National Pie Day

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By Diane Forrest,

Little Jack Horner

By Mother Goose

Little Jack Horner

Sat in the corner,

Eating a Christmas pie;

He put in his thumb,

And pulled out a plum,

And said, "What a good boy am I!"

Yum! Apple
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If you are eating in a restaurant in the south, chances are you will see Pecan Pie on the menu.   While Apple Pie may be all American, Pecan Pie is all Southern!  It is the first pie I ever baked, and one that I have baked thousands of times during my life.  Baking them can get a little tricky at times, the filling may not want to set properly, and then you have runny syrup instead of a nice firm pie.

Pecan Pie
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While Pecan Pie may be my favorite, there are many different pies to choose from.  Not all pies are sweet desserts; there are savory pies as well.  One of my family's favorite is Chicken Pot Pie.  My grandmother used to make individual chicken pot pies and they were always eaten up quickly.  They were so much better than the frozen ones, and you can add whatever vegetables you like in them.

Chicken Pot Pie
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Meat pies have been around for centuries.  In 9500 B.C., the Stone Age, pies were made to be able to transport food easily, and to keep it fresher longer.  Of course it was not the same thing as we would identify as a pie today.  In 2000 B.C. a recipe for Chicken Pie was written on the wall of Pharaoh’s tomb.

In the 1800's people in North America began to put a scoop of ice cream on their fruit pies, this is known as Pie a la' Mode.

Pretty sure Granny's kin-folks started this (Yum)
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Today is National Pie Day.  What every type is your favorite; you won't go wrong eat a slice today.  I am including my never fail recipe for Pecan Pie.  If you get a chance, give it a try today.  Or you can watch the movie Michael, and sing along with the pie song:

Pie

Pie

Me oh my

Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry

all at once o well it's pie

Apple!

Pumpkin!

Minced

an' wet bottom.

Come to your place everyday if you've got em'

Pie

Me o my

I love pie

Diane's Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 Regular pie shell (not deep dish)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Karo syrup
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix sugar, syrup and melted butter.  Add beaten eggs and 1 tsp vanilla.  Add pecans to syrup and mix well.  Bake in oven for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 and bake for 30 minutes.  Pie is done when center of pie shakes a little.

Blondie

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By Diane Forrest,

Every year on January 22 we celebrate National Blonde Brownie Day.  Well actually this is my first year to celebrate it because I never knew of it before.  A blonde brownie is like a chocolate brownie, only it has a brown sugar or butterscotch flavor instead of the traditional chocolate.

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I had my first Blonde Brownie or Blondie as it is sometimes called, a few years ago at a local restaurant.  I had never heard of them before, so was a little unsure about ordering one, however there is not a lot of sweets that I don't like, so I decided to just dive right in.  It was delicious.  A light brown dense cake like dessert that had chocolate chips and nuts, it was warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a ribbon of chocolate syrup covered the dessert.  It tasted like a thick cake like chocolate chip cookie.

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Nobody knows who started this National day, or why, however I have no complaints!  I am included the recipe for Applebee's blonde brownie, and if you have the time, try baking some for yourself.  If not, stop by Applebee’s or any other restaurant that serves them and indulge yourself on this delectable treat.

Applebee's Blonde Brownie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sifted flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup butter or 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Sauce

• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract or 1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring

Directions:

1. Brownies: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add nuts, mix well, and set aside.
3. Melt butter, add brown sugar, and mix well.
4. Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
5. Gradually combine with flour mixture, mixing well.
6. Stir in white chocolate chips.
7. Pour into a 9-inch square pan and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Sauce: 

1. Combine syrup and butter, cook over low heat until butter is melted.
2. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved and remove from heat.
3. Beat in cream cheese and maple extract until smooth.
4. Heat again in the microwave until it reaches desired consistency.

National Hot Tea Month

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By Diane Forrest,

Tea is a drink made by infusing hot water through tea leaves.  This practice began as early at the 10th century B.C.  Tea plants are native to East and South Asia and are a common drink in those areas.  In the 16th century tea was imported to Europe, but it was not until the 19th century Britain that tea became as widely consumed as it is today. Legend has it that afternoon tea was started in the mid-1800s by the Duchess of Bedford. Around this time, gas or oil light was introduced in wealthier homes, and eating a late dinner (around eight or nine PM) became fashionable. At the time, there were only two meals each day -- a mid-morning, breakfast-like meal and the other was an increasingly late dinner-like meal.

The story goes that the Duchess found herself with a "sinking feeling" (likely fatigue from hunger during the long wait between meals) and decided to have some friends over for assorted snacks and tea (a very fashionable drink at the time). The idea of an afternoon tea gathering spread across high society and became a favorite pastime of ladies of leisure. Later, it spread beyond the highest elites and became more accessible for some other socioeconomic groups.

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Having tea parties was a favorite past time game for many young girls in America, many had their own little plastic tea sets and drink imaginary tea with their dolls and stuffed toys.  Today the trend is growing and these young girls are now having fancy teas for birthday parties or just social gatherings.

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Hot tea also has many medical benefits.  It has been known to:

• Prevent development of Arthritis
• Increase bone density
• Inhibit growth of certain cancers
• Reduce the risk of high blood pressure
• Aid in Oral health

It is also soothing if you have a cough or sore throat when mixed with honey and lemon.  For more medical benefits check here: http://www.farsinet.com/hottea/medicalbenefits.html

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Spiced tea is a Southern favorite during the winter months.  As a wedding favor for my son's December wedding I purchased cups with the name of the place where the wedding was held and filled them with bags of spiced tea.  It makes a great gift for any occasion, and it really enjoyed during the cold winter days.

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January is National Hot Tea Month, so instead of drinking as much coffee, why not try a nice cup of hot tea, or even make some spiced tea to fight the winter blues.  Here is the recipe I used:

Spice Tea Mix

Ingredients

• 1 (3 ounce) package lemon-flavored ice tea mix
• 2 (1.8 ounce) packages orange-flavored drink mix (e.g. Tang)
• 1 1/3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground cloves

Directions

1. Combine iced tea mix, orange flavored drink mix, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Store in an airtight container.
2. To serve, stir 1 1/2 teaspoon mix into 1 cup hot water.

Hugging Day

National Hugging Day – January 21^st

By Akindman,

From the get go folks – hugs should be given daily – regardless of location, time or any other potential restrictions.  We simply do not show our emotions and warmth enough with other people, pets, etc.!

So go ahead, share a hug with someone!!

Penguin Awareness Day

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By Diane Forrest,

When my husband was bedridden he had little else to do but watch television.  He loved movies and would watch them over and over again.  One of his favorite movies was called “Happy Feet”.  It was a cartoon, a story about this penguin who could not sing.  Penguins find their mate with a special love song, but without a song, he didn’t think he would find a mate.  He did however another special talent had.  He could dance, kinda like a penguin tap dance.  Well it turned out that this dance not only won him the penguin girl of his dreams, it also saved his whole penguin village.  I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't seen it.

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Penguins are flightless birds who live in the southern hemisphere around Antarctica.  Instead of wings, they have flippers necessary for swimming.  They spend half their time on land, the other half in water.  They appear to be very sophisticated, always dressed up in a tuxedo.  They live on fish, squid or krill (a shrimp like creature).

During the mating season penguins head for special nesting areas on the shore. The area where penguins mate, nest and raise their chicks is called a "rookery".

When penguins are ready to mate, the male stands with his back arched and wings stretched. He makes a loud call and struts about to attract a female.

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When the penguins find a mate, they bond with each other by touching necks and slapping each other on the back with their flippers. They also "sing" to each other so they learn to recognize each other's voices. Once a penguin finds a mate, they usually stay together for years -- for as long as they have chicks.

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January 20 is Penguin Awareness day, so if you don’t have a chance to go by and watch some in action, take a look at this clip, and act like a penguin, put on your formal clothes, sing your song or do a dance, and eat some fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=fwlzPknqUFI&NR=1

New England Clam Chowder

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By Diane Forrest,

During these cold winter nights many people eat foods not usually eaten during the summer.  Things such as soups, stews, chili and chowder frequently find their way to the dinner table. These foods are hot and filling and keep your insides warm during the night.  I recently made my first batch of chicken noodle soup, and it wasn't that hard.  However it did make alot more than I could eat.  I could have frozen it, but instead I shared it with my parents and neighbor, so they would be warm inside too.

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Today is another great day to try something warm and delicious.  It is New England Clam Chowder day.  Chowder is milk or cream based soup.  It is usually made with seafood, but can be made with just vegetables such as corn or potatoes.  It is thick, more like a stew or thick soup.  New England Clam Chowder is the most popular.  It is made with milk, potatoes, sometimes celery and carrots, and clams.  It is extremely frowned upon in New England to add tomatoes to clam chowder. In 1939, Maine legislature even went as far as to make tomatoes in clam chowder illegal!  I would hate to go to jail because I threw some tomatoes in a pot of chowder!

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Below is a recipe from food.com for the best clam chowder I could find, and it is without tomatoes, so you will be safe from the food police.  So, today, on New England Clam Chowder Day, why not try to make your own pot, and share some with your family, friends or neighbors.  If you don't have the time to make your own, you can also buy it canned; there are a variety of companies who make it.

New England Clam Chowder

Ingredients:

• 6 -7 pieces bacon, cut into small pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 (5 ounce) cans baby clams, with juice reserved
• 6 -7 potatoes, cubed
• 2 (10 1/2 ounce) cans cream of celery soup
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed

Directions:

1. Add bacon to sauce pan and cook on medium low heat until crispy.
2. Add onion and cook until translucent.
3. Add clam juice from both cans.
4. Add potatoes.
5. Cook and cover until potatoes are fork tender, about 15-20 minutes.
6. Stir occasionally so potatoes won't stick.
7. Add clams, soup, cream, milk, and dill weed.
8. Stir together.
9. Add butter and let melt into the chowder.
10. Cook for about 30-45 minutes or until thickened.
11. Stir occasionally.

National Popcorn Day

Big Brown Bag
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 By Akindman,

I do not recall the first time popcorn was introduced to me – but know full well that it’s an excellent snack that is enjoyed most anytime.  Campfires, stovetop cooking, air poppers, Popcorn Machines, and microwave all have their advantages.  I do remember Mom and Dad popping full grocery paper bags full when we went to the Drive-In.  Those were special times for our family.

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In the mid-1980’s there was a movie starring Val Kilmer, Real Genius, where Popcorn was put to another use.

Popcorn has been around for centuries. It is one of six main varieties of corn. Popcorn originated in Mexico, but eventually made its way north. In 1948, archaeologists in the state of New Mexico discovered ancient popcorn ears that were at least 5,600 years old! The Native Americans (in both North and South America) popped their corn by throwing it on hot stones over a fire.

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Well this article is a day late in posting - seems a visit to the emergency room and subsequent  gallbladder removal too a higher priority - and on my birthday no less.  I was in great hands throughout the day and night, and my loving (nurse) wife is taking good care of me now.  So I'll continue working on getting articles ready and post over the next few days while in recovery.  Many thanks for visiting and wishing all the very best.