Celebrations

Dec
28
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CANDY DAY

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CANDY DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CANDY DAY National Chocolate Candy Day offers an opportunity for us to polish off the last of the specialty candies we received as gifts. Celebrated on December 28th, the day points us to the truffles and chocolate oranges tucked into stockings. Check those boxes of candy that may or may not have guides to help us choose cream-filled or ganache.   The word “chocolate” comes from the word “xocoatl” or “chocolatl.” Mayan “school” means hot or bitter, and the Aztec “atl” means water. Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree.…
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Dec
27
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY

NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY Across the United States, fruitcake lovers young and old, commemorate National Fruitcake Day each year on December 27th. Made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices and sometimes soaked in spirits, fruitcake has been a holiday gift-giving tradition for many years. Dating back to ancient Rome, one of the earliest known recipes lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins mixed into barley mash. Records indicate that in the Middle Ages, makers added honey, spices, and preserved fruits. Recipes for fruitcakes vary from country to country, depending on available ingredients and…
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Dec
26
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL CANDY CANE DAY

NATIONAL CANDY CANE DAY

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Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL CANDY CANE DAY National Candy Cane Day on December 26th gives candy lovers a day to celebrate the red and white striped candies found abundantly during the holidays. In 1844, a recipe for a straight peppermint candy stick, which was white with colored stripes, was published. However, some stories tell of all-white candy sticks in much earlier times. Folklore tells of the origin of the candy cane, yet no documented proof of its real beginning. Literature begins mentioning the candy cane in 1866, and it was first known to be mentioned in connection with…
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Dec
25
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL PUMPKIN PIE DAY

NATIONAL PUMPKIN PIE DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL PUMPKIN PIE DAY On December 25th, National Pumpkin Pie Day dishes up the slice many Americans are looking for around the dinner table. As they enjoy time with family or friends, they also take the opportunity to honor the ever-humble and often favored pumpkin pie.  Often eaten during the fall and winter months and invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas tables, in the United States, pumpkin pie is a traditional dessert. The pumpkin itself is a symbol of harvest.   Cookbooks & Recipes Pumpkin pie recipes were found in seventeenth-century English cookbooks, such as Hannah Woolley’s…
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Dec
24
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY

NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL EGGNOG DAY  National Eggnog Day raises a holiday toast once a year on the day before Christmas. Also known as egg milk punch, eggnog is a popular drink throughout the United States during the holidays. The sweetened dairy-based beverage is traditionally made with milk and cream, sugar, whipped eggs, and spices. When served at parties and holiday get-togethers, liquor is often added to the eggnog. Many people prefer brandy, rum, whiskey, bourbon, or vodka. Sometimes they even mix up a combination. For added holiday cheer, garnish the glass with a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg,…
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Dec
23
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL PFEFFERNUSSE DAY

NATIONAL PFEFFERNUSSE DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL PFEFFERNUSSE DAY December 23rd is reserved for National Pfeffernuse Day, a German spice cookie. Very popular around the holidays, pfeffernüsse are fluffy cookies made with ground nuts and spices and covered in powdered sugar.   Over time, many bakers have created their own pfeffernüsse recipes. Traditional methods included various nuts such as almonds and walnuts. Some modern recipes exclude nuts altogether along with the black pepper, retaining only cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom as flavorings. Bakers also use molasses and honey to sweeten the cookie. HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPfeffernusseDay Break out your favorite pfeffernüsse recipe…
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Dec
22
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL DATE NUT BREAD DAY

NATIONAL DATE NUT BREAD DAY

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Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL DATE NUT BREAD DAY  National Date Nut Bread Day on December 22nd delivers a baker’s delight to celebrate. Incidentally, some sources also suggest the day is celebrated on September 8th, too. Dates Believed to have originated around Iraq, dates have been a staple food of the Middle East and the Indus Valley for thousands of years. They have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 BCE. In 1765, the Spaniards introduced dates into Mexico and California.  Dates provide essential nutrients and are an excellent source of…
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Dec
21
2021
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By Troy Warren
WINTER SOLSTICE BRINGS YULE

WINTER SOLSTICE BRINGS YULE

Celebrations, ,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations WINTER SOLSTICE BRINGS YULE On the arrival of the Winter Solstice, we observe Yule.  Also known as Jul, Yule predates the Christmas holiday by thousands of years. Linguists debate the origin of the word Yule. Some suggest the word is derived from “Iul,” the Anglo-Saxon word for wheel. This makes a connection to a Celtic calendar, the Wheel of the Year. However, in the Norse culture, “Jul” refers to the god, Odin. Odin was celebrated during Yule as well. Yule celebrations included bonfires, decorating with holly, mistletoe, and the boughs of evergreen trees, ritual sacrifices,…
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Dec
20
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL SANGRIA DAY

NATIONAL SANGRIA DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL SANGRIA DAY Across the nation each year on December 20th, National Sangria Day recognizes a wine and fresh fruit combination that brings a fresh celebration to the table.  Sangria is a beverage made with wine and sweetened with fresh fruit and fruit juices. Other ingredients can include herbs, spices, carbonation, and liquor. The combinations are endless, giving sangria a place in the cocktail rotation year-round. Refreshing and light during hot summer months, bright and sparkling during the winter ones, this fruity punch is quite versatile.   Use fresh fruit in season for the best flavors.…
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Dec
19
2021
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By Troy Warren
NATIONAL OATMEAL MUFFIN DAY

NATIONAL OATMEAL MUFFIN DAY

Celebrations,
Troy Warren for CNT #Celebrations NATIONAL OATMEAL MUFFIN DAY Enjoy a delicious breakfast or snack on National Oatmeal Muffin Day. It’s an excellent way to celebrate on December 19th annually. Known for its health benefits, millions of people start each day with an oatmeal muffin. Oatmeal includes health benefits for our hearts. Finding ways to incorporate it into our diets increases the opportunities to reap those benefits. Oatmeal muffins are another way to enjoy oatmeal. The American muffin is similar in size and shape to a cupcake. Recipes for oatmeal muffins began to appear in American cookbooks in the mid-1800s. …
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