DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   This may be a time for chocolates and romantic steak dinners, bu this month is also filled with several national food holidays.  Check out all of the great food holidays to be enjoyed during the month of February, plus great suggestions on how to celebrate them. National Baked Alaska Day, February 1st - Who doesn't love cake and ice cream?  But, you can make it even better by adding a thick layer of meringue and popping the whole thing in the oven.  Be creative and choose gourmet flavors of ice cream and cake. Heavenly Hash Day, February 2nd -Heavenly hash is a wonderful combination of chocolate ice cream and almonds.  Be creative and make some heavenly hash ice cream sandwiches using double chocolate cookies. National Carrot Cake Day, February 3rd -Take a break from cooking and baking and just grab some carrot cake cupcakes made at a local bakery. National Stuffed Mushroom Day, February 4th -A great way to celebrate this national food holiday is to make mushrooms stuffed

     Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundations Day and ANA Day) is the official national day of Australia.  Celebrated annually on January 26th, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.  The hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamations of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.     Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prim Minister.    Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on January 26th date back to 1808, with Governor Lachland Macquarie having held the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales in 1818.  In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.       The date is seen as controv

   Pongal is a harvest festival-the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving.  In an agriculture based civilization, the harvest plays an important part.  The farmer cultivating his land depends on cattle, timely rain and the Sun.  Once a year, he expresses his gratitude to these during the harvest festival.  With the end of the est month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals.  The first day of the month is a festival day known as "Pongal Day".  Pongal means the 'boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of Thai.     The act of boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future prosperity for the family.  Traditionally celebrated at harvest time, it is a celebration of the prosperity associated with the harvest by thanking the rain, sun and the farm animals that have helped in the harvest.  Pongal is celebrated by the Indian state of Tamil Ndu as well as Tamils worldwide, including