”

A Special Jelly Bean “Wreath”
Reagan Jelly Beans on Lincoln China
In Honor of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration

Dear Mr. Reagan:
Thank you for your eternal optimism, strong yet gracious leadership,
your championship of freedom, and unwavering love for and belief in our Country.
Happy 100th birthday Sir!
Yours Sincerely,
Lori Lynn

In 1861 Mary Todd Lincoln commissioned the Lincoln White House China of white porcelain with a scalloped edge, a hand painted solferino (red-purple) rim and gold rope border. The center is decorated with clouds, an American bald eagle with wings outstretched, holding arrows and olive branches in its talons, standing atop a shield with stars and stripes, with a banner bearing the national motto “E Pluribus Unum.”

E PLURIBUS UNUM – Out of many, one.

Ronald Reagan’s favorite presidents were George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Calvin Coolidge. He disliked liver, Brussels sprouts, and tomatoes. His favorite candy was jelly beans, his favorite flavor jelly bean – licorice. He loved the soundtrack from The Sound of Music and Rudyard Kipling’s If. In addition to jelly beans, he was very fond of chocolate cake, macaroni & cheese, meatloaf, eggplant lasagna, and split pea soup.

During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, Jelly Belly beans were served in the Oval Office and on Air Force One. A holder was designed for the plane so the jar of Jelly Belly beans would not spill during turbulence.

In 2006 my mother and I visited The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library in Simi Valley, California. Here we are listening to an audio tour in the hangar of the Reagan Era Air Force One. We were delighted to be able to tour the plane, and guess what, there is a jar of jelly beans there on Mr. Reagan’s desk!

The Red, White, and Blue

The blueberry flavor was created for Ronald Reagan’s presidential inauguration in 1981 so red, white, and blue jelly beans could be consumed during the festivities. The first jelly bean was created by an unknown American candy maker in the 1800s. An 1861 advertisement recommended sending jelly beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War.

“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” 1989
“We the People tell the government what to do, it doesn’t tell us.” 1989
“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means.” 1982
“Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit.” 1985
Ronald Reagan

Today we honor and celebrate the life of a great American.

My Patriotic Presidential Posts:
I recreate one of the dishes served at the Fourteenth Annual Lincoln Dinner in 1900 here:
Lincoln Dinner at Delmonico’s, February 12, 1900
I cook a special birthday meal for President Lincoln here:
Happy 200th Birthday Mr. President
A recreation of the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon at Statuary Hall here:
Our Inaugural Meal

Credits: Fun Facts About Jelly Belly and Ronald Reagan Facts, Presidential Library

Lincoln Dinner at Delmonico’s, February 12, 1900

Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon
Red Wine Mushroom Sauce
Spinach in Puff Pastry

Served on an authentic reproduction of the Lincoln Presidential dinner service plates.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential China

The Lincoln China was the Kennedys preferred pattern for dining in the White House.

Mary Todd Lincoln was renowned for her enjoyment of shopping, thus she selected the Lincoln White House china shortly after her husband’s inauguration. An elegant French design, the Lincoln china combines the American eagle with various decorations in a brilliant color called “solferino”. This purple-red hue was invented by the French in 1859 and was very popular among the fashionable hosts of the Lincolns’ day. Authentic reproductions can be purchased at the JFK Museum Store here.

Continue reading “Lincoln Dinner at Delmonico’s, February 12, 1900”

Happy 200th Birthday Mr. President

Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the United States
February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865
Dear Mr. Lincoln,
Happy Birthday, Sir. Thank you for your inspiration and service to our Country. In honor of the 200th anniversary of your birth, I have made a dish I think you might appreciate. In reading about your life, I see that you are a small eater, but enjoy apples and chicken fricassee. So today I have prepared this dish as a tribute to you, and served it on an authentic replica of the Presidential China chosen by Mary for the White House in 1861.

Abraham Lincoln’s
Chicken Fricassee in Puff Pastry
Served with Sautéed Apples

An apple is cut into slices and cooked over low heat in a non-stick pan with a little butter until softened. Finished with a drizzle of honey.

A chicken breast is cut into bite-sized pieces, seasoned with salt and pepper, dredged in flour. The chicken is sautéed in half butter/half olive oil until golden brown, then removed from the pan and kept warm while the sauce is made.

A little more butter is added to the same pan. White wine added, brought to a boil and reduced. Add cream and fresh grated nutmeg. Stir until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.

Finish the dish by returning the chicken to the pan to heat through, along with lots of fresh chopped parsley. Overfill warm puff pastry shells with chicken fricassee.

The Eagle and The Shield

Prepared with the greatest admiration, gratitude, and respect. Happy 200th Birthday, Sir.
Yours sincerely,
Lori Lynn
“That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863

Duck Taco and Presidential China

Duck Breast Taco
Flour Tortilla, Heated over an Open Flame
Napa Cabbage, Scallions, Cilantro, Serrano Chiles
Drizzled with Crema Mexicana and Hoisin Sauce

It arrived in two days! I ordered the Lincoln Presidential China dinner plate on Inauguration Day from the Reagan Library Museum Store and received it on Thursday afternoon. It is beautiful, substantial, completely functional, and far exceeded my expectations. The border is a fabulous shade of purple. It comes in a gorgeous box with a Certificate of Authenticity and a recipe for a dish President Lincoln enjoyed, Chicken Fricasse, which I plan to make soon.
Along with the recipe came this bit of history:  Mary Todd Lincoln was a dignified and charming hostess who enjoyed social affairs. She introduced the practice of ornamenting the Presidential tables with fragrant natural flowers where previously artificial flowers had served as decorations. The Lincolns extended a cordial welcome at their receptions to all classes of people not just the social elite. President Lincoln was probably the smallest eater of all the presidents, often making a meal out of an apple and a piece of cheese. He did, however, enjoy a meal featuring chicken. Chicken Fricasse was one of his favorites.

Since the dinner plate arrived within 48 hours of Our Inaugural Meal, I just happened to have a cooked leftover duck breast on hand. I warmed up the sliced duck breast, heated a flour tortilla on the grill, added shredded napa cabbage, thinly sliced serrano chiles, cilantro, and sliced scallions, drizzled on crema Mexicana and Hoisin sauce then served it on my new dinner plate. As tasty as this was, I hope I’m not breaking protocol by serving leftovers on Presidential China!

WHITE HOUSE COLLECTION
This dinner plate has been authentically re-created
from the White House china pattern
used during the Administration of
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Sixteenth President of the United States of America
1861 – 1865

by WOODMERE
New Castle, Pa.
U.S.A.