Who’s your founding daddy
When we think of the founding fathers of the United States, one name stands out: Thomas Jefferson. There were dozens of men in the group, but, this man articulated what it is to be an American, neigh, a man. While not a great orator, his pen is certainly famous. Best known as the Author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson certainly had a way with words. Many of his writings and concepts laid the foundation of the United States of America becoming a great, inclusive, country. So, we ask on this Thomas Jefferson day (his birthday): Who’s your founding daddy?
During his formative years, he studied a wide variety of disciplines with a special affinity toward philosophy. He espoused one of the most American concepts throughout his life, placing it, prominently, in the Declaration:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
His words stand as a beacon for idealism in what a government of the people, by the people, and for the people should be. Nothing happens in a vacuum, though. Through changes in personnel, conflicting opinions, and political gamesmanship, the vision of Jefferson and his cohorts varies throughout history. But, the idea of a country of free thinkers with a taste for self determination stands to this day.
Table of Contents
We’re now independent. So, Who’s your founding daddy?
The Declaration of independence was a joint effort to sever ties with the British empire. They formed the aptly named committee of five: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. While all contributed, Jefferson was the one tasked with writing the document. He spent 18 days in June, mostly in isolation, writing the treatise. Then, the committee made edits, before presenting it to the congress. They debated it from July 1 to 4, making 86 adjustments before passing it on July 4th.
One of the edits was a critique of the British backed slave trade. It was removed to appease southern plantation owners who didn’t want to give up their slaves. Incidentally, Jefferson owned slaves. But, was a proponent of emancipation. He represented multiple slaves in his legal career, going so far as to provide funding to aid the escape of one of the slaves whose court case he lost because the court was sympathetic to slave owners. Are there inconsistencies? Yes. But, Jefferson did believe that “ALL men are created equal”.
By the time congress was through with it, they removed about 1/4 of what Jefferson had written. He was not happy about that. But, such is the workings of democracy. While we have individual independence, the independence of all comes with some compromise. The job of a democracy is to do the most good for as many people as possible. But, all people are different. So, one must consider everyone’s case.
Who were the other founders?
Despite Jefferson writing most of the words, John Hancock provides the most conspicuous signature on the declaration. 56 men signed the document. How many of those names do any of us know? Very Few. Jefferson, John and Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Harrison (not the president, but the father and great grandfather of 2 later presidents). You would never pick the rest of the names out of a line up. Of course, there were others who didn’t sign the declaration, but, built this country. Alexander Hamilton is one. Incidentally, Jefferson’s first vice president, Aaron Burr, shot Hamilton. Jefferson replaced Burr with a different VP for his second term.
The most common list of founding fathers only cites 7 names: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. Washington usually gets top billing because he was the first president. But, what garnered him that title was leading the war effort. Granted, winning the war was key to independence. But, Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin were the committee that birthed independence. The reason the declaration only had 56 signatures is that it was dangerous. The document itself was treason to the British empire. So, Jefferson started the fight. Washington finished it. They all deserve credit. But, today, Who’s your founding daddy? That’s right. Jefferson.
It’s in the constitution.
James Madison is widely considered the architect of the constitution. He compiled all the notes and ideas from the continental congress. Jefferson would have been highly involved. But, he had been assigned the prestigious job as minister of France, replacing Benjamin Franklin in that post. He was out of the country from 1784 to 1789. When he returned to the states, Washington made him the first secretary of state for the country. Still his influence is evident in the constitution. He insisted on including the bill of rights. The first amendment has his language all over it. Jefferson teamed with George Mason to write the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom which is the basis for the first amendment. He saw religious freedom and the right to free speech as a “natural right”.
Jefferson’s correspondence with Madison was instrumental in creating the rules we live by to this day. Jefferson viewed self determination as one of the highest ideals. To explore the true potential of the individual and the country requires an openness to any and all concepts. Indeed, when Jefferson became the 3rd president of the United States, he pioneered the expansion of the country with the Louisiana Purchase and westward exploration, commissioning Lewis and Clark and several other expeditions that would result in the giant country we have today. He also expanded our ability to trade with the rest of the world utilizing his experiences as French minister and Secretary of state.
Good and bad
People tend to idolize the founding fathers as mythical beings with godlike omniscience. In reality, they were men, just as fallible as anyone today. Despite his vehement belief in the inalienable rights of all men, he did own slaves, even siring children with a female slave in his “employ”. He tried to include language in legislation that would emancipate slaves. But, faced too much opposition. Having inherited vast properties, and massive debt, he never divested himself from slave ownership. He owned 600 slaves, but, only freed 10 of them (all related to the woman who he sired children with).
Meanwhile, he called slavery a moral depravity. The cognitive dissonance is palpable. The financial pressures he was under made him the depravity he abhorred. It would have been easy to say, well, he inherited the slaves. But, he engaged in slave trading himself, buying and selling them to “make ends meet” so to speak. Compared to some slave owners, he did treat his “better”. But, that’s a relative term. The labor, including child labor, was terrible. And, he only showed special treatment to the Heming’s family (the woman he was schtupping). It kind of gives a new meaning to who’s your founding daddy.
Jefferson was not alone in this depravity. 41 of the 56 signatories of the Declaration of independence owned slaves. The divide was mostly northern vs southern since the southern economy relied on agriculture. Slavery was an economic evil. The dissonance exploded in the civil war decades later.
Despite the evils, we can still ask, So, who’s your founding daddy?
Jefferson’s works are littered with calls for equality, freedom, liberty, and self determination. His slave ownership (and that of his cohorts) stands in stark contrast to what he preached. It’s definitely a case of do what I say, not what I do. Ultimately, though, it’s a case of don’t shoot the messenger. “We hold these truths to be self evident” sums up the concept. As the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Despite the unconscionable things he and his friends did in their private lives, the message is still true. All men are created equal.
We could sit here and say, well, those were different times. It doesn’t “excuse” the behavior. But, it does explain it. We still have all sorts of stupid things people do. The current administration is trying to do away with DEI as if it’s a bad thing. They want to revert to a “different time” when it was acceptable to discriminate and profile people based on common perceptions. Also, the current push for deregulation aims to bring back the ethos of the corporate robber barons. We outlawed monopolies and instated anti-trust and worker protection laws for a reason. To say make America Great again is missing the point. Our greatness comes from our evolution. Those were different times doesn’t mean they were better.
Jefferson had a vision for the country to be a land of opportunity and potential. The founding fathers collectively designed a system to develop and progress. We recognize failures of the past and work to correct them.
So, who’s your founding daddy? And, what did he eat?
having spent so much time abroad, especially in France, Jefferson gained a reputation as somewhat of a foodie. He ate a vegetable forward diet, considering meat a “condiment”. On his plantation, multiple vegetable crops including asparagus, artichokes, peas, and tomatoes were abundant. He, famously, referred to tomatoes as “love apples”, helping popularize them in cuisine. He also popularized ice cream and mac and cheese (who knew?). With such a sophisticated and varied palate, he represents what we call the “elite” today. Thanks to this extravagant lifestyle, coupled with inherited debt, he died owing over $100,000 (about $3.4 million today).
In some ways he was very smart. In others, there was definitely room for improvement. But, his affinity for the finer things in life is evident in his gourmand status. Indeed only he and JFK really stand out as presidents with a refined palate. Sure, Teddy Roosevelt indulged in adventure eating. Most of them had regional favorites. Eisenhower did enjoy fine cuisine. But, he also liked fishing and eating what he caught or barbecue. Having spent time in France, though, Jefferson, learned what true gourmet food was and shared that appreciation. Of course, he did like some things that would make many people squirm today, like beef tongue and biscuits. But, he definitely appreciated variety and refined cooking. Plus, with a produce heavy diet, he ate healthier than many presidents. No McDonalds then.
So, to celebrate a flawed human capable of some of the loftiest thoughts and ideas, we present the following recipes utilizing items found at Monticello.
Bon apetit!
Truffled Goat Cheese and Ramps Flan with Morel and Asparagus Salad
Ingredients
- olive oil for cooking
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- For Flan
- 1 Cup Fresh Ramps, Cleaned and trimmed, plus a few extra for garnish
- 1/2 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 12 Each Large Egg yolks
- 3 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 Cup Crumbled Goat Cheese
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Thyme
- Truffle oil and truffle shavings to taste
- For Salad:
- 4 Oz baby greens, arugula or whatever is freshest
- 8 Oz Fresh Morel Mushrooms
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh garlic Scapes
- 1 Bunch Asparagus
- 1/2 Cup Sliced Fresh Spring Onions
- 1 Cup White Wine
- 1 Medium Lemon: Zest and Juice only
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Marjoram
- Grape tomatoes for garnish
- Extra fresh herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Soak the morels in cool water for about 20 minutes to remove any dirt. Remove from the water, and soak a second time. They tend to get a lot of grit inside the gills.
- Preheat oven to 375
- Heat a little olive oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Saute ramps and garlic, stirring as needed. Cook until translucent. Allow to cool.
- Whisk eggs until beaten smooth. Continue whisking in the cream, salt, pepper, and Thyme. Add in about a tablespoon of truffle shavings and a splash of truffle oil. Fold in the goat cheese.
- Spray individual ramekins or foil cups with pan spray. Fill each evenly with the flan mixture. Place on a sheet pan and bake in the oven about 30 minutes. You want them firm, but not too puffed up. If the center is still a bit runny, cook a little longer. 10 minutes should do.
- Heat a little olive oil in a pan. Saute the garlic scapes and spring onions until soft. Add in the mushrooms and cook until soft. Then add the wine and cook until it evaporates. You want it to create a glaze on the mushrooms and onions. Add in the asparagus, stir, and remove from heat. The residual heat will cook the asparagus. You want it al dente.
- Grill extra ramps for garnish if desired.
- Whisk the lemon juice, zest, oil, salt, pepper, and marjoram together. Toss the greens, asparagus, mushrooms etc in. Mix well.
- Invert the flans onto individual plates. Garnish with the salad, tomatoes, and grilled ramps.
Mushroom Stuffed Artichoke
Ingredients
- 2 large Fresh Artichokes
- 1 cup diced sweet onion
- 2 cups DICED FRESH MUSHROOMS
- 1 Tbsp Chopped fresh garlic
- 1/2 tsp dry oregano or 2t fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon basil flakes or 2 t fresh
- Olive oil
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 2 Tbsp Sweet unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup madeira or marsala wine
- Salt and pepper to taste
- A squeeze of lemon
Instructions
- Trim the artichoke stems if necessary. Trim the top to make it flatter. Cut each in 1/2 lengthwise. Cut out the middle part (known as the choke) You will be able to see the difference in the fine stringy part as opposed to the leaves.
- coat the artichokes with oil, salt and pepper and put in a baking pan. Put in enough water to come about 1/2 way up the artichokes.
- Make the stuffing: saute onions and garlic in olive oil in a hot pan until translucent.
- Add in the mushrooms and cook. Then, add in the marsala or madeira and cook down until the liquid is almost gone.
- Stir in butter, then add the bread crumbs, cheese, herbs, and seasoning. Turn off the heat and fold all together to create a stuffing.
- Place the stuffing in the artichokes, and cover with foil. Put them in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for about 35 minutes. check to see they are done. They should be soft enough to eat. Remove the foil and let them crisp up for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Squeeze a little lemon over the artichokes and serve hot.
Grilled Eggplant Stuffed With Herbed Quinoa Drizzled with Tomato Coulis and Garnished with Micro Greens
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Fresh Eggplant
- 1/2 Cup Assorted Chopped Fresh Herbs (Thyme, Parsley, Marjoram, Chives, Sage, Rosemary)
- Olive oil for cooking
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 12 each Whole Fresh Chives
- 1/4 Cup Fine Diced Sweet Onion
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 1 cup Dried Quinoa
- 1/4 cup Fine Diced Fresh Mushrooms
- 2 Tbsp Fine Diced Fresh Carrots
- 2 to 3 Cups Vegetable stock or Water
- For tomato Coulis:
- 1/4 cup Minced White Onion
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 2 Cup Canned Diced Tomato
- 4 or 5 each Leaves of Fresh Basil
- 1/4 cup Red Wine
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
Instructions
- make the Tomato Coulis: Blend the tomato at high speed until totally smooth. Heat olive oil in a Heavy pot. Saute the onion and garlic until translucent. Add the red wine and reduce until it is almost gone. Add the Tomato and basil and bring up to a simmer. Allow it to simmer about 45 minutes to an hour, stirring as needed. If it gets too thick, add a little water. You want the acidity of the tomatoes to cook off. When done, season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- prepare the eggplant: If you have a slicing machine, that works best for this. Or you can use a mandolin or knife if you can slice thin and even slices. First, Pick eggplants that are not too large. About 3 inch diameter is best. Slice The vegetable lengthwise. about 1/8 inch thick. Brush them with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with a little bit of the herb mixture, salt, and pepper. Preheat a grille or grille pan and grille the slices carefully over high heat. You want nice marks and the eggplant to become pliable enough to wrap around food. Set aside.
- make the Quinoa: Heat olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Saute the Onion and garlic until translucent. Fold in the carrots and mushroom sand continue to cook for about 1 minute. Add the Quinoa, and mix all ingredients. Add the stock, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Then cut back to a simmer. Cook until the quinoa is tender, but not falling apart. If it is cooked, but there is still liquid,remove from the heat and strain out the extra liquid. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Then fold in the remaining herbs. Allow to cool.
- Dip chives into Boiling water to make them pliable.
- lay out the eggplant slices on a sheet pan. Use a scoop, spoon, or your hands to place a generous amount of quinoa about an inch up in the wide part of the eggplant. Roll up the eggplant. Fold the sides over to partially cover the quinoa. Then roll up the eggplant into a package. Repeat with the each slice. Then, wrap each bundle with a chive and tie it tight. reheat in a 350 degree oven.
- Reheat the Coulis. Spread a thin coating on a small plate. Place the eggplant bundle on top. Then drizzle a little more sauce over the top and garnish with micro greens, a couple drops of fine olive oil, and Some fresh ground black or mixed peppercorns.