Month: May 2019

May 31 National Macaroon Day

Unboxing the Bizarre

It’s nice that my favorite cookie’s day falls on my favorite son’s birthday. Nothing against other cookies, they are good and all but Macaroons are my favorite (and I only have one son so I am not really playing favorites here). It is a flour-less cookie, made from ground nuts and leavened egg whites. It has been a favorite among the Jewish community during Passover since they are not allowed to cook with flour during the season.

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The coconut macaroon is by far the most popular and well known but I am told another flavor macaroon comes from potatoes. I’ve never had a potato flavored cookie that I know of, maybe I have… That ought to be interesting, I like potatoes.

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Naturally the French had to one up the other macaroons… (macarons) at least I think it was the French. They don’t look like other macaroons (because they’re macarons) and they come in all sorts of flavors. They are good though. Funny looking, yes, and they are claimed to be made by Angels and Unicorns. I am pretty sure Angels have a lot more important things to do and if they were made by Unicorns wouldn’t they have a hole in the middle like a donut? Well Maarons have their own National Holiday in March.

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Anyway, the traditional ones can be improved by drizzling chocolate over them, that is if you like chocolate. Not that they need it though. It is believed that the macaroon was first made in Italy around 1792. It is said that this cookie is the only thing that made the monks there talk!

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Well, did I mention it is my son’s birthday? I think maybe we should try to make him a macaroon cake. Of course it might be just a tad bit dry by the time it reaches him so, I’ll just have to eat it myself and tell him about it. I’ll bet it’ll be good.!

How to celebrate – Eat a macaroon today! Make some macaroons. Try a macaron made by a unicorn.

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May 30th Water A Flower Day

May Holidays

How appropriate today follows yesterdays “Learn Composting Day”. Once you have planted your flower, vegetable or whatever it is you have planted, you have to water it! The key really is, not over watering it. It’s as easy to over water a plant as it is to forget to water it at all, at least the results end up the same. Think of it like a car, when you get it, it has gas but if you never add gas you aren’t going to go very far. Plants need water to survive, in fact you can grow plants without dirt and long as they are in water! The theory behind today may be, however, to just water one flower to let it know it is your favorite. That’s sort of like feeding one of your children because they are your favorite! Go ahead, water them all, just whisper sweet nothing into the petals of the one you like best.

How to celebrate – Water your plants today. Try and figure out which plant is your favorite. Don’t over water, that does just as much damage.

May 29th National Learn Composting Day

May Holidays

Anything that decomposes completely is, or can be, compost. Cardboard, paper, vegetation, can all be used as compost. Naturally, compost is used to help feed plants grow so it’s more-or-less nature feeding nature. It’s one of the reasons the rain forest floor are commonly so lush. So, how does that effect you? Well, this is the time of year we tend to plant gardens, vegetable or flower, and the best way to start one is on top of a compost pile. So instead of throwing away all that recycling, use it to build your compost pile! Not including items that do not decompose, like plastics and rubber. It is where the idea of recycling actually began! Today was created by Holiday Insights in 2011.

How to celebrate – Start your own compost pile. Begin using that pile to fertilize your garden. Learn what decomposes naturally and what doesn’t.

May 28th National Hamburger Day

May Holidays

The All-American meal, the hamburger! Unless you are a vegetarian, who doesn’t love the hamburger. Rare, Medium Rare, Medium, Medium Well, Well done… who cares!?! Add a little cheese and it becomes a meal fit for a King! McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s (Among others) owe everything to the hamburger. On September 2nd, 2012 the Black Bear Casino Resort, in Carlton, Minnesota made histories largest hamburger ever. It weighed 2,014 pounds! Can you imagine the size of the grill!?! It also leaves me to wonder, who ate it? I’ll bet the middle was pretty rare! Don’t forget the fries!

How to celebrate – Have a hamburger today. Try adding different things to the meat to make it a new experience. Have a family cook-out!

May 27th Memorial Day

May Holidays

We celebrate all the fallen today that have served our country in military service. It was begun after the Civil War as families went of decorate the graves of those who had fallen. It was commonly known as Decoration Day until 1882 when it became Memorial Day. It always fell on May 30th regardless of the day of the week but in 1971 Congress made Memorial Day the last Monday of May so that families, and government workers, could have a three day weekend. Just something wrong with that… the idea we should all have an extra day when those we are celebrating had no extras days themselves. But I suppose it makes it easier for families to travel where they need to go to pay honor to their fallen family members.

How to celebrate – Remember the reason for the day. Pay homage to those who have given you all that you have. Study your family tree to find out the soldiers who served you directly.

May 26th Sally Ride Day

May Holidays

Sally Ride was the first female astronaut to make it into space. She was a specialist aboard STS-7 on June 18th, 1983. (Man that seems so long ago) Though she passed in 2012, she will live on in history, and the memory of those interested in the American Space Program. We should celebrate anyone who is the first to do anything, but I wonder if she did it to be the first woman in space or just because that was her love and drive. I have to believe, knowing a little of what it takes to become and astronaut, that it was her life, not because she was a male or female. I believe anyone can do what they want in life but do it for the right reasons, not to just get the press.. which in the end means nothing to anyone. Sally Ride was born on May 26th, 1951 and spent her life accomplishing what she wanted from life.

How to celebrate – Study Sally Ride’s accomplishments. Honor the entire space program and all who worked so hard to accomplish it. Be all that you can be.

April 30th and May 25th International Jazz Day

May Holidays

April 30th and May 25th International Jazz Day

So a bit confusung. A few sites had this originally as May 25. But it is officially celebrated by UNESCO on April 30th this year. However, if you are in Atlanta today you can celebrate in their Atlanta Jazz Festival!

Jazz is the only truly American music having started in the 1800’s, it’s home now internationally recognized as New Orleans, Louisiana. D. Michael Denny, a musician and bandleader created the day back in 1991 while serving on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Jazz Society. It has since been recognized by the U.S. Congress as well. Jazz has certainly changed over the years, whether it’s better, or worse, depends on your tastes but it will always hold its place as America’s own.

How to celebrate – Visit New Orleans. Go to a jazz club. See how many jazz artists you can name without help.

May 25th National Wine Day

May Holidays

May 25th National Wine Day

Do you prefer red or white? Do the best wines in your opinion come from France, Italy or California? There are wines you serve before dinner, during dinner and after dinner. There are pink wines, sweet wines, bitter wines but they all come from grapes. So the better harvest of grapes available, the better wine selections that are available. Some are very expensive, some are cheap and some are just glorified vinegar.

How to celebrate – Have a wine tasting party. Visit a vineyard. Learn how to make your own wine.

May 24th Don’t Fry Day

May Holidays

Once again, with summer approaching and the weather better it’s time to get out and get a little sun! The thing is, don’t go out and get too much sun. The UVA and UVB rays the sun hits us with can be dangerous. Over 76,000 cases of skin cancer come up every year and much of it is preventable. The use of sun screen has helped, but covering up helps even more. It’s okay to get some sun and it’s even good for you creating Vitamin D which your body needs. However, most of us go overboard so that we can get that golden tan that seems to make us look healthier. The problem is that while we may look great we may be slowly killing ourselves. So go ahead and get some sun, enjoy the warmth, just protect yourself so you are around long enough to enjoy even more.

How to celebrate – Get your tan from a bottle. Find the sun screen that best suits you. Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your face and neck.

May 23rd National Lucky Penny Day

May Holidays

Find a penny on heads and it will bring you good luck all day. Find enough pennies on heads and you will get rich! And while we tend not to value the penny anymore it has, in the past, been a big part of our lives. Penny candy, a penny for your thoughts, penny ante, put in your 2 cents… it goes on and on. While a penny might not seem like all that much, it can be worth a lot if you find enough of them and, if nothing else, you are a penny richer than you were before you found it! Be penny-wise and learn to save that money! And who knows, maybe you will find that rare penny that is worth several thousand dollars!

How to celebrate – Keep your head down and look for those pennies. Never pick up a penny on tails. Look up what indicates a penny is worth more than a penny.