DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

    Holidays are always fun to celebrate, but why wait a few months for the next major one to arrive when you could be enjoying some nice edible food holidays everyday of the month? March 1st, National Peanut Butter Lover's Day-  This has to be one of the greatest national food holidays of the year, or at least for the month of March. Go and make a couple of PB and J sandwiches for lunch on this day. March 2nd, National Banana Creme Pie Day -While it still may be a little cold outside, why not enjoy a tropical banana cream pie for dessert....if you want a little more tropical, add some coconut. March 3rd, National Cold Cuts Day -This national food holiday is perfect for an evening when you're too tired to cook. Just stop by your local deli and pick up some favorite sliced meats and some soup. March 4th, National Pound Cake Day -What could be more delicious than a piece of pound cake served with some strawberries and whipped cream. ...

  It's another new month.  Let's see what March 2013 has in store for us! March 1st, National Pig Day -To celebrate National Pig Day, go out and buy some bacon or a ham and pig out. Everybody give a shoutout OINK! OINK! OINK! Or if you're from Arkansas....SOOEEE! March 2nd, Name Sake Day March 3rd, National Anthem Day -Go out to a sporting event and listen to an anthem....Just as long as Christina Aguilera isn't singing it...If she is, might want to give her the words to it!!! March 4th, Dentist's Day - Go out and get a new toothbrush. If you have a Dental appointment on this day, remember....rinse then spit! March 5th, Name Tag Day March 6th, U.S. Snowshoe Day March 9th, False Teeth Day -Go to Grandma and Grandpa's house and hide their teeth. Or you can say a solemn prayer of thanks to George Washington, the father of false teeth. March 10th, Learn What Your Name Means Day March 11th, Pape...

   Perhaps the most cheerful holiday in Russia is  Maslenitsa (Shrovetide).   This holiday is considered to come from pre-Christian times, when the Slavs were still pagans.    In the old days, Maslenitsa was for remembrance of the dead.  So the burning of the figure of Maslenitsa means her funeral, and  blini  (pancakes)- coliphia .  But with time, the Russians longing for fun and entertainment turned the sad holiday into jolly.   Maslenitsa with blini-rounds, yellow and hot as the sun, sledding and horse sleigh's, fistfights and visiting with your mother-in-law .  The rituals of Maslenitsa are very unusual and interesting because they combine the end of the winter holiday rituals and the opening of new spring festivals and ceremonies, which were used to promote a rich harvest.    Maslenitsa is celebrated during the week preceding  Lent.  Every day of Maslenitsa wa...

  In this East Coast-style breakfast treat, a tender sour cream coffee cake is topped with a thick layer of cinnamon-scented streusel. Ingredients topping 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, warm 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour cake 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/3 cups sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preparation topping Mix both sugars, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl and whisk to blend. Add warm melted butter and stir to blend. Add flour and toss with fork until moist clumps form (topping mixture will look slightly wet). Set aside. cake Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sift flour, baking soda, baking...

   This diy comes from www.mykitchenaddiction.com .  Sometimes we all could use a little more knowledge.  You can never learn enough, especially when it comes to baking.  The more you know the better your next batch of cookies, or that 3 layer cake will be.  Learning is a nonstop cycle if we want to get better in our techniques.  Good luck! Freezing Cookie Dough       Since the holiday baking season is officially in full swing, I thought I’d share a holiday baking tip with you this Wednesday!    With Christmas over a week away, it’s still a bit early for me to start doing all of my holiday cookie baking. I don’t want my cookies to taste stales when my friends and family bite into them. But, I also want to get a head start on my baking. I bake a lot of cookies for Christmas, so I don’t have time to do everything in the last few days. In the past, I have tried baking ahead of time and freezing the baked cookie...

   This recipe was found at www.marthastewart.com .  Good luck! Enjoy this cake on its own or with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream. Expand                           Prep Time 15 minutes Total Time 2 hours, 15 minutes Yield Serves 9   Ingredients 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan 6 ounces blackberries (1 1/3 cups) 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 2 large eggs, lightly beaten ...

    Carnival in Cologne  is almost as old as the history of the city itself.  But the organized carnival celebrated today only dates back 178 years.    The Greeks and Romans celebrated cheerful spring festivals in honor of  Dionysos  and  Saturn  with wine, women and song.  The ancient Germans celebrated the winter solstice as a homage to the Gods and expulsion of the evil winter demons.  Later the Christians adopted the heathen customs.  The period of fasting (Lent) prior to Easter was heralded in by " Fastnacht"  or  "Karnival"...carne vale = Farewell to meat!    In the Middle Ages, the celebration of Carnival, the masquerade, often took on drastic forms, very much to the displeasure of the city council and the church.  Bans and ordinances did little to help, the celebration was wild and spirited.    The boisterous street carnival was extended in the 1...