Feb 28 - PANCAKES

And not just any pancakes as close to home as possible to celebrate Pancake Tuesday / Shrove Tuesday / Fat Tuesday. So happy with this one as I do go every year for crepes with Alisha - somewhat of a tradition at this stage and tonight is no different!! And yes crepes are pancakes - they taste closer to the ones at home then the typical pancakes here in the US :)

A little lesson: Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration as well as penitence, because it's the last day before Lent. Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Giving up foods: but not wasting them. In the old days there were many foods that observant Christians would not eat during Lent: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the shriving Tuesday, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent without going off.

The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name Mardi Gras; meaning fat Tuesday. Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour.

Source: http://www.thisischurch.com/christian_teaching/shrovetuesday.htm

Feb 25-27 Oops

Opps I swear I thought I posted these - I think I need to add the app to my phone ....


Feb 25:
This was an easy one National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, first choice was chocolate covered almonds but then this is kind of the same think cept better and with fruit:)

Feb 26:
I cant tell you how happy I was when Kirsty reminded me of this dish to celebrate National Pistachio Day as I really wasn't in the mood for a bowl of them. So great excuse to check out the Eataly located downtown and have the best pasta ever w/ pistachios of course !!!!

Feb 27:
Again another day out of peak season right up there with the apricots and plum pudding but none the less it is National Strawberry Day, for those interested June is the best time of the year!! I prefer mine in a dessert, ice cream, short cake, Eton mess , in a glass of champagne :) But that I will save for summer....

Feb 24 - Chips

Hmm but not my favorite kind but it is the perfect thing to go with a margarita on this lovely day. Shame I am at work and don't like margaritas !!!! But we are prepared for National Tortilla Chip Day just in case someone surprises us with a frozen beverage .....

Feb 21-23 Falling behind again

I swear I mean to post this each night and I just keep forgetting maybe my next blog should be a memory challenge!!!


Tuesday - Feb 21 was National Sticky Bun Day and boy do these live up to there name!! Thankfully Amy's Bread had them and app they are the best in town so perfect as I was not up in time to go anywhere else :)

Wednesday Feb 22 -well I am not a fan of this veg but time to try it out for National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Have seen so many posts online about sweet potato toast so gave it a shot - I mean it was ok, quick and easy to make for an evening think I need to try again and mix up the toppings???

Thursday Feb 23 - now this is the toast I can do yummy Irish brown bread for National Toast Day. All prepared and went to Queens to pick up my supply and in the name of my health after all these days I decided to skip the butter which will prob not happen again :) I had planned on adding the avocado to match last nights but as usual timing in the morning is never that good  - maybe will have again for dinner !!!

Feb 20 - Presidents Day

Had quite a lovely day today wandering about NYC to some of the places associated with the past US presidents and checking out some memorials along the way.

First stop was Grants tomb on W 122 and Riverside which was a beautiful monument I really knew nothing about, the ranger on duty was very interesting and was perfect place to start the day

The nations 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant  and his wife, Julia are both consecrated at this Memorial which is believed to be modeled after King Mausolus' burial edifice at the ancient city of Halicarnassus. 

The memorial displays murals depicting scenes from Grants time as a general while busts of five War union officers watch over the two tombs.

Next stop was the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt located at 28 E 20th St. He was born and raised
here  before moving to W 57th St as a teen. Among his various accomplishments he was: Presidents of NYC's Board of Police Commissioners, earned a Nobel Peace Price and helped establish the Panama Canal.

From there we wandered thru Union Square and saw this memorial to Abraham Lincoln, commissioned not long after his death by the Union League Club. The statue was completed by noted sculptor Henry Kirke Brown and was dedicated on September 16, 1870.

Next stop was Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street to the spot where George Washington took his oath of office. The bronze statue of Washington was erected in 1883, visitors can also view the bible he used during his inauguration and the spot he stood during his swearing in.

The final stop was in Brooklyn to see the John F. Kennedy memorial at Grand Army Plaza which has changed a lot since its original design which was unveiled on May 31, 1965 and attended by  Robert F Kennedy.

Weathering & vandalism plagued the monument and the renovation of the fountain was the perfect chance to update the original design issues. The steps were replaced with a path,  a new pedestal to hold up to the elements and a new bust ( the original was conserved and loaned to the National Sculpture Society for display). The redesigned monument was rededicated on August 24, 2010.

Sources: 

http://www.nycgo.com/articles/presidential-places-slideshow

nycgovparks.org/parks

Feb 16 to 19 - Fun days...

So all those that may be following know I have been doing my days on instagram have fallen behind on my blog so here are the last couple days.....

Thursday Feb 19 was National Almond Day - not much to say on this one

Friday Feb 17 was National Cabbage Day - not very exciting and if it was in March say the 17th I may have had more choices but nope coleslaw mix it was

Saturday Feb 18 thankfully National Wine Drinking Day fell on Saturday and allowed me a chance to sit back and relax..

Sunday Feb 19 - great way to end the week with National Mint Chocolate Day and some good old Ben & Jerry's ice cream

Am ready for tomorrow's national day which will involve lots of walking which is much needed after these last few days.

Feb 15- Teardrops

No I am not celebrating Singles Awareness Day - the idea just annoys me so much. While I agree there is absolutely nothing wrong with being single at all but really SAD - I don't think so thank you Mississippi State University student, Dustin Barnes, but no thank you.




The drops I am celebrating, why are sweet and sugary because its National Gumdrop Day :)

Feb 14 - Chocoate

Not surprisingly National Cream Filled Chocolate Day falls on Valentines day which is pretty handy as lots of chocolate close by work to buy or for me within the building.


So Godiva it was and luckily the box came with a  raspberry cream filled one so happy days :) Now to give the rest away quickly !!!!

Feb 13 - Gal Pals

Oops am getting slack totally forgot about this one last night and was thinking all along about what to do ??
 I will work on National Clean Out Your computer today coz not naming names, Donna, but I did get some grief about photos that are in there somewhere for 2 years now. However that is a month long task not a one day especially on a week day one!!!


So today in honor of Leslie Knope aka Amy Poehler is Galentine's Day :)

This is one I am putting on my calendar for next year though would be much more convenient if it fell on a weekend every year - hmmmm mimosas !!!




It started as fiction in a 2010 episode" Leslie,  invented a way to do something American culture hadn’t traditionally been too good at doing: celebrating, in an official capacity, the joys of female friendship. Leslie set Galentine’s Day as a festival that would fall, each year, on February 13: Valentine’s Day-eve. And she decided that the festivities—though the real point of it all is simply to celebrate the platonic love that exists among ladyfriends—should take the form of the thing that has brought women together for decades: a long and boozy brunch.


My kind of day so ladies am sending the invites now, may not be a brunch but Feb 13 2018 it is on !!




https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/02/each-day-is-galentines-day/516408/

Feb 12 - Pudding

Ok I am a little confused as to why National Plum Pudding day is celebrated here at all never mind on Feb 12????

It's a Christmas dessert from home it's February in the US - anyone have an answer to this one  😲

Feb 11 - Mint

It's National Peppermint Patty Day and interestingly enough the oldest commercially-made mint patty or cake was made by the Quiggin’s family on the Isle of Man. They had been making the cakes since 1840, but in 1880, four of the sons formed the Kendal Mint Cake Company.

So it seems only fitting that I had a Irish style patty today and yes I know it isn't really a patty but it is chocolate and mint so close enough for me :) Besides despite the act it says cream you will see is more similar to the York patty - but I did do a compassion just to be sure!!!

Possibly the most known, though not the oldest, York Peppermint Patties were made by the York Cone Company of Pennsylvania.

York Peppermint Pattie’s were first made in 1940 and distributed regionally much like other candy makers of the era.  York dominated the market because of its firmness and crispness while the others were soft. A former York employee remembered that the final (sample) test of the patty before it left the factory was called a “snap test”.  If the candy did not break clean in the middle, it did not make it onto candy store shelves.

Think I prefer the Fry's Peppermint!!! 



source: http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-peppermint-patty-day-february-11/

Feb 10 - Brolly

Hmm not sure what to do with this one or why it exists but its National Umbrella Day !!!!!


Some facts:

The word umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra, meaning shade or shadow.  Brolly is a slang word for umbrella, often used in Britain, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.  Bumbershoot is a fanciful Americanism, for an umbrella, from the late 19th century.


The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago.  There is evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt  Assyria, Greece and China.


It was the Chinese that first waterproofed umbrellas for use in the rain. They waxed and lacquered their paper parasols to protect them from rain.


The first of all umbrella shops were called “James Smith and Sons”.  The shop opened in 1830 and is still located at 53 New Oxford Street, London, England.


In 1928, Hans Haupt’s pocket umbrellas appeared.  In 1969, Bradford E. Phillips, the owner of Totes Incorporated of Loveland, Ohio, obtained a patent for the first “working folding umbrella.”


Of course the best way to celebrate is listen to Rihanna sing all about it ??

 http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-umbrella-day-february-10/

Feb 09- BAGELS

My favorite breakfast staple here in NYC and the ones at work are pretty good though they didn't have my fav Everything Bagel today but on a snowy day like today was happy to be indoors with a toasted plain bagel with scallion cream cheese - happy National Bagel Day :)

Some background: Bagels are one of the few breads that are boiled then baked. This creates a soft inside while keeping a crisp outside. Bagels originated in Poland in the early 17th century and now sell over a billion dollars worth each year in the United States.




Source:http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-bagel-and-lox-day-february-9/

Feb 08- Scouts

Oops slight issue with posting this last night - but see below all the fun facts for National Boy Scout Day!!

Did you know that the Boy Scouts of America has roots in the British Boy Scouts organization which was created in 1908 after the success of the book Scouting for Boys by Robert Baden-Powell.


On a foggy day in London, an American newspaper man, became lost when a Boy Scout came to is assistance. With the boy’s guidance, Boyce arrived at his destination. When Boyce offered payment for the assistance, the Boy Scout refused explaining it was a good deed.
Boyce was inspired to organize similar youth groups into one organization. On February 8, 1910, Boyce filed papers of incorporation, and the Boy Scouts of America was born.


I am  pleased that the Boy Scouts do allow gay, lesbian and bisexual adults to work and volunteer in the organization but it still has a long way to go as decisions can be made on a local level, see link below.


http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/27/us/boy-scouts-gay-leaders-feat/

Feb 07 - Friends

Todays one is quite nice and I am looking forward to completing, its national send a card to a friend day.

What a great reminder to reach out to friends that maybe you haven't seen in a while, someone you may have lost touch or to one of your regular crew and just let them know you are thinking about them :)

Besides isn't it always nice to get an unexpected card in the mail !!!!

Feb 06 - FroYo

Another first for me - not normally a frozen treat I would go or but an excuse to finally hit up Pinkberry - and am afraid it was better than I expected which sucks as Pinkberry is a couple blocks away and it delivers !!!!!!

Happy National Frozen Yogurt Day :)

Feb 05 - OMG

I have to say I love Nutella and was so happy this day popped up on my list as I was not to sure how to pull off National shower with a friend day - I asked around but no real takers then along came World Nutella Day to save me from further embarrassment and rejection .....


So I leave you with this the world's smallest cone or perhaps the world's largest jar of nutella :)

Feb 04 - No soup for you

Well today's national day wasn't quite a success  - just wasn't home to take part in National Homemade Soup Day nor do I have a go to recipe and to be honest I was to busy doing this......

And this.........

Which was so much better than soup believe me but I will compete this day along the way and post photo / recipe as soon as I get a really good one. My aim to get my hands on my friend Teresa's mushroom soup one but if anyone out there has a fav please pass on :)

Feb 03 - Red

Important day to participate in today National Wear Red Day - in honor of the day I am of course wearing red and have donated to the American Heart Association - link below

http://honor.americanheart.org/site/TR?fr_id=5042&pg=entry




Advise from the heart association:
Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds.  Fortunately, we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action.
Know Your Numbers. Five numbers, that all women should know to take control of their heart health are: Total Cholesterol, HDL (good) Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI). Knowing these numbers can help women and their healthcare provider determine their risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.


Did you know:
1. Heart Disease Is the Leading Cause of Death for Women in the U.S-. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reports that 289,758 women were killed in 2013 from heart disease, making up one in four of all female deaths that year.


2 .Red Was Chosen as a ‘Confidence Booster’ That ‘Makes You Feel More Powerful,’ Says the American Heart Association - The American Heart Association teamed up with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to create National Wear Red Day in 2003.


3. New York Fashion Week Includes a Special Show With Red Dresses - Although it doesn’t take place on National Wear Red Day, the New York Fashion Week 2017 will include a special show with 19 celebrities modeling red outfits on February 09

Feb 02 - Winter is coming

Yes indeed winter is here for a while longer but hang on spring is going to be early ????


That can only mean one thing; its Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow so 6 more weeks of winter BUT as luck would have it Staten Island Chuck is saying early spring so yeah I just honored it the only way I know how:

A little history on the origins of Groundhog day :

When German settlers arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc.  It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold.  For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter.  A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home.  The day's weather continued to be important.  If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

According to the old English saying:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

From Scotland:

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.

From Germany:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May.

And from America:

If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay.

If the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of Winter.  Germans watched a badger for the shadow.  In Pennsylvania, the groundhog, upon waking from mid-Winter hibernation, was selected as the replacement.



Source: http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm

Feb 01- Bible studies

Ok so I am stretching a bit here but Baked Alaska just isn't happening today, so National Serpent Day it is !!! And to make this work we need to do a little lesson in original sin and the serpent thanks to Wikipedia:


For many Christian denominations, original sin is used to describe the transition of the first man and woman from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience.


 At first, Adam and Eve lived with God in the Garden of Eden, but the serpent tempted them into eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden. After doing so, they became ashamed of their nakedness and God expelled them from the Garden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and becoming immortal.


 So having an Original Sin to celebrate serpent day maybe isn't that much of a stretch .........