I hope you had a hot breakfast this morning, Beautiful People, as https://foodimentary.com informs us that February is a National Hot Breakfast Month. If you didn’t, you can start by making this delicious royal breakfast for lunch!
What an unlucky queen Mary Stuart was! Having lost her father when she was only six days old, the baby queen was sent off to France at the age of five, to be married to a three-year old Dauphin Francis, the heir to the French throne. The actual marriage between the two little kids had to wait until they became of age – sixteen and fourteen. Meanwhile, the child bride, growing up as a precocious, beautiful and gifted girl with a sunny disposition, became everybody’s darling. Everybody, but one person, adored her. Unfortunately, that one person was the only person who counted – the reigning queen Catherine de Medici.
Her father-in-law, King Henry II, loved little Mary. The King’s favorite, Diane de Poitiers, loved little Mary. No wonder Queen Catherine hated her! Add to that the fact the Mary was exceptionally tall for her times, willowy, very beautiful, vivacious, and, most importantly, very young. The aging queen, put aside for a power-hungry young favorite supported by a still younger queen-to-be, was brewing jealousy and cooking revenge!
She had to bide her time, though, because the dowry of the baby Queen of Scotland was… Scotland! Before the wedding actually took place, Mary was made to sign a will that conferred upon her husband the throne of Scotland and her claim to England, if she died childless. And on the morning after the great wedding banquet, Queen Catherine invited her new daughter-in-law to have a Florentine breakfast. Well, since it was already past noon, it was more like lunch, so let’s call it brunch. Expecting something made with spinach – by that time everybody knew both the queen’s taste and the queen’s cooks – Mary cheerfully popped in, looking stunning and humming a fashionable ballad. What was offered to her definitely looked like there was some spinach in it, but in addition, some mysterious brown bits dotted a fluffy golden omelette.
“What are those, Lady Mother?” – asked the girl.
“Those, mia carissima, are mushrooms.”
“Mush… Mash… Mesh…”
Queen Catherine had a reputation of being quite an expert on poisons, and Mary, although a teenager, was no dummy.
“Oh, Lady Mother, I am so sorry, but before I left Scotland, my mother made me swear that I would never eat anything I couldn’t pronounce. I promise I will practice my French diligently because I am dying to sample this delicious – what is it? Mishmash?”
This is a total legend because mushrooms did not even appear on the royal table for another couple of hundred years. Until that time, they had not been considered edible, poisonous or not. But now we know better, so we start by slicing mushrooms very thin and stir frying them in a lightly misted frying pan.
When mushrooms slightly soften and darken, we add shredded spinach and cook for another minute or so, until it is wilted but doesn’t lose its bright color.
Meanwhile, you have to whisk eggs (you can use egg substitute for vegan version), then add non-dairy buttermilk (for recipe of Prostokvasha – Clabbered Milk, click here) and soy flour, and whisk together. Make it really fluffy! Season with salt and pepper and pour over your mushrooms and spinach.
Throw some chopped fresh dill on top and wait until the edge start curling, then flip it and reduce heat. Cook for a few more minutes, and you are ready to serve.
Poor Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, having narrowly avoided being poisoned by one queen, still managed to get beheaded by another one, her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England. While we contemplate her tragic life, full of passion and intrigue, we can savor breakfast fit for a queen.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 pint mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2 cups firmly packed baby spinach, shredded
- 3 large eggs or substitute
- 1/2 cup non-dairy clabbered milk or buttermilk (plain non-dairy yogurt can be used)
- 1/4 cup soy flour
- A large handful of fresh dill, roughly chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
PROCEDURE
- Preheat and lightly mist deep frying pan with oil. Sear mushrooms until softened and darkened (about 2 – 3 minutes).
- Add spinach, stir, cook together for 1 – 2 minutes until spinach is wilted but doesn’t lose color.
- Whisk eggs, add clabbered milk and soy flour, whisk together until foamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour egg mixture over mushrooms and spinach, top with chopped dill. Fry for 5 – 7 minutes until edge starts curling. Turn over, reduce heat to medium, fry for 4 – 5 minutes.
Enjoy!
Interesting post Dolly. Thanks.
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Thank you for stopping by, Gary.
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Tasty omelette … spinach, mushrooms and fresh dill. What’s not to like. 🙂
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What’s not to like? You have a choice between two queens, Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth the Great. Take your pick!
Thank you for a lovely comment, dear friend!
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Very interesting story!
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Thank you so much for stopping by, dear Mary!
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Not for anything, i believe, would i want to be a royal. That doesn’t mean i won’t enjoy eating like one.
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I am totally with you on that, dear Mimi – thank you for stopping by!
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I loved your segues in this. I’d heard that story; royal intrigue is such a fascinating subject – – olden, golden soap operas.
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LOL Thank you so much, dear Rachel! I am infatuated with Florence, especially Renaissance Florence, which is synonymous to the Medicis, and Catherine, a villainness and a poisoner as she undoubtedly was, was still a Medici. It is true, though, that she hated Mary, and there were some rumors that she had tried to poison the young daughter-in-law right after the wedding. It makes perfect sense: her son would’ve immediately become a King of Scotland and an heir to the throne of England.
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I always love the pictures of Lake Cuomo (is that the name?); so beautiful…
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Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, not in Florida, right? Although ours is also very pretty. The one in Italy is closer to Milan, though, rather than Florence, but it was still one of my annual hangouts years ago. Very beautiful!
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The spinach is something I’d never thought to add to an omelette…great idea! (I use dried dill this way, but I can’t wait to try it with the fresh.)
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Spinach omelette is traditional Florentine, frequently found on Catherine de Medici’s table; mushrooms, however, are a total legend, probably born of the perception that they were poisonous, until Louis XIV started cultivating them for the royal table. But that happened a few generations and a change of dynasty later.
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Good to know! The history of food is a fun part of the process of preparing and enjoying a recipe, I think.
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I agree, and thank you, Doug!
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It makes the food more than just nutrition!
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Food IS more than just nutrition; it’s pleasure and a fun adventure.
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Вау!
На самом деле очень трудно сделать выбор)
Это на тот момент Екатерина королева-мать, а на самом деле ни ее детство, начиная с рождения, ни юность, ни приезд ко двору и то как приняли тогда ЕЕ, оставшуюся как раз БЕЗ приданного не были хоть сколько нибудь радостными, да и замужество не принесло ни капли .не то что бы счастья- хотя бы покоя.Тем более как мы уже знаем грибы не подавали ко столу. Так что и сюжет мог быть лишь попыткой еще раз очернить королеву бесприданницу, ставшую не нужной после потери имущества ее покровителям-опекунам, иностранку из маленькой по сравнению с Францией страны, и самое главное – другого вероисповедания , Мы не знаем, не была ли эта история картой в политической борьбе.
А уж нравы при французском дворе были куда похлеще, чем у разрекламированных Медичи. Катерина была вовсе не дочкой основной ветви , вся ее ценность была в наследстве,доставшемся ей от отца и матери. да и том что ей покровительствовал папа Римский ..до поры до времени опекая осиротевшую при рождении родственницу
Такие сюжеты всегда восхитительно интересны, добавляя пикантности блюду.Просто супер .Благодарю , обязательно утащу рецепт и буду интриговать гостей)..я то в грибах разбираюсь)
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Не устаю восхищаться глубиной Ваших знаний (кстати, я уже не помню, с кем на Вы и с кем на ты, так что давай считать, что выпили на брудершафт)!
Согласна с тем, что репутация отравительницы и прозвище “итальянская ведьма” скорее всего вызваны чисто человеческим недоверием к иностранке, да к тому же умной, образованной, и храброй, да еще и сироте-бесприданнице, как ты заметила. Ну и то, что детей долго не было, что тогда считалось верным признаком “ведьмовства” (о незамужней и бездетной Елизавете Великой говорили то же самое), и разные мутные типы при дворе крутились, от Нострадамуса до братьев Руджиери, до парфюмера, которого и обвинили в изготовлении ядов…
Правда, она была правнучкой Лоренцо Великолепного, по прямой и чисто законной линии, как и ее родной дядя Папа Лео, сын Лоренцо, и в отличие от второго ее покровителя, Папы Клемента, незаконного отпрыска брата Лоренцо, погибшего в молодости. Да и религия была та же, католическая, хотя впоследствии, приобретя власть, Катерина пыталась проявить толерантность к претестантам. Меня всегда умиляла идея поселить их в Молдавии! Ничего не вышло и закончилось, как мы все знаем, Варфоломеевской ночью. Короче, оклеветали бедную “маленькую герцогиню”, которая пыталась наладить мирную политику в Европе – это да.
Спасибо за приятный отзыв и содержательный комментарий, дорогая!
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В любом случае ,легенда очень интересная)
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Спасибо, дорогая!
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That’s a very interesting legend about unlucky Queen Mary Stuart. Thank you for telling ist, my dear. 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind comment, dear Kerin!
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History and legend nicely blended. I’m a brunch person myself
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Thank you so much, Derrick
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Interesting post indeed. Food takes a big place in History 🙂 Merci – amitis
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment, darling!
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I find that time in history so interesting! Enjoyed the blog!
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Thank you so much for your kind comment, dear Syd! I love history altogether, but this period of European history has a special place in my heart. I am glad you like it as well.
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Yes, Italy. I thought it was a de Medici spot. I’ll look up the Floridian one.
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nothing special about the Floridian one; no famous opera house, no Leonardo da Vinci, and no Duke Lodovico the Moor.
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The royals will forever be fodder for the imagination of us peasants, and there is much ugly truth for these stories to spring from. Regardless, I’m glad they inspired a great breakfast dish! Thank you for sharing this fun story and recipe.
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Thank you so much, dear Linda!
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fascinating, delicious & wonderfully written! love: brewing jealousy and cooking revenge – lolol!
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Thank you so much, dear friend; I am so glad you like it!
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Nice story referencing deadly mushrooms. Strange how the royal households were so murderous.
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Politics are deadly, and they were especially so during those turbulent centuries when every royal house was engaged in power struggles. However, objectively, many legends about Catherine de Medici are just that – legends. Thank you for stopping by, darling!
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Spinach, mushrooms, and a taste of history! What a perfect combination, Dolly. ❤
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Thank you so much for a lovely comment, dear Anna!
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Will try out the recipe!
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I hope you enjoy it!
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Reblogged this on koolkosherkitchen and commented:
Since February is still a Hot Breakfast Month, let’s have it – enjoy, Beautiful People!
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I’m a mushroom-lover. That being said, I don’t trust myself to go foraging for them. Too many poisonous ones. The first time my daughter-in-law sliced one open on my kitchen cutting board and a salamander jumped out, I was done. The fact that the critter survived being soaked in salt-water didn’t change a thing! 🍄🦎
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Wow! A salamander inside a mushroom – I would’ve loved to see that! Not that I could’ve recognized a salamander if it looked me in the eye.
I only had a chance tp forage for mushrooms once, in 4th grade on a field trip, and the teacher checked everybody’s baskets aganst the book to make sure we didn’t bring home any bad stuff. It was a great learning experience, but I don’t remember anything, and other than those few years of elementary school, I have never lived in climates where mushrooms grow. I love mushrooms, though, and cook, bake, and pickle them a lot.
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I was fine until my daughter-in-law told me the name of an avid forager who died from eating the wrong wild mushroom. 👀🍃🍄
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The teacher who took us to that forest had tried to frighten us with stories like that. I don’t doubt that some of them are true.
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Still…I’m not willing to take the chance. 🍄
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I don’t blame you!
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Beautiful post about history and legend! One of my favorites for breakfast is a Florentine omelet. When we used to go out for breakfast or brunch, I would always order a Florentine omelet. Hopefully, we will get back out and around soon.
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Ah, dear Eugenia, the only times I’ve had real Florentine omelettes, other than my own kitchen, was in Italy. I miss traveling much more than going out to restaurants. Hopefully it will end soon!
Thank you so much for a lovely comment, darling!
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My pleasure, Dolly!
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I had to Google “clabbered milk”!
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I have provided a link in my post – didn’t it work? I am sorry if it didn’t!
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Ahh – you probably did but I might have missed it! 🤦♀️
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No problem, darling. I just wanted to make sure that the link worked. I have checked, and it does.
Have a great day!
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At your site thats all looking so easy and fast done, Dolly! I think i am in need hiring a cook, for much more pleasure. :-)) Thank you, indeed! Michael
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Oh no, you need to get yourself to the kitchen and start having fun! It is easy and fast, I assure you!
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😉
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I don’t know why she left France. It may have been someone else’s decision. She was happy at the French court and loved the boy she married. It’s a very sad story.
Much love,
M
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I gather that Catherine de Medici simply did not want to support the young widowed queen in France financially, but preferred to have her taking posession of Scotland.
So very nice to hear from you, dear MIcheline!
All my love,
D
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It could be that Catherine wanted to own Scotland and used Mary Stuart. In La Princesse de Clèves, she is the princesse’s best friend. I learned that Felipe II was a good spouse to Élisabeth and that she grew fond of him.
Much love,
M
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Mary brought Scotland into France as part of her dowry when she married Francis. It is my understanding that with his death, Scotland went right back to her as a legal hereditafry ruler, but she had to go there to claim it. Without a ruler physically present, Elizabeth would have undoubtedly tried to grab it. Felipe II was Mary’s husband, rather than Elizabeth (Mary Tudor, of course, not Mary Stuart), wasn’t he?
Love,
D
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