Lily of the Valley: A French May Day Tradition
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In France, May 1st is a national holiday – it is their ‘Labor Day’. One of the ways the French celebrate this holiday is by offering a small bouquet of lily of the valley (“muguet-du-bois”) to loved ones and to friends, to symbolize ‘good luck’ and ‘love’. That is why May 1st, i.e., ‘May Day’ is also known as, “La Fête du Muguet”.
The lily of the valley has been considered a lucky charm since the Middle Ages when it was first brought to Europe from Japan. The celebration of ‘May Day’, according to the French tradition, began on May 1st in 1561 when King Charles the 9th of France was given a bunch of lily of the valley to bring him luck and success for the next year. Tradition has it that the King liked the idea and began offering lily of the valley to his courtesans.
Source: eiffeltowerweddingnews.wordpress.com/2017/05/01/lily-of-the-valley-a-may-1st-tradition-in-france/
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How Spring Cleaning Became an Annual Tradition
The urge to turn your house inside out every spring has a long history, deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions, and possibly linked to our biology.
With so many of us staying home right now, lots of folks have taken this time to get a jump on their spring cleaning. Here’s something to ponder while you’re dusting and spritzing and wiping down every surface of your home: you’re participating in an age-old tradition that’s deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions, and possibly linked to our biology.
Just think of all those who came before you, scrubbing and mopping without the aid of technology. In 1864 a housewife recorded this in her diary:
Swept and dusted sitting-room & kitchen 350 times. Filled lamps 362 times. Swept and dusted chamber & stairs 40 times.
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During the 1800s, according to the Washington Post, the most intense annual housecleaning took place in the spring because the winter left homes coated with “a layer of soot and grime in every room.” Lamps of the time were lit with whale oil or kerosene, and homes had to be heated with coal or wood, so you can just imagine that mess. Proper cleaning required opening windows to let the soot out, which, of course, could only be done during warmer weather.
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RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL ORIGINS
In Jewish custom, spring cleaning is linked to Passover in March or April, which marks the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt. Before the start of the holiday, a general cleaning takes place in order to remove any yeast bread, or chametz, from the home. Egyptian slaves were fed unleavened bread, which the Jews later adopted as a symbol of their survival. Thus, having any leaven or bread made with yeast, even crumbs, in the house is considered ungrateful.
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In Christian custom, the Catholics clean the church altar the day before Good Friday, also normally in March or April. Members of the Greek Orthodox church clean house for a week leading up to Lent.
Iran still continues the Persian New Year practice of “shaking the house” on the first day of Spring. Slightly earlier in the year, the Chinese often prepare for their New Year by doing a traditional clean of their homes.
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If you have any Scottish heritage you may be familiar with the Hogmanay tradition of a new year cleaning on 1st January , and while mid-winter might not seem like the best time to open the doors and start giving the home a good dusting, the Scots have never let a little bad weather get in the way of anything. This New Year cleaning tradition can now be found further afield as well, reaching to the Southern Hemisphere, especially in countries like Australia and New Zealand where there are ties to Scottish ancestry.
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HUMAN NATURE
During the cold of winter, humans produce more melatonin which can lead us to feel less motivated and generally lazier. During this time, you might find you’re much more interested in pulling up a cozy blanket and binge-watching Netflix than being very industrious. Yet when the days get longer and warmer our bodies react accordingly.
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The energy we’ve been missing all winter returns leading large numbers of us to start doing things like washing the curtains and digging out the steam cleaner from the attic.
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HEALTH BENEFITS
Sitting around in a cloud of dust isn’t doing you any favors health-wise. However, spring cleaning also has several unexpected health benefits:
Reduced Allergens: This is one of the most compelling reasons for a thorough spring cleaning session. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 20 million Americans suffer from a dust mite allergy. Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to rid your house of these sneeze factories.
Exercise: Still need to shed a few winter pounds? According to the Calorie Control Council, a 150-pound person can burn 205 calories while doing one hour of housecleaning. Cleaning may also help you make healthier food choices: Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that study subjects placed in a clean, organized room were more likely to choose healthier snack options than those in a messy room.
Mental Benefits: Take a moment to recall the last time your desk clutter got out of control. Did you feel extra frazzled? Similarly, a cluttered home has been linked to higher stress levels. The act of cleaning itself has also been proven to cut stress and anxiety by 20 percent, according to one Scottish Health Survey. Try a cheery smell like lemon to brighten your mood even more.
Better Sleep: Cleaning habits may also lead to better sleep: One National Sleep Foundation survey found that people who made their beds every day were 19 percent more likely to report getting a good night’s sleep. Yet another reason to re-establish cleaning habits you may have neglected during the winter.
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Whatever our reasons for rolling up the sleeves and attacking sections of our homes with renewed vigor, the annual spring clean feels distinctly different from the chores we carry out through the rest of the year. While we might not look forward to springing into spring cleaning, it can often feel a cathartic action rather than grim drudgery. It can breathe a breath of fresh air into your year, and we certainly need it this year!
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Plenty! in the Days of Covid19
Growing Community One Neighbor at a Time
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Helping our neighbors in need is always an important objective for the staff and customers of the Harvest Moon Food Store. Since the Covid19 pandemic has caused large numbers of Floydians to cut back their work hours or stop working altogether, times have gotten tougher for a great many friends and neighbors.
It is currently unclear how long people’s lives will be at risk due to the coronavirus, how long people will be asked to shelter at home, and how long it will take to re-employ all the people who have lost their jobs. These are all big and scary issues we face, but hopefully together as community, we can successfully navigate the best path forward each step of the way.
During January – March of 2020, Harvest Moon customers donated $66.11 to the Plenty! change jar at the register. The store matched this amount, and together we donated the following items to Plenty!:
1 Case of Pinto Beans, Organic
25# of Long Grain Brown Rice, Organic
2 Cases of Diced Tomatoes, Organic
25# Split Green Peas, Organic
1 Case of Tuna
Your generosity is tremendously appreciated at Plenty! and by all of the families who are helped by this organization each year. Plenty! is a homegrown non-profit organization whose mission is to help feed its neighbors in Floyd County.
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Plenty! has more need than ever for your help and support. Food and money donations are the things most needed at this time.
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There may be some limited need for additional volunteers, but Plenty! like all of us is trying to find ways to conduct its day-to-day business while social distancing as much as possible.
Please visit the plenty website to make a donation:
connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/7abdd964-2788-4c1b-afdf-bf682f6b59e0.
If you’d like to see how else you might be able to help, please contact Kerry or Rachel at Plenty! They would love to talk with you!
Together, we do make a difference.
Plenty@swva.net
540-745-3898
192 Elephant Curve Rd., Floyd, VA 24091
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Kid-Friendly Recipes for Kids at Home
We hope you’ll enjoy preparing and eating these simple yet tasty dishes with your kids at home.
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Baked Parmesan Green Bean Fries
Green beans are coated with a mixture of Parmesan cheese and spices, and then baked until golden. Crispy, crunchy, and full of flavor, these healthier fries make the perfect snack or easy side dish!
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Recipe Summary
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 4
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Ingredients
• 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 pound fresh green beans ends trimmed
Directions
Preheat oven to 425F. Lightly grease a large baking pan with non-stick cooking spray, or cover with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
In a shallow baking dish or small bowl, whisk eggs. Dredge beans in flour mixture, then dunk in egg mixture, and then coat in the breadcrumb mixture.
Place beans in a single layer on prepared baking pan. Repeat with rest of beans until all are coated in bread crumb mixture.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until coating turns golden brown and starts to crisp. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
Serve with your favorite dressing or none at all!
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Mediterranean Carrot Dip
A great treat for everyone, high in vitamin A for a healthy immune system!
Serve with your favorite cracker or baguette slices.
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Ingredients
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into ¼” slices
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp chili powder
• ⅓ cup water
• 1½ Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, minced
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Directions
Using a deep sauté pan, add 1 Tbsp. of olive oil and place over medium heat. Add carrots, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots have softened (~6-8 minutes). (Note: Make sure to just soften carrots, not actually brown them.)
Stir in garlic, cumin, coriander, ginger and chili powder. Continue cooking, stirring often, for 2-3 more minutes.
Add water. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce heat to low. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender (~15 minutes).
Remove from heat and transfer carrots into a food processor. Pulse several times, or until carrots are mostly smooth. Stir in lemon juice and remaining 1 Tbsp. of olive oil. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Before serving, garnish with minced cilantro. Serve with your favorite crackers or sliced baguettes.
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Honey Orange Firecracker Shrimp
Honey Orange Firecracker Shrimp is sweet, spicy, sticky and crispy and so easy to make you’ll throw your Chinese food takeout menus away!
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• Yield: 6 servings
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
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Ingredients
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tamari
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 orange zested into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 pounds shrimp 18-20 count peeled and deveined
• 1 cup arrowroot or tapioca starch (or your favorite thickening agent)
• 1/2 cup oil
• green onions for garnish
• sesame seeds for garnish
Directions
Add the garlic, tamari, honey, orange zest, orange juice and crushed red pepper flakes to a small bowl and whisk until combined.
Add the shrimp to the thickening agent and coat well.
Heat your oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.
In batches, cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until brown and crisp.
Drain onto a plate (don’t use paper towels as they will stick).
When you’ve finished frying the shrimp drain the oil.
Add the sauce back to the pan and add the shrimp on top.
Toss to combine and cook for 15-20 seconds or until the sauce has thickened (this will not take long, all the thickening agent on the shrimp will thicken it quickly).
Serve immediately, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
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Raspberry and Almond Shortbread Thumbprints
Shortbread thumbprint cookie filled with raspberry jam, and drizzled with glaze. A beautiful classic!
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Recipe Summary
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Servings: 36
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Ingredients
• 1 cup butter, softened
• ⅔ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup raspberry jam (homemade if you have some)
• ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
• ¾ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.
Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.
In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.
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New, Back In Stock, and Seasonal Items in April
We want to be YOUR store. Please let us know if there is something we don’t have that you want, and we will do our best to get it in!
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