One of the many special memories growing up was celebrating May Day with a basket. A May Basket is a flower-filled basket given out as gifts by adults and children in the tradition of the ancient Roman and Druid holiday of May Day.
May Day which is May 1st is a centuries-long celebration of spring turning into the pleasures of summer. May Day baskets can be shared with friends and family, as well as with elderly neighbors or care facilities.
Perhaps you recall making a basket, setting it on your neighbor's doorstep or hanging it from the front doorknob, ringing the bell, and running like crazy so no one knew it was you leaving it.
In school, we'd weave strips of construction paper to create a basket. We'd add tissue paper flowers, candy, and a packet of seeds.
Several years later I worked at a school where we would make up May Day baskets to distribute in the neighborhood. Each basket included a cheery note to brighten someone's day. The baskets were hung on front doorknobs or set out on the front steps. Here are some ideas to get you started.
This recipe serves 2. Pair the meal with an Orzo Salad tossed with a Lemon Vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
- 1 piece Alaskan Wild Salmon (check out Costco)Asian Sauce
- 2 tablespoons each ketchup, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon each soy sauce, sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons Asian chili garlic sauce
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions:
- Mix all sauce ingredients together in a small pan and heat on low 1-2 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Transfer mixture to a small bowl to use for basting.
- Heat grill to medium heat. Place salmon skin-side down on foil. Baste and cook 12 minutes aside. Turn once during the cooking time.
I just thought about May Day baskets yesterday and how much I enjoyed those left by friends on my doorstep in the past. And I remember creating May Day baskets by weaving slips of construction paper together in elementary school.
ReplyDeleteI am sure it was nice to share a basket-Enjoy the delayed arrival of spring
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