DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   New Year traditions that all Americans are familiar with include the ball drop in Times Square, the Tournament of Roses Parade, fireworks, year-end lists, New Year resolutions, a toast and/or a kiss at midnight, Auld Lang Syne , and predictions for the year ahead. Here are some other customs you might not be as familiar with. 1. Años Viejos    In Ecuador, December 31st is time to ceremonially burn an effigy named Años Viejos , or Years Old. The dummies are made of old clothes and sticks or sawdust for stuffing, and often made to look like someone who has made a negative impact during the year, such as a politician. See pictures of many different Añ os Viejos here .' 2. First-Footer    Scotland marks Hogmanay on December 31st, although the celebration lasts several days, with customs varying by locality. One of the customs associated with the new year is that of the first-footer, or the first person to visit y...

The Origins of Hogmanay A guid New Year to ane an` a` and mony may ye see!    While New Year's Eve is celebrated around the world, the Scots have a long rich heritage associated with this event - and have their own name for it, Hogmanay.    There are many theories about the derivation of the word "Hogmanay". The Scandinavian word for the feast preceding Yule was "Hoggo-nott" while the Flemish words (many have come into Scots) "hoog min dag" means "great love day". Hogmanay could also be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon, Haleg monath, Holy Month, or the Gaelic, oge maidne, new morning. But the most likely source seems to be the French. "Homme est né" or "Man is born" while in France the last day of the year when gifts were exchanged was "aguillaneuf" while in Normandy presents given at that time were "hoguignetes". Take your pick!    In Scotland a similar practice to that in Norma...

   This recipe comes from www.mybakingaddiction.com .  Enjoy! Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes I am not what you would call a hopeless romantic; I don’t swoon over getting flowers or eating dinner by candlelight, although I wouldn’t complain if you threw in some chocolate covered strawberries! However, I am hopelessly devoted to food. I am always trying to celebrate the holidays by finding new and creative ways to love and cherish the foods that coincide with that time of year. Since February is the month of love and chocolate, I knew I had to come up with a sensual dessert that was both beautiful and incredibly delicious. With a free morning on my hands, I decided to create my idea of the perfect dessert. Chocolate cupcakes with strawberry infused buttercream finishes with a luscious chocolate covered strawberry. Are you drooling yet? When conceptualizing these cupcakes, I knew that I wanted to highlight chocolate covered strawberries beca...