An authentic clay bean pot. Some New England
restaurants still serve baked beans in these pots.
Funny, you should mention risotto. I’m looking for a decent Italian-import risotto and can’t find any. I guess I’ll have to travel to Wegman’s to find it. I had a devil of a time finding wild rice this week - the Amish are selling fresh duck and I snapped one up.
A bean pot is made of enamel and is wide-bellied with a short neck and generally has pretty stripes of taupe to medium brown to deep chocolate. It has tiny handles (which causes all the problems) and a small top. Apparently, it is shaped this way to maximize heat and minimize evaporation. Everyone breaks the top when removing from the oven. Laurie Colwin recommended making a paste of flour and water and folding it around the bean pot for perfect sealing. I just use tin foil. You cook it for 8 hours at 275 degrees. The smell in the house at the moment is divine. Maybe Liz can find a photo to post.
Bonfire Night is Guy Fawkes night in England. They make a bonfire in the backyard and burn “the guy.” It’s a celebration of Protestants over the Catholics, lol. Despite that, it’s a great holiday.
An authentic clay bean pot. Some New England
restaurants still serve baked beans in these pots.
So.... you have your own English holiday in your backyard?
I’m Anglican. We celebrate with sausages, baked potatoes, and a sticky cake called Parkin.
Britain’s original version of America’s ‘Burning Man’ event?