May Day Picnic

[Scheherazade]

Welcome to the Literature Network May Day Picnic!

Let's have a picnic to celebrate the May Day together.

Bring your local food and traditional games/activities along.

http://www.smartgiftsolutions.co.uk/images/full/just-fruit.jpg

http://www.heb.com/images/mealtime/celebPicnicIntro.jpg http://www.giftsbasketsetc.com/images/CountryMorningMuffin93901_small.jpg

[Pensive]

http://www.indianfoodsco.com/imagesfood/RiceKaju.jpg

[Scheherazade]

Hi Pensive,

Can you explain us what that dish is? I am hoping it is rice! :D

[Riesa]

Texas Bar-B-Cue

http://www.saveursdumonde.net/ency_6/boeuf/texas-brisket.jpg I hope y'all like meat.

[papayahed]

I'll bring a game:

http://www.shopping-emporium-uk.com/badminton-equipment/images/badminton_eclipse17120.gif

[Pensive]

Hi Pensive,

Can you explain us what that dish is? I am hoping it is rice! :D

Yuppers, this is "Massala dar Mazay dar Biryani" (Spicy Rice)
Eat these and have the time of your life! :D

[Nightshade]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/inpictures/images/rnd_cakes340.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/26/45022009_d60a9d84ad_m.jpg

a sweet and a savory :D yumm yummm http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/nahrung/e025.gif http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/nahrung/e025.gif

[Idril]

Being from North Dakota, I feel like I have to bring some Indian (as in Native American) Tacos, a staple at every public gathering in the entire region.
http://www.foodmuseum.com/images/navajo%20taco.jpg

But I'll also bring some lefse which is a staple at all of my families gatherings.
http://www.norslandlefse.com/lefse200h.jpg

[Bandini]

Picnic over. Some people have got no consideration for others.

[papayahed]

Just a little scoop and good as new, picnic back on.

[baddad]

..............No picture of my picnic basket, though a lovely selection so far............but you know the old man is bringing Adult beverages for all........pop for the kids.............................and whoever brought the dog must clean up the spoor.............stool..............poo.......... .............papayahed is just too cool doing it for you...................................

[Scheherazade]

Just a little scoop and good as new, picnic back on.Ah, there is our Health and Safety Expert taking care of it!

Thanks for injecting some real life into our dreamy picnic, Bandini!

Idril> What is lefse made of? Looks like a pastry I am familiar with.

Baddad!!! What a lovely surprise! :D Perfect time to drop by! Hope you are doing OK! :)

[Bandini]

Sorry Schez!

[Pensive]

Hi baddad! Nice to see you!

Guess what, baddad turned up for picnic!

[SleepyWitch]

http://www.hanamana.de/Kolumne/Essen/weisswurst.jpg

alright, that was a bit predictable...
let me think of something a bit less stereotypical... well at least i do live in the region this is from (Bavaria), as opposed to the northern part of Germany...

http://www.washjeff.edu/capl/images/m/1556.jpg
Berlin Weisse: beer with sirup

http://www.cafeuntermuehle.de/images/datenbank/lebkuchen.jpg
... these are for Xmas, really... Nuremberg gingerbreads.. they are made from nuts, honey, spices and zero flour

of course, our best-loved meal down here in Germany is English children, but I'm not gonna post a pic :lol: :lol: :lol: ooops, no offence

[SleepyWitch]

http://www.fairbayern.de/images/am-saft.jpg
this is called fruit juice and the funny container it's in is called a bottle. it's made of glass and there's a deposit on it. it can be recycled, so you have to return it to the shop and you'll get your deposit back... heheheh :) sorry, i'm being really mean and nasty today :)
now this is a totally different category of product: it's got the added bonus though that it doubles up as rat poison, paint, fertilizer... you name it... :) :)
http://www.theartofair.com/usrimage/sunny%20delight250.jpg

[Taliesin]

The most favourite food of an Estonian is of course another Estonian.

http://akm.zzz.ee/pics/artikkel/m66gavend.jpg

Preferrably with cranberry jam.

[Pensive]

Here is Bhangra (Pakistani dance). Wouldn't it be lovely to dance in our country way while picnic? I think that it will make the picnic more interesting.

http://www.rightwingnews.com/dance.jpg
http://www.boloji.com/dances/images/bhangradholi.jpg
http://www.theindiatravelguide.com/test/chennai.jpg

[RJbibliophil]

alright, I suppose I could bring some lefse. Some call it norwegian tortillas, but I call tortillas mexican lefse. Potato lefse are made of flour, potatoes, kefir, sour cream, butter, tiny bit of suger, or something like that. They are rolled out round and baked on a griddle, spread with butter and suger and folded into triangles. mmm.... anyway, there are different recipes. I could also bring some good minnesota hotdishes, which are famous at our potlucks, and maybe some lappa, which resemble pancakes, but much better. maybe I'll bring a recipe, for those who want to make them too. They are best eaten with sour cream, goat cheese, and jams. What about some flowers? we have lots of violets and dandelions here....

[Petrarch's Love]

Mmmm...lefse and lappa. Now I'm remembering my great-grandmother's Norwegian cooking. Yum. Just don't bring any lutefisk :p . And since we're dancing at this picnic too, we could join in with these guys after we're all filled with lappa and cream:

http://www.rosemaling.org/DancersWEB.jpg

And since I'm now a chicagoan, I've brought some pizza for later:

http://www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp/English/TakasakiNews/Stuffed.jpg

[Jay]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/jayellen/forums/strudel.jpg

[Idril]

Mmmm...lefse and lappa. Now I'm remembering my great-grandmother's Norwegian cooking. Yum. Just don't bring any lutefisk :p .

Oh goodness, no! We wouldn't want to stink up the whole park...or where ever it is we're having this picnic. ;)

[NNoah3]

Some food from Mexico,
Guess......:D
http://www.employeenetwork.com/bajapic2.jpg
Yep!!! Tacos :D

http://www.mexicoastvillas.com/meals/mealplans_06.jpg

The traditional Lobster from Puerto Nuevo "The Lobster Village", (Rosarito , B.C.)
http://www.rosarito.org/images/PNSTYLE7.jpg

Some Tamales
http://primates.ximian.com/~federico/news-photos/2003-04-29-8033-salt-tamales.jpg

[Bandini]

Loved the idea of Bhangra at the picnic Pensive. Not so keen on the Norwegian dancers - they look like Morriss Dancers to me, and they're about as much fun as piles.

Incidentally, I really like Taufiq Rafat's 'Wedding in the Flood' Pensive - do you know it?

[Bandini]

A few of these are a must...

[AimusSage]

I am not bringing any food from my country, I want all of you to live beyond this picnic.

[Bandini]

With some of these...although someone else can have my shortbread.

By the way, I know it's meant to be 'food from your own country' - but have you tasted sparkling wine from the UK? Exactly!

Keep the weather hot and the Champagne coming and I'll stay for a while longer.

[Scheherazade]

Wow! Didn't think this thread would prove so popular. Thank you very much everyone!

Pensive> You will have to teach us all how to do the Bhangra! Great idea! :)

Noah> What are the 'tamales'? (I love Mexican food)

Tal> What is the best way to cook an Estonian? To roast? To steam? Or we can simply grill some on Riesa's bbq!

Sleepy> Can you give us the recipe for the gingerbread? It is interesting that it doesn't have any flour.


The May Day's past but the picnic might last throughout the month! :D

[TBtheG]

http://www.quakeroats.com/qfb_OurBrands/images/ProductArray/CapnCrunch.jpg
http://www.sangabrielvalleymenus.com/images/reviews/connals/burger.jpg
http://www.sakida.com/ice_cream_sundae_catering.jpg
YEA YEA

[Bandini]

Takes all sorts!Would you mind sitting on the other side of the rug...thanks..and, perhaps just turn the other way a bit as you eat it? Cheers. Now I can enjoy mine! Not that I can't go for a burger from time to time you understand. It's just not that kind of party matey! Heh!

[RJbibliophil]

Loved the idea of Bhangra at the picnic Pensive. Not so keen on the Norwegian dancers - they look like Morriss Dancers to me, and they're about as much fun as piles.
What!!! Norwegian dancing is great! you should try the Halling, the men kick hats off broomsticks held by girls standing on chairs. Some of those dancers are real athletes. :rage: It is very fun and cultural. :D

At Scher's suggestion, why don't we extend this picnic to celebrate spring in general?

[Virgil]

Hey I hope I didn't make it too late. I brought the music:


http://www.thakral.com/products/panasonic/images/panrxfs431_b.jpg


What's a picnic without ...

http://www.moscowfood.coop/images/wines.jpg

[Pensive]

Brandini, I have not heard of Taufiq Rafat. Who is he? Is "Wedding In THe Flood" a novel or a poem? The names sounds Pakistani. Are you interested in Urdu literature? You should try Allama Iqbal, Sadiq Hussan Minto and Mirza Ghalib will not be bad too!

Scher, sure, I will love to teach Bhangra but believe me that it is not difficult at all. Just jump with one leg up and then with the other leg up. First move to right side with left leg up and then move to the left side with right leg up. Then start clapping your hands from side to side. You should also move in circles, to provide a rythm in the dance. Bhangra is just "jumping up and down" and it is mainly for men.

Luddi is for women. Luddi is like....move in circles (it is necessery to move in circles in luddi) and clap your hands up then down, first left on up then left on downside, then right on up, and then right on down side.

Luddi and Bhangra, easy? Aren't they?

[SleepyWitch]

Sleepy> Can you give us the recipe for the gingerbread? It is interesting that it doesn't have any flour.



the tricky bit is that the spice mixture is a secret... it's been passed on from one master baker to the next since the middle ages or something...
i've just loads of different recipes on google... will translate and post the best ones later...

[NNoah3]

Noah> What are the 'tamales'? (I love Mexican food)



Well Tamales are one of the mexican dishes that never lack in celebrations or friends or family reunions. They are easy to make and are different kinds of them. They are made with corn flour and inside of them we can put everything we want like meat, chicken, cheese and chilli. The flour sometimes is combined with differents sauces in order to make them in differents colors also.

http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/deliciousmaindishes/a/Tamales.htm

[Bandini]

the men kick hats off broomsticks held by girls standing on chairs.



All sounds a bit pagan to me - there's no large wicker men involved is there?

Only joking - I love a bit of tradition me!

[Idril]

All sounds a bit pagan to me - there's no large wicker men involved is there?


Man, that was an odd movie, did you know they're doing a remake with Nicholas Cage? That can't be any good, can it?

[yunnie]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/493/champagne27uu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)Some champagne from Reims!

[RJbibliophil]

All sounds a bit pagan to me - there's no large wicker men involved is there?
There is pagan things woven into the christianity, but up until maybe 1950 or so, the country has been predominantly Christian, after Holy Olav converted the nation. There is a stav church where over the sanctuary, up by the roof, hidden by the ceiling there are images of pagan gods. they are not seen from below. anyway, most norwegians are taught that there are trolls, though I do not know how many really believe in their existence...

kicking hats is challenging. there are not too many who can do it. it is a regional dance where the men show off.
sounds fun Pensy.