July 26
Helen Beatrix Potter's Birthday
 
 

Beatrix Potter


Renee Zellweger as Beatrix Potter
 
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author. illustrator, and botanist, and best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail. Potter wrote and illustrated a total of 28 books, including the 23 Tales, the 'little books' that have been translated into more than 35 languages. Although she died in 1943, Beatrix Potter is still one of the world's best-selling and best-loved children's authors.

When she was a child, Beatrix led a solitary life.  But she had two rabbits that she adored -- the first was Benjamin, whom she described as "an impudent, cheeky little thing", while the second was Peter, whom she took everywhere with her on a little leash . Potter would watch these animals for hours on end, sketching them.  These early sketches and the mischievous activities of her rabbits were the basis for her first children's books.

In 1992, the BBC also produced an animated series based on the stories of Beatrix Potter called The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. It aired on the Family Channel in 1993-1995. The entire series was later released on DVD as a 2 disc set. In 2006, Miss Potter, an exceptionally charming film about her life, was released with Renee Zellweger as Beatrix and earned Zellweger her sixth Golden Globe nomination. The film details her experiences in getting her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. published with her novice editor, Norman Warne, played by Ewan McGregor, with whom she falls in love.

After Warne's death, Potter purchased Hill Top Farm in the village of Sawrey, in the Lake District. She then married a  local solicitor, William Heelis, and moved to Hill Top Farm permanently.  Some of Potter's best loved works show the Hill Top Farm farm house and the village.  While the couple had no children, the farm was constantly alive with dogs, cats and even a pet hedgehog named "Mrs Tiggywinkle".
 
Benjamin Bunny Stew
 
Ingredients
 

1 3-pound bunny, named Benjamin, skinned & cut up
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 TB butter
1 cup chopped celery
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 tsp basil
1 tsp freshly ground white pepper
2 bay leaves
3&1/3 cups water

 

5 cups dry red wine
2 cups diced carrots
3 diced parsnips
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1lb Kielbasa sausage, sliced
1 package of frozen peas
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup water

 
Instructions
 
  1. Dredge bunny pieces with 1/2 cup flour. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; brown rabbit pieces on all sides. Add celery, onion, salt, pepper, bay leaves, basil, 3 cups water, and wine, Bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer rabbit stew for 2 hours. Add carrots, parsnips,  potatoes, and sausage and cook for about 15 minutes longer.  Add frozen peas and cook for another 10 minutes until the root vegetables are tender.
  3. Combine 1/4 cup flour and 1/3 cup water; stir until well blended and smooth. Stir flour mixture into the broth; cook and stir until thickened.
Serves 4