DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

Start this a day ahead and freeze overnight. For the crust, blend crumbled vanilla wafer cookies in a processor until crumbs form. ingredients Crust 1/3 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoons sugar 2/3 cup vanilla wafer cookie crumbs (from about 32 cookies) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted Sauce 2 tablespoons boiling water 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee powder 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup whipping cream 1/4 cup light corn syrup 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 pints caramel ice cream (such as dulce de leche) 1/2 cup chilled whipping cream 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 2 tablespoons chopped pecans preparation For crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend pecans and sugar in processor until pecans are finely ground. Add cookie crumbs and cinnamon and process to c

  The Canadian Tulip Festival , now in its 61st year, has grown to become the largest Tulip Festival in the world. It preserves the local heritage of Canada’s role in freeing the Dutch during World War II, and the symbolic tulip; a gift in perpetuity to the Canadian people for providing a safe harbour to the Dutch Royal Family at that time.  It is taking place this year, from May 9th through the 19th. The festival’s mandate is to preserve this heritage and celebrate the tulip as a symbol of international friendship by engaging local organizers, volunteers, artists, performers, tourists and festival-goers in what has become an annual ritual of spring and one of Canada’s best loved and well-known cultural events. Princess Juliana of the Netherlands    In the fall of 1945,  Princess Juliana of the Netherlands  presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulip bulbs. The gift was given in appreciation of the safe haven that members of Holland’s exiled royal family receiv