DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

  The Carnival of Venice historically had a reputation for attracting Europe's aristocracy, but it was also a time when the poorer of society could dress up and mingle with the upper classes.  Venice still has a reputation for being a very expensive city though, if you're on a budget don't let this put you off on visiting the Carnival of Venice as you can actually visit Venice on a shoestring budget.    The Carnival of Venice starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Venetian Carnival Masks    Masks have always been a central feature of the carnival; traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of  Santo Stefan (St. Stephen's Day, December 26th)  and the start of the carnival season and midnight of Shrove Tuesday.  They have always been around Venice.  As masks were also allowed for Ascension and from October 5th to Christmas, people could spend a large proportion o

   Chocolate-covered peanut butter  cups , malted milk balls, or your favorite candy bar can be the star of this easy  Christmas  candy-bark recipe. If you're not big on dark chocolate, use white chocolate instead. Dark Chocolate Candy Bark ingredients 6 ounces   chocolate-flavor candy coating, chopped (1 cup) 6 ounces   dark chocolate, chopped (1 cup) 1 tablespoon   shortening 2 cups   chopped assorted chocolate candy bars, such as chocolate-coated caramel-topped nougat bars with peanuts, chocolate-covered English toffee, chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, or malted milk balls 1/2 cup   salted peanuts, chopped directions 1. Line a large baking sheet with heavy foil; grease foil. Set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl combine candy coating, chocolate, and shortening. Microwave, uncovered, on 100 percent power (high) for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until chocolate melts, stirring every 30 seconds. 2. Stir 1 cup of the assorted

   This recipe comes from  www.madincrafts.com  .  This is for all of you that miss those chocolate mochas from Starbuck's, after the holidays are over.  Enjoy! Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Knockoff (with Homemade Chocolate Mint Syrup) Do you remember how I told you I was going to share a  yummy way to use up my herb garden mint ? Time to make good on that promise. If you have ever grown mint, you know that it is an “aggressive grower” A.K.A. even Jess can’t kill it. Despite my brown thumb, my chocolate mint plant has been producing like crazy, so I needed to find a good way to put it to use. What better way than to make some yummy chocolate-chocolate mint syrup? For the recipe, you will need about 30 mint leaves. I didn’t actually count mine out, but I am pretty sure I had a good 3 dozen. Rinse them and pat them dry with a paper towel. Next, rip the leaves into small pieces. Rip, don’t cut. You

     The origins of  Mardi Gras  can be traced back  to Medieval Europe, though we have no written record of how that really transformed into the current Mardi Gras of today.  But the origins of the Mardi Gras we celebrate today....with Kings, Mardi Gras colors, and brass bands....are traced to New Orleans.    Although we can trace its history to the Romans, a French-Canadian expolorer,   Jean Baptiste Le Moyne   Sieur de Bienville , landed on a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans in 1699 and called it " Pointe due Mardi Gras".   He also established  "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile)  in 1702.  In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated the very first Mardi Gras.    In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile)....similar to those who form our current Mardi Gras Krewes.  It lasted until 1709.  In 1710, the " Boef Graf Society"  was formed and paraded