Celebrated on January 3rd, this is a day I can truly get behind. Both of my boy’s request Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cake for their birthday’s. The National Confectioners Association has been known to recognize this day as an annual event.
Chocolate-covered cherry lovers know how impossible it is to eat just one of these candies. Candy makers combine these two favorite flavors into one delicious treat, and it turns into something irresistible. Although originally made with the liqueur, cordials, or chocolate-covered cherries are more commonly made with a sugar syrup flavored with cherries. The pitted cherries have been cooked in sugar syrup and jarred.
Recipe courtesy of Ann Byrn’s The Cake Mix Doctor (Workman, 2000)
If ever there was a year that needed to be welcomed it is 2021. I have high hopes for 2021, though I believe it may be a few more months before we see some semblance of normal. I am looking forward to that time. In the mean time, I am going to be celebrating food holidays this year.
Today is National Buffet Day – January 2. Here is a little history that I found about how the buffet actually came about.
The all-you-can-eat restaurant was introduced in Las Vegas by Herbert “Herb” Cobb McDonald in 1946. The buffet was advertised in flyers for only one dollar, and a patron can eat “every possible variety of hot and cold entrees to appease the howling coyote in your innards”.
Many boarding schools, colleges, and universities offer optional or mandatory “meal plans”, especially in connection with dormitories for students. These are often in an “all-you-can-eat” buffet format, sometimes called “all-you-care-to-eat” to encourage dietary moderation. The format may also be used in other institutional settings, such as military bases, large factories, cruise ships, or medium-security prisons.
In 2007, the first all-you-can-eat seating section in Major League Baseball was introduced at Dodger Stadium. The trend spread to 19 of the 30 major league parks by 2010, and numerous minor league parks by 2012. The basic menu includes traditional ballpark food such as hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, and soft drinks. In 2008 all-you-can-eat seats were also inaugurated in numerous NBA and NHL arenas. (Info from Wikipedia)
Since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most buffets have been suspended. Makes you wonder if this format will ever return.
National Cream Puff Day
Fortunately January 2nd is also National Cream Puff Day. Originating in France, cream puffs are also known as profiterole and choux a la creme. Cream puffs are a French dessert pastry filled with whipped cream, pastry cream, ice cream or custard. They may be served plain or can be decorated with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or dusted with powdered sugar.
Borrowed from the French, the word “profiterole” has existed in English since 1604. The “cream puff” has been found on United States restaurant menus since around 1851.
To prepare cream puffs, a pastry chef pipes a choux paste through a pastry bag or dropped with a pair of spoons into small balls onto a pan, then baked to form hollow puffs. After cooling, the cream puffs are injected with a filling using a pastry bag and narrow piping tip or by slicing off the top, filling the puff, and then reassembling. (Info from nationaldaycalendar.com)
Wow – what a day it has been. Started early this am with consistent winds of 25-30 MPH. Around noon time it changed. Trees in my yard started to fall. I am very thankful that they were at the back of my yard and fell in the right direction. I think we have just passed the worst of it. I was lucky in that we have not lost power (yet – fingers crossed).
Here is hoping that everyone on the East Coast has a better tomorrow.
On another note – I received notice that I was selected for the next Cravebox. Very excited because it is a Cooking Light box. This can only hold things that I will love. I will keep you posted. I totally recommend you sign up to be involved with these. I am having a blast!
That’s it for now – Enjoy your night. If you live on the East Coast – be safe!
Today is Wednesday – normally a nothing kind of night, middle of the week boring. This week it has taken on new meaning. The presidential debate is on. No, I am not going to get political here. You will vote for who you vote for. The important thing is -that you vote! Well others in my family have different opinions and they are very into debates, etc. Me, I look for an escape. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is important that you gain knowledge so you know what you are voting for. But I can figure that out early on and not much they say in these debates will change my opinion. Wasted TV time.
So what do I do? I turn to my favorite TV channels – HGTV or FoodNetwork. I love their shows and the commercials do not include political ads – a big bonus as far as I am concerned! Plus – I can learn a thing or two.
Today I was excited because I received my first Cravebox. I mentioned that I was expecting this in my last post. I was quite excited to receive it. My guess about the book was correct, so I know I am very excited about reading it. If you want to read the first few pages as I did, go to Amazon. I also received a package of licorice from Natural Vines. I have had licorice before, mostly form the grocery store. Well, I have to tell you, there is a BIG difference. This licorice is soft and very flavorful. I had my son try it as well and he agreed. Another part of the box was a very cute bracelet from Alexa’s Angels, it spelled out Gratitude. When I look at it, it does make me think about what I am thankful for. Go to their website. They have a lot of great gift ideas there. The last (but not least) sample in the box was a bag of soy nut mix. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about this one. I am pleased to announce that it was good. The bag had soy nuts, but also included a little bit of chocolate. The combination made this work. It was also the perfect snack size. I will be buying from Crum Creek Mills again.
This may seem like an advertisement – but it isn’t totally (though to be honest, I want to be selected for more boxes…). I am very impressed with what I received from Cravebox. The products I received are definitely things I will use and seek to purchase in the future.
Well, I am off to read my book and eat my snacks. Hope I get picked again soon!
Well, today is September 30th. It is amazing to me how quickly this year has gone by. I swear it was the beginning of summer yesterday… Well this day is always melancholy for me. My mother passed 6 years ago today. I miss her very much. She was such an inspiration and I have to credit her for the best parts of who I am today. It is also because of her that I love all the various things that I do.
On to other things… I learned last week that I have been picked to receive the book lovers cravebox. I can’t wait. It should arrive this week. I will let you know what I think after I read the book. They were giving away hints on twitter, so I think I know what the book is and I have a feeling I am going to like it. They also send a long a few other products to enjoy while reading the book. All the products they send are new to the market, so I will get to be one of the first to test them. If this kind of thing interests you, you should look into it.
As always I have been busy cooking and trying many of the new recipes I find on pinterest. I love that site, if you don’t belong, you should. I also like to try the recipes that I find in People Magazine. Yes I said People magazine.
I tried this recipe by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was delicious. It was made with arugula, ribbons of zucchini, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and an oil & lemon vinaigrette. I can’t seem to find the recipe online – but here is a scanned version.
Mine doesn’t look quite the same, but be assured, it tasted delicious. Try it while you can still get fresh local zucchini.
I think I will spend the rest of this rainy day working on a few craft projects and watching football. Happy end of September.
While working my way through all that is the internet these days – I came across a site called Klout. Did you know that if you blog, tweet, facebook etc – you have a Klout rating? This was news to me.
It started because I decided to join Cravebox. This is a site where you get a chance to test new products and give opinions. I like to that kind of thing, so I was all over this. Part of signing up and being eligible to participate is a survey where you list your blog, facebook info etc. They also have a place for you to enter your Klout rating. Well I had to google this because I had never heard of such a thing. So off to the Klout website I go and fill out another survey with similar information and Klout comes up with my rating…
I got a 41 out of 100 rating. I get excited, that is pretty good isn’t it? Well come to find out – it is average – LOL. Well I hope that Cravebox finds my average rating good enough for their standards.
