Benedictine (spread) explained

Benedictine
Alternate Name:Benedictine spread
Country:United States
Region:Louisville, Kentucky
Creator:Jennie Carter Benedict
Type:Sandwich filling, condiment, or dip
Served:cold or room temperature
Main Ingredient:Cucumbers, cream cheese
Minor Ingredient:onion, cayenne pepper, salt
Variations:Mayonnaise

Benedictine or benedictine spread is a spread made with cucumbers and cream cheese.[1] [2] [3] Invented near the beginning of the 20th century,[1] it was originally and still is used for making cucumber sandwiches, but in recent years it has been used as a dip[4] or combined with meat in a sandwich.[5] This spread can be obtained pre-made from some Louisville, Kentucky-area grocery stores.[6]

Although benedictine is rarely seen in restaurants outside the state of Kentucky, it has been written about in articles in national publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Saveur Magazine, and also reported about on multimedia outlets such as the Food Network and NPR.

A benedictine-based sandwich was featured on the Food Network's 50 States 50 Sandwiches program in 2012,[7] on the television shows of celebrity chefs Paula Deen[8] and Damaris Phillips,[9] in Southern Living magazine as one of June's "2011 Best Recipes" for their corresponding issue,[10] in Garden & Gun magazine,[11] and in PopSugar.[12] [13]

History

Benedictine was invented near the beginning of the 20th century by Jennie Carter Benedict, a caterer, restaurateur and cookbook author in Louisville, Kentucky.[14] Benedict opened a kitchen for providing catering services in 1893, and in 1900 opened a restaurant and tea room called Benedict's.[14] It was probably during her catering period when she invented and originally served benedictine.[15]

Benedict's cookbooks are still being sold a century after they were first published. For example, her The Blue Ribbon Cook Book, which first published in 1902, has been reprinted numerous times and recently in 2008.[16] Although early editions of this book do not contain a recipe for the spread,[17] the 2022 edition does.[18]

Recipe

Following are the original benedictine recipe ingredients used by Benedict, as reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal and NPR:[2]

The original spread is made by thoroughly blending all these ingredients with a fork.[2]

Modern variants of the recipe use grated or chopped cucumber and onions rather than juice, as well as dill and common spread ingredients. They also use significantly less salt.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Benedictine Recipe Details | Recipe database . . 2007-04-25 . 2011-11-30 . 2013-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130716053232/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2007/04/25/benedictine/ . live .
  2. News: Popham . Mary . Benedictine spread; Miss Jennie Benedict's famed cookbook is back, with lots of extras . . April 22, 2009 . 2014-07-05.
  3. News: A Summery Spread That's As Cool As A Cucumber . . July 13, 2013 . Erica . Peterson . 2014-07-05 . 2014-07-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223615/http://www.npr.org/2013/07/13/201545790/a-summery-spread-thats-as-cool-as-a-cucumber . live .
  4. News: Food; Bluegrass Flavor . . May 28, 1989 . Regina . Schrambling . January 31, 2017 . February 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216043833/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/28/magazine/food-bluegrass-flavor.html . live .
  5. News: They're off and partying: The Derby bash is a Kentucky tradition worth duplicating in the West. Try these race-day classics. . . April 30, 2003 . Regina . Schrambling . August 14, 2014 . December 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151203042314/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/apr/30/food/fo-derby30 . live .
  6. News: Derby Delight: Everybody wants the spread in Louisville. . . March 18, 2002 . Lori . Gray . July 12, 2014 . August 25, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140825140437/http://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/Derby-Delight . live .
  7. News: Food Network declares a Benedictine sandwich one of country's best . . August 15, 2012 . Sharon . Thompson . July 12, 2014 . July 15, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715112633/http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/15/2299985/food-network-declares-a-benedictine.html . live .
  8. Benedictine Sandwiches . Mother's Day . . Paula . Deen . Paula Deen . . 6 . PA0713H . May 6, 2006 . July 12, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201945/http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/benedictine-sandwiches-recipe.html . live .
  9. Borage, Benedictine and Bacon Sandwiches . Ladies' Tea Party . . 2 . ZD0209H . Damaris . Phillips . Damaris Phillips . . May 11, 2014 . July 13, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212309/http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/damaris-phillips/borage-benedictine-and-bacon-sandwiches.html . live .
  10. News: 2011 Best Recipes: June - Kentucky Benedictine Tea Sandwiches . . June 2011 . 2014-08-13 . 2014-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140813084142/http://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/southern-living-magazine-best-recipes-2011/kentucky-benedictine-tea-sandwiches_2 . live .
  11. News: Pimento Cheese's Kentucky Cousin . . March 28, 2013 . Jed . Portman . October 16, 2017 . October 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171016070910/http://gardenandgun.com/recipe/pimento-cheeses-kentucky-cousin/ . live .
  12. News: 'Wich of the Week: Benedictine Cheese Tea Sandwiches . . May 7, 2008 . Nancy . Einhart . October 16, 2017 . October 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171016122001/https://www.popsugar.com/food/Wich-Week-Benedictine-Cheese-Tea-Sandwiches-1610066 . live .
  13. Benedictine Sandwiches Recipe - Between the Bread - Food How To . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/f_RmVCS33Wo . 2021-12-13 . live. . May 15, 2013 . . .
  14. Encyclopedia: The Encyclopedia of Louisville . 1 . 2001 . Benedict, Jennie Carter . 85–86 . https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC&q=Jennie+Carter+Benedict . 9780813128900 . John E. . Kleber . Laurie A. . Birnsteel . 2014-07-05 . Google Books.
  15. News: Stinnett . Donna . Claim to fame Kentucky restaurant owner, caterer contributes . . October 2, 2006 . 2014-07-04 . 2014-07-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144644/http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/oct/02/claim-to-fame-kentucky-restaurant-owner-caterer/ . live .
  16. News: Storied Kentucky cookbook still has relevance today . . November 26, 2008 . Larry . Cox . August 22, 2014 . August 26, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140826160717/http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2008/11/26/96102-storied-kentucky-cookbook-still-has-relevance-today/ . live .
  17. Book: Benedict, Jennie C. . The Blue Ribbon Cook Book . 1904 . 2nd . John P. Morton . Louisville.
  18. Book: Benedict, Jennie C.. The Blue Ribbon Cook Book. 2022. University Press of Kentucky. 978-0-81-319533-9. Google books. ... this edition is the first to come complete with the now-famous spread that bears Benedict's name.. 2023-08-18. 2023-08-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20230819050951/https://books.google.com/books?id=-OqvzgEACAAJ. live.

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