DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   This showstopping cake is layered with dark chocolate ganache and white chocolate cream, then topped with marshmallowy peppermint frosting. To give the final product pastry-shop flair, set a pile of chocolate curls in the center. Or lean chocolate shards against each other, teepee style. Ingredients cake 2 2/3 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 1/4 cups sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 3 large eggs 1 large egg yolk 1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted 2 cups ice water Dark chocolate ganache 1 1/3 cups heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 14 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped white chocolate cream 12 ounces high-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), finely chopped 3 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons pure peppermint extract peppermint frosting 2 1/4 cups sugar 1/2 cup water 3 large egg w...

   Most of us know December 25 by one name – Christmas. We all know the story of Christmas, but most of us don’t know when the first Christmas was celebrated. Today, the world as we know it grinds to a halt on Christmas day, shops and restaurants all close down. It is a day of peace and tranquility, yet a time of great joy, for many. However, it was not always like that. I have created a list of a few significant events, some joyful and sprit raising, others sad and astonishing, that happened on the day we have come to know solely as “Christmas”. This list is in Chronological order, all dates are AD. 10. First Christmas/325    This is the first date that Christmas was celebrated for certain on December 25. This is significant because Christmas is, arguably, the most widely celebrated holiday in the world. It is also a strange date to pick, since many astronomers and scientists agree that Jesus would have been born sometime during our current summer mont...

    Flores de Mayo (English: "Flowers of May") is a Catholic festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. Lasting for a month, it is held in honor of the Virgin Mary . The Santacruzan refers to the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo , held in honour of Reyna Elena and Constantine finding the True Cross in Jerusalem.        The name is derived from Flores, the Spanish word for "flowers". Also known as "Flores de Maria" ("Flowers of Mary") or "Álay" (Filipino for "offering"), the term refers to the festival as a whole. It was believed that "Flores" (short term for Flores de Mayo) originated in 1865 from the town of Malolos, Bulacan, when the young girls would make a floral offering to the Virgin Mary in the parish church.     In the Bicol region, especially in the locality of Barangay Sabang in Naga City, the Flores de Mayo is held every Wednesday and Saturday of May. It is headed b...