TIP OF THE DAY: Tofu Bean Chili For National Chili Day

Bean chili with cubes of tofu. Photo courtesy House Foods America.   Today is National Chili Day. Chili has long been the subject of passionate debate: Texas-style or Mexican? Beef only, meat and beans or beans-only-vegetarian? With tomatoes or without? Spiced with cumin? With a dash of chocolate or coffee? Served plain or over rice?…
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TIP OF THE DAY: A New Take On Margaritas For National Margarita Day

Something different: a Pineapple Cilantro Margarita. Photo and recipe courtesy Sauza Tequila.   Today is George Washington’s birthday. It’s also National Margarita Day. Washington (1732-1799) never had a Margarita: The cocktail wasn’t invented until 1948, as the prevailing story goes (history of the Margarita). But that doesn’t mean you can’t toast to both Washington and…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Deconstruct & Reconstruct The Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

[1] Don’t have a proper shrimp cocktail glass? Use what you do have, from a julep glass to a Martini glass or anything other stemware. Note also that instead of cocktail sauce, the shrimp are paired with pesto (photo © Butter Restaurant | NYC). [2] Or, how about serving the shrimp with salsa? Here, pico…
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FOOD HOLIDAY: National Gumdrop Day & Gum Drops History

[1] Mmm, gumdrops (photo © Farley’s & Sathers). [2] Gumdrops with spice flavors are called spice drops. You can get these from the Vermont Country Store (photo © Vermont Country Store).   February 15th National Gumdrop Day. Gumdrops are a chewy, brightly-colored, fruit-flavored confection, usually shaped like a truncated cone, and coated in granulated sugar.…
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FOOD HOLIDAY: Have Cheese Curds On Squeaky Cheese Day

Tillamook, one of the country’s greatest producers of Cheddar cheese, has declared today “Squeaky Cheese Day.” For those who haven’t had the pleasure, squeaky cheese refers to cheese curds, small Cheddar nuggets so fresh that they squeak when you eat them. Cheese curds are one of our favorite fun foods. In Wisconsin, where the many…
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