A Double Celebration Day

National Apple Brown Betty Day

By Diane Forrest

Each year has 365 days, well except on leap year when they throw in an extra day just for fun. On each of these days someone somewhere has designated it a day to honor someone or something.  With so many things in this world that deserve our attention, some days have more than one occasion to celebrate or become aware of.  Today is no exception, but I thought it would be nice to combine two of the occasions.  Today is National Apple Brown Betty Day and Do Something Nice Day.

Do Something Nice Day

Some of you are scratching your heads wondering what is Apple Brown Betty?  Well...I have to admit I was scratching my head too. A brown Betty  is a simple American dessert made from fruit (usually apple) and sweetened crumbs that is thought to date back to Colonial times.  It is similar to a cobbler or bread putting.  It consists of a baked pudding made with layers of sweetened and spiced fruit and buttered bread crumbs. It is usually served with a lemon sauce or whipped cream. The most familiar version is the Apple Brown Betty, made with sliced apples and brown sugar. Other popular fruits are berries, and pears.

This is said to be the favorite dessert of Mrs. Nancy Reagan, wife of former President Ronald Reagan as noted in the White House cook book.

Here is a quick and easy recipe to try today for the Apple Brown Betty:

Ingredients

• 3 whole Apples, Preferably Granny Smith
• 7 slices Wheat Bread
• 3/4 cups Regular Salted Butter
• 1-1/2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons (to 4 Tablespoons) Water

Preparation Instructions

• Peel and thinly slice 3 apples. Slice bread into a small dice, or tear into very small pieces.
• Coat a small baking dish or pie plate with butter. Then add 1/3 of the brown sugar, 1/3 of the apple slices, and 1/3 of the breadcrumbs. Repeat these layers twice more, ending with breadcrumbs.
• Slice butter and lay slices all over the top of the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle dish with water and a little more brown sugar, and bake in a 375-degree oven, covered in foil, until done – about 45 minutes. Remove foil in last few minutes of baking to brown the top.
• Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or Reddi Whip.

Now that you have made your Apple Brown Betty, it's time to do something nice.  Do something nice day is a day to do something nice for someone. It doesn't matter how big or how small, doing something nice is good for both the giver and the receiver- heart and soul. A random act of kindness does everybody good.  Why not scoop up some of that delicious smelling dessert and take some to a friend or neighbor?  Life just gives you time & space; it's up to you to fill it, so why not fill it by being nice to some unsuspecting person today.

Do something nice: Six tips for good deeds that take less than five minutes. (From the Happiness Project http://www.happiness-project.com/)

1. 1.       Be friendly.
2. 2.       Say “yes.
3. 3.       Say “no.”
4. 4.       Sign up on the national organ-donor registry.
5. 5.       Lead them not into temptation.
6. 6.       Do someone else’s chore

About the Holiday (http://www.giftypedia.com/Do_Something_Nice_Day)

Do Something Nice Day is a holiday that is simple to celebrate, all you have to do is to do something nice. Like random acts of kindness. Do Something Nice Day is a holiday that we should all be celebrating everyday. This would be a great opportunity to buy a token of appreciation for someone, and sit back and watch as they try to figure out who sent it to them. This is a great day to pay-it-forward.