Frodo's Birthday (September 22nd)
Janine C.

In my last article, I outlined how my husband and I met, and how it related to Tolkien. I briefly described a party that I had on September 22nd to celebrate Frodo and Bilbo's Birthday.

Ever since the uproar over these movies started, I have been going through all sorts of memorabilia in boxes tucked away in dark corners. It's kind of like going through a second childhood. My daughter is getting a big kick out of all of the picture books and story tapes that I'm uncovering.

I remember the party well, even though it was over 20 years ago (heck, in hobbit years, 20 is nothing). If you are interested in holding a similar party, here are a couple of ideas you may enjoy.

1. Write your invitations in Elvish. There are currently several programs out there that will translate everyday language into beautiful Tengwar. For those of the uninitiated, you can include an English translation.

2. Have everyone that you invite bring a "mathom" with them. Something from around the house that is seldom used, and may have also forgotten what it's used for.

3. You can have a screening of the already available LOTR movies, or play music from available soundtracks.

4. You can have the infamous "Mushroom Race", rolling mushrooms across a room or yard with your nose (note: make sure that there are no SURPRISES in the yard BEFORE the race).

5. Serve food that you know to be good Hobbit fare (fruit, cheese, beer and MUSHROOMS)

In order to supply you with some good mushroom recipes, I have combed through some of my old records. This is the first of what I have come up with.

BAKED MUSHROOMS IN CHEESE SAUCE
8 Large mushrooms
2 Thick slices of salt pork, diced
1 recipe White Sauce
3 tbs butter
3 tbs flour
2 cups milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper
(white sauce ingredients added slowly and simmered until thick)
1 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely minced green onions
1 1/2 cups fine bread crumbs
(I sometimes use crushed chicken dressing mix)

Remove stems from Mushrooms; chop coarsely.
Fry salt pork in saucepan over low heat until all fat is rendered. remove pork from pan. Add chopped mushroom stems, cook over medium heat until all fat is absorbed. Set aside.

Combine white sauce and 1/4 cup cheese; stir until cheese is melted. Stir in onions and chopped mushrooms.

Arrange mushroom caps, round side down, in 9 1/2 inch shallow baking dish; pour cheese sauce over. Sprinkle crumbs over sauce. sprinkle remaining cheese over the crumbs. Bake in preheated 350 deg oven for about 20 minutes, until topping is browned.

This yields 4 servings, so I'm sure you will need to make more according to your hobbitish appetites.

If you like the idea, and want more recipes, please let me know.

May the hairs on your toes never fall out.