FOOD HOLIDAY: National Absinthe Day

March 5th is National Absinthe Day, celebrating a green-colored spirit made from the flowers and leaves of the wormwood herb (Artemisia absinthium). Green anise and fennel seed give absinthe its distinctive flavor. Absinthe has an anise-like flavor and a controversial past. Hey, isn’t absinthe the stuff that made Parisian writers and artists go mad in…
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FOOD HOLIDAY: National Fruit Compote Day

It’s National Fruit Compote Day—although a compote is de facto made of fruit, so a simple National Compote Day would suffice. Compote de fruits, or fruit compote, is mixed, sweetened fruit cooked on the stovetop. Compote de pommes or compote d’abricots is a single stewed fruit (here, apples and apricots, respectively). Compote can be made…
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NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY: What Is A Margarita? How About A Guavarita?

February 22nd is National Margarita Day, which ties with the Martini for the most popular cocktail in the U.S. We get lots of story pitches from public relations firms. Their job is to get coverage for their clients’ products. Brands of spirits are always at the ready with cocktails for every celebration: New Year’s, Super…
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FOOD HOLIDAY: Heavenly Hash Day

[1] The fruit salad version of Heavenly Hash, wrapped in sour cream (photo © When The Dinner Bell Rings | Blogspot [now closed]. [2] Heavenly Hash fudge, with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows and pecans. Here’s the recipe from Small Town Woman (photo © Small Town Woman). [3] Heavenly Hash ice cream, with chocolate chips, marshmallow…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Bake A Pie For National Pie Day

January 23rd is National Pie Day. We grew up in a pie-baking household; Mom is a great baker who loves to bake pies. She rolled out the dough, placed it in a Pyrex pie plate and added the filling. Then we got to pinch the edges. We savored the aroma of a baking pie; and…
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