DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

     Highland games  are events held throughout the year in  Scotland  and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and  Celtic  culture and heritage, especially that of the  Scottish Highlands . Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the  bagpipes , the  kilt , and the heavy events, especially the  caber toss . While centred on competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, and Scottish heavy athletics, the games also include entertainment and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and  Gaelic  culture.     The  Cowal Highland Gathering , better known as the  cowal Games , held in  Dunoon ,  Scotland  every August, is the largest Highland games in Scotland, attracting around 3,500 competitors and somewhere in the region of 15–20,000 spectators from around the globe. Worldwide, however, it is dwarfed by two gatherings in the United States: the 50,000 that attend  Grandfather Mountain  in  North Carolina  an

    Myths and legends are a part of virtually every culture. One of the most interesting legends of Russian culture is that of Baba Yaga. She is, however, not unique to Russia. There are similar stories about her, under other names, in Poland as well as in the Czech Republic.     The figure of Baba Yaga is most often pictured as that of an old hag on a broomstick, reminiscent of the kitchen witches we often see today. Some believe that she might have been the precursor for the ugly, old crones that most often represent witches at Halloween.     In truth, however, Baba Yaga is a complicated creature associated as much with fertility and fate as she is with death. Some believed that she also had the gift of prophecy and great wisdom. However, for reasons never understood, she seldom chose to use those skills without exacting a gruesome payment. Anyone wishing to partake of Baba Yaga's wisdom had to take on a challenge, which began with a trip to her home hidden deep within

  This recipe was found at  www.thegalleygourmet.net  .   Give them a try, maybe even with some apple cider or one of your hot chocolate recipes.....Better yet, try them with graham crackers and chocolate. Pumpkin Pie Marshmallows The weather here has been just beautiful lately. Crisp, cool and perfect! So perfect, it was time to roll out the fire pit and make some s'mores. Being so close to Thanksgiving, I thought I would put a spin on the traditional s'more. I searched and quickly came across a pumpkin marshmallow recipe. It was very similar to my vanilla one, but had the addition of pumpkin puree, spices, and orange food coloring. I changed the spices according to my own taste and left out the food coloring because I wanted them to look natural-- not neon. Paired with my homemade graham crackers and some white chocolate (and a little spread of caramel I had in the fridge)-- yum! Move over pumpkin pie. I think we have a new tradition after our Thanks