For the last several years, we have celebrated President's Day by eating some of George Washington's favorite food. 

He liked fried chicken.  Because of the cherry tree legend, I make a salad with dried cherries in it.  Because Abraham Lincoln was a big fan of George Washington, I have some hasty pudding (aka polenta).  George Washington probably ate a lot of that too.  Then both men probably had a lot of chicken gravy, so that tops the hasty pudding.  Afterwards, to top it all off, we have cherry pie, in honor of the cherry tree legend.

But one of George Washington's favorite foods, which seems to be a staple of Virginia, is Peanut Soup! That is in the bowl in the first picture.  If you ever visit Mount Vernon, you can eat at their restaurant, and order Virginia Peanut and Chestnut Soup from the menu.

 www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/3/

A visit to Colonial Williamsburg also offers many restaurants with this regional soup.  One is the King's Arms Tavern.

www.history.org/visit/diningExperience/kingsArms/

The King's Arms Tavern even provides the recipe for you to try yourself!

www.history.org/visit/diningExperience/kingsArms/images/kat_recipe_book.pdf

This soup is now one of my husband's favorite soups.  President's Day would not be the same for him without it.  ;)