DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   This extra-moist recipe is loaded with ripe bananas and ready for you to steal a quick bite. February 23rd is National Banana Bread Day, so do your patriotic duty and get to baking. Your taste buds will thank you. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 medium-size ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup sugar 1 large egg, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted Vegetable cooking spray Preparation 1. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. 2. Stir together bananas and next 4 ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Gently fold in walnuts. 3. Pour batter into a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. 4. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire

   One of the greatest Irish festivals, St. Patrick's Day or Paddy's Day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. A festive day for the Irish people, St. Patrick's Day is a festive public holiday the Republic of Ireland and also celebrated with much enthusiasm in places such as Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the United States and New Zealand. Sumptuous feasts, green clothes, frothy delights, joyous merrymaking with friends and family - all are parts of this grand occassion. History    St Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish. But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland of the 5th century.       Patrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD. There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth. According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D., while the other school says it is about 373 AD

    St. Patrick's Day is a lively celebration, traditionally observed with parades, music, dancing, Irish food and green beer. Chances are, there will be a parade near you, as there are parades and celebrations all over the United States on this Irish holiday. The following are the top 10 of the heap. Boston, Mass .- They've been partying since 1901 in "Bean Town". About 850,000 people attend this spirited party. The city's population is about 16 percent Irish and they celebrate St. Patrick's Day with enthusiasm. New York City - New York's parade has been celebrated since 1762. They expect about 2 million people to line the streets of New York for the largest and oldest St. Patrick's parade in the United States. The huge parade has about 150,000 marchers. No floats or automobiles allowed. Plenty of bagpipes and green beer in the city on this Irish event. As the original St. Patrick's Day Parade in U.S. history, the first even