Black Friday

It's Black Friday!  Time to exercise your credit cards -  Push them to the limit folks!  And, get in a big workout trying to snag that big screen TV before someone else grabs it.

Oh, yea, and it's also time for my famous  usual Black Friday post.

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and it is the biggest shopping day of the year.  For retailers, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

For those of us that are out there working on Black Friday, it's a crazy, long and tiring day.  Make sure you take those vitamins, drink lots of water, plaster a smile on your face and, well, just try to have some fun.

If you are out there shopping, it can get crazy, so, try to be safe.  Also, be nice to the store employees.  They don't make the rules or have any control over the amount of inventory the store has of that item you want to purchase.  So, go easy on them!

And now, what everyone has been waiting for, here is my famous Black Friday song playlist for your  listening pleasure:

Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
Back in Black - AC/DC
Black Cat - Janet Jackson
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Black or White - Michael Jackson
Black Widow - Iggy Azalea
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Black - Pearl Jam
Blackbird - The Beatles
Black Betty - Ram Jam
Black Gold - Soul Asylum
Men in Black 3 Back in Time - Pitbull
Black Night - Deep Purple
Black Rain - Soundgarden
The Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

I thought it was time to add a few more songs to our list.  Here are my additions to last years song list:

Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Black Velvet - Alannah Miles
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Men in Black - Will Smith

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast.  They invited the great Indian chief, Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food.  Governor Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests.  Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this;

"We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land.  We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

Linus Van Pelt
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Favorite Meal

The holidays are here and the kids (well, two of them) are making their way back home to celebrate.

Prior to Alex's return home, he called me to see how things were going.  He was finishing up a paper and was taking a break before starting the next one.  The paper was due the next day and he was coming home the following day.  He mentioned how he wasn't eating real healthy meals.  Yea, he went back to his old standby, the frozen pizza.  He was in a food rut and was looking forward to eating a good meal.

I had the bright idea of making Alex his favorite meal for dinner when he returned home, so, I asked him, "What should I make for dinner?"

Well, I have to say, I was shocked at his response.  I mean, I expected (and hoped) for (at least) one favorite meal....maybe two.  What I didn't expect was the long list of favorite meals he started rattling off.

Chicken Fried Rice
Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli
Home made Pizza

The list went on...

Pasticho
Mediterranean Stuffed Shells
Manicotti

and on and on....

I don't always get feedback from the kids about the meals that I cook.  I mean, I know they eat what I make, and know that it disappears (sometimes quickly).  I guess it made me happy that they happily remember the meals and even better, they have more than one favorite meal that I cook.

So, what did I make for dinner?

I picked the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli.  I know it's a crowd pleaser and will disappear quickly.  Since Alex will be home for awhile, I will incorporate the favorites that he mentioned, over the course of the next several weeks.

By the way, all the recipes that I mentioned, can be found under my "Recipes" tab.

Compliments from my teenager

If you have or had a teenager, I'm sure you realize that compliments from a teenager are very rare.  They are usually telling you how you are embarrassing them.  And, that's when you aren't even doing anything.

RT and I do enjoy trying to embarrass our kids at this age.  Of course, we goof around with them so much, I think they actually enjoy it.

I had to take Bella to the orthodontist the other day.  It was an early visit and I had to get to work that morning.  I took a shower, got ready for the day, grabbed my lunch (and Bella) and I drove to her appointment.  We arrived a little early, so we sat in the waiting room.  Bella was not very talkative.  Probably half asleep.  When her name was called to go to the back, she got up, and before she walked away she said, "Your hair looks really bad."

Now, this was an early appointment so I could drop her off at school, sign her in and then try to get to work on time.  I had this all planned out.  I looked good before we left.  What happened between the time we left the house until we got to the waiting room?

Now I'm sitting in the waiting room thinking about how bad my hair looks.  Luckily I was the only one in the room.    I didn't want to look at the receptionist because she might not be able to hide her emotions when she sees my bad hair.  I sit and pray the visit is going to be quick so I have a couple of minutes to swing back home and tame the wild mess on top of my head.

Bella walks out after 15 minutes, we schedule the next appointment and head out.  In my head, I'm calculating times to get to school, a quick stop at home to perform a miracle on my hair, and then off to work.

As we are getting into the car I ask Bella about my hair.  "How bad is it?"

Bella:  Your hair?  It looks fine.  Why?

Me:  Before you walked away, you told me that my hair looked really bad.

Bella:  Oh, yea.  I was just kidding.  It looks nice.

And, there you have it.

Oh?  Did you miss it?  I'll repeat it for you.  "It looks nice."  Yea.  That was my compliment.

Since I can't get back that time, I'm hoping my worrying about it during those 15 minutes can be considered part of a work out.

National Espresso Day

Happy National Espresso Day everyone!

What's the difference between espresso and plain coffee?  According to the professionals (the baristas), it doesn't matter what kind of bean you use (or how it was roasted) it's all how the beans are brewed.   How do you make espresso?  By forcing pressurized water through these finely ground coffee beans, it produces a concentrated brew with a delicate foam or crema.

The word espresso in Italian means "quick in time."   In the late 1800's, the espresso was made to order by using freshly ground roasted coffee beans and was freshly brewed right before serving.  The first espresso machine was invented in 1901 by the Italian inventor, Luigi Bezzera.  This machine produced a smaller, more concentrated cup of espresso than the traditional coffee brewing methods.  I'm sure RT is quite thankful for this invention.

Not an espresso or coffee drinker?

How about adding some espresso powder to your next batch of cookies?  The espresso powder can give your baked goods a tasty mocha flavor twist.

How about adding a shot of hot espresso to a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream?   Sounds strange but it's an Italian dessert called affogato.

Maybe you're more into latte's?  Why don't you try adding an espresso shot (or two) to your latte today.

Why do we love National Espresso Day?  It's a great way to wake you up!  A single shot of espresso can perk up the slowest morning person.  A few shots of espresso, and imagine all of the things you can get done today!?  Just ask RT, who is celebrating today and is probably on his fourth espresso right now.

How to observe the day?  Enjoy a shot of espresso and post it on social media using #NationalEspressoDay on your posts/photos.

Or, you can be like me.

Watch RT as he shakes from all of the caffeine he's had today.

Raking Leaves

Our Girl Scout Troop is working on their Silver Award by helping Seniors.  The girls sent out flyers to some of the elderly neighbors to see if they could rake leaves for them.  They were trying to get more than an hour of service in one leaf raking session.  Luckily, Bella's Grandma came through and set us up with a couple of yards to rake.

The girls brought their rakes and we walked over to the first house.  The owner (at the first house) gave instructions on where the leaves are to be moved.  Half of the girls jumped right in and started raking leaves.

I walked the other half of the troop down to the second house.  The girls stopped and just looked around.  I told them we could rake the leaves to the curb.  I got some stares and then it hit me.  These girls don't know how to rake leaves!

I asked if they have raked leaves before today.  All three of them said no.  So, I had to give them a crash course on leaf raking.  Also known as, Leaf Raking 101.

This made me a little sad.

I thought a big (fun) part of childhood was to rake a HUGE pile of leaves and jump into it?  The not so fun part:  it was also a chore that a lot of us had to do in the fall.  Growing up, we had a HUGE backyard with lots and lots of leaves.  Because our yard was so large, my Dad bought a leaf sweeper.  It was human powered.  You push it and it sweeps the leaves into a collection bag.  To empty the bag, we had to dump it into a pile in the back yard (my Dad's compost pile).  It was difficult to empty (when I was younger), but, it was still a lot of fun to push around the yard.  Since we, and the rest of the neighborhood, thought it was so much fun to use, I'm sure my Dad thought it was the best investment ever.  We all fought over who would get to sweep the leaves.

I'm not sure that our leaf raking session brought that kind of fun.  We did play some music and the girls danced as they raked the leaves.  They were raking the leaves for someone else (can be considered a Random Act of Kindness).  Hopefully this will be a positive, happy memory for them.

Vegan Diaries: Easy Garlic Naan

The other day I posted a Chick Pea Tikka Masala recipe.  The Tikka Masala was absolutely delicious.  And, I think, it was over the top because it was served with this home made Garlic Naan.

Tikka Masala is one of my go to entrees to order at an Indian restaurant.  Being able to make it at home makes me very happy.  And, now, with this easy Naan recipe, I have an easy to make meal to add to the rotation.

By the way, my bread snobs  family approves of this Naan recipe.

I found the recipe here.  And, this will go great with my vegan  Chick Pea Tikka Masala.


Home made Naan

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp dried yeast
1/2 tsp table salt
pinch sugar
3/4 cup hot water
3 TBSP oil

1/2 cup salted butter
2 tsp dried garlic flakes *
2 tsp cilantro

directions:
In small bowl, combine yeast and hot water and pinch of sugar and let proof.
In large bowl, combine flour and salt.
Add yeast mixture and oil and combine ingredients.  Once dough is combined, use your hands to gather dough together, making sure the sides of the bowl are clean.
Place dough on cutting board dusted with flour and knead the dough for 15 minutes.
Place in a bowl, cover and let sit for 20 minutes.

After dough has risen, punch it back down and then divide it into three equal balls.
Place one ball on floured cutting board and start rolling the dough to form the naan bread into an oval shape (make sure that it will fit in your skillet or on your griddle).

Put your skillet/griddle on high heat and let it get searingly hot.
Place dough onto skillet/griddle and cook for about 2 minutes.  It should start to puff up and char lightly.
Flip the bread and cook for another 2 minutes.

Remove to a plate and drizzle with garlic butter.
Cover with foil and keep in low oven while you prepare the other breads.

Garlic butter:
Place butter in a small microwaveable bowl and microwave until melted.
Stir in the garlic and cilantro.



*I used chopped garlic and fresh cilantro in the garlic butter.  I also used a vegan butter for this recipe.
*I added chopped fresh garlic to the dough so it tasted garlicky on the inside.

National Bundt Cake Day

Happy National Bundt Day!

Bundt cakes are any cakes that are baked in a bundt pan.  A Bundt pan is a round, ring shaped pan that became popular in the 1950's and 19960's by a company named Nordic Ware.  The mold of the bundt pan was inspired by a fruit cake known as the Gugelhupf.  The Gugelhupf was a round cake, which some referred to as a bund cakes.  They decided to call the mold a Bundt, hoping that people would gather around the cake for celebrations.  At first, the pan did not sell very well.  The company thought of discontinuing the Bundt pan.  In 1963, the "Good Housekeeping Cookbook" mentioned using a Bundt pan in some of their recipes, and, well, as they say, the rest is history.  Nordic Ware has sold over 60 million Bundt pans in North America.

Bundt cakes can be difficult to frost due to their odd shape.  Most bundt cakes are served either undecorated, glazed or dusted with powdered sugar.

How does one observe National Bundt Cake Day?

Well, get out that Bundt Cake pan, dust it off and start making yourself and your friends a Bundt cake!  Have a little party to celebrate the Bundt Cake!

Don't have a recipe or, maybe you just need some inspiration (and a recipe) for making a bundt cake?  Check out these 100 Bundt Cake Recipes on Mix and Match Mama (click HERE or their list of ideas for 100 Bundt Cakes).  You're bound to find at least one recipe to make today (and probably many to make on  another day).

Need a good laugh for the day?  How about watching the Bundt Cake scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?   Remember?  "What is it?"  "It's a Bundt."  "A Bunk."

Don't have time to make a bundt cake yourself?   Maybe there's a Nothing Bundt Cakes (a franchise) near you?  You can always visit a local bakery and pick one up.

National Pickle Day

Happy National Pickle Day!

The first Pickle day was celebrated in 1949 and was started by the Pickle Packers Association.   The purpose of this holiday is to give the pickle a little love.  After all, it's a food that people generally don't think about but it is probably being served right at this moment at a restaurant near you on a burger, hot dog or even as a side garnish.  Today we recognize the tart, the sweet and even the spicy pickle.

The word pickle comes from the Dutch word "pekel" which means brine.  In the United States, the word pickle refers to a pickled cucumber.  However, any fruit or vegetable can be pickled.

The pickling process starts with blanching (the fruit or veggie).  It is then packed into jars with some seasonings that give it a pickle flavor.  The flavors can be spicy, tart or sweet.  The tartness and sweetness comes from the brine.  The brine includes vinegar and water and sugar is added to adjust the sweetness level.

Some interesting facts about pickles:

About 5,000,000 pickles are consumed each year in the United States.
Pickles make a great snack.
Pickles are sometimes deep fried and served at fairs.
Pickles are a good source of vitamin K.
Pickles date back to 2030 BX.  Cucumbers were imported from India.  The people preserved and ate the cucumbers as pickles.
Cleopatra said her good looks came from eating pickles.
Julius Caesar believed that pickles gave physical strength and gave them to his troops.

How to observe National Pickle Day?  Snack on a pickle.  Do you like sweet, spicy or dill pickles?  How about trying pickled carrots, beets, cauliflower, eggs or watermelon?  What about adding a little pickle or pickled relish to your sandwich or salad?  What about trying it as a pizza topping?

How will you celebrate today?

World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was started back in 1998.  It is a day dedicated to large and small acts of kindness to bring us all together.  The World Kindness Movement states that the purpose of this day is to "highlight good deeds in the community" and to focus "on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know that I'm BIG on Kindness and  have many posts dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness.  It's great that we have a day dedicated to Kindness and being kind to one another.  I just don't understand why we can't do this everyday?  This should be a normal, daily thing for all of us.  There really is no reason not to be kind.

Okay, I"ll stop there and jump off my soap box.

Did you know that people who are constantly kind produce less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the rest of the population?  Another reason to be kind to others!

How can you celebrate World Kindness Day?

Do three Random Acts of Kindness today.  Smile at someone, give compliments, hold the door open for someone.

Hug your loved ones and friends.

Write a love poem to yourself and read it aloud.  (You should be kind to yourself today, too)

If you need some other ideas, you can find more on this post or you can search "kindness" on the blog.

Here are some Ways to make Kindness a norm in your everyday life, taken from Randomactsofkindness.org :

1.  Send an uplifting text to a friend
2.  Let that car merge in front of you with a smile and a wave.
3.  Go out of your way once a day to make someone smile
4.  Compliment a friend or coworker
5.  Reach out to a family member you haven't spoken to in awhile
6.  Treat someone to a cup of coffee or tea (friend, coworker, stranger or even yourself)
7.  Add intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight to your everyday routine

Don't forget to post your support of kindness on social media today by using #worldkindnessday

Have fun today!

What are you wearing?

Have you ever thought about what you are wearing?

I bet both of you  all of you have stopped reading this post and are taking a good, long look at what you are wearing right now.

Hmm...Pants.  Okay.  Shirt.  Good.  Everything is covered.  Socks?  Yes.

Now, what if I said that I think you are just looking at the surface.  And, no, I"m not referring to the idea that you should mention any undergarments  unmentionables.  How about this...Why did you choose those clothes to put on today?

I'm sure some would reply,

"Well, they were clean"    or

"It's laundry day and this is all I could find to wear."     or

"They matched."

I feel some people put a little too much thought into what they are wearing.  Sure, you do have to dress for the occasion.  Certain clothes are worn to a wedding while others are best suited for a funeral.  And, of course, there are clothes that you wear in the summer that you would not put on when it's -20F.

What I mean to say is, people have different reasons on what they choose to wear.  A lot of people dress to impress others.  Some even feel that they have to be wearing the latest styles.  Some wear a color to represent their mood.

"I'm wearing blue because I'm feeling blue (sad)."

I'm wearing all black to channel my inner Johnny Cash  to express my love of Goth. "

And, of course there are those people who opt for comfort.  Either the clothing itself is comfortable (think big, baggy sweatpants or sweatshirts) or it's their favorite (shirt, pants) to wear and it makes them feel good or someone special gave me this shirt and it makes me think of them.

So, I will rephrase my question, why did you decide to put those clothes on today?

National Harvey Wallbanger Day

Happy Harvey Wallbanger Day!

A Harvey Wallbanger is a fruity cocktail made with vodka, Galliano and orange juice.    It's basically a screw driver, but, a little fruitier.  Galliano is an Italian liqueur that contains Juniper, Anise, Mint and Vanilla.  If you are unable to locate Galliano, you can always substitute Kahlua, Triple Sec or peppermint Schnapps.

I heard about Harvey Wallbangers as a kid and always wanted to give one a try.  The drinks originated in the sixties.  The story goes that a bartender named Donato Antone created the drink and served it at a party.  The one person remaining after the party, Harvey, was banging his head against the wall.  There are a couple other stories floating around, but, I like that one the best.  The drink made it's debut to the rest of the world in 1968.  Galliano used Harvey in their marketing campaign in 1969 with, "Harvey Wallbanger is the name and I can be made."  The drink's name also became a metaphor to describe someone who goofs off or makes mistakes.  Harvey Wallbanger was also a frequent write in vote during elections.

I had to do a lot of research (aka, drink lots of Harvey Wallbangers) in order to write this blog post.  And I have to say, what time is it?   I love you, man  I thoroughly enjoyed my time  drinking  doing research.

How can you observe Harvey Wallbanger Day?  Meet your friends at your local hang out and order a Harvey Wallbanger and toast good ol' Harvey (just don't be the one banging your head on the wall at the end of the night).  You can use #HarveyWallbangerDay when posting on social media.

How to make the perfect Harvey Wallbanger?
1.5 oz Vodka
4 oz Orange juice
.5oz Galliano
cherry or orange slice for garnish

Mix vodka and orange juice.  Pour Galliano on top and don't mix it in the drink (you can pour over a spoon).  Garnish with cherry or orange and serve.

Cheers!

Friends Themed Birthday Party

"So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year.."
The Rembrandts

Celebrated Bella's birthday with a Friends themed party.  I didn't have a ton of time to plan this party because Bella decided on having a party and on the theme on a Sunday, with the party happening that Saturday.

Luckily, I'm pretty good under pressure.  Especially with a good theme (and Pinterest).    These ideas were taken from various places on Pinterest.  There's so much you can do with this theme.  And, the show is pretty popular, even though it's been over for quite a few years. (Thanks to Netflix)

I started with the photo back drop, because, you always need a good background for your snap chat photos.

All you need are two black plastic table cloths (I got mine from the dollar store).
I made the Friends bunting.  Pretty simple.  White paper, scissors and black marker.  I also cut some dots from construction paper so it looks like the "Friends" logo.
To go along with this, we had a gold picture frame (similar to the one around the peep hole in Monica's apartment) to be used to frame you and your friends in your photo.

We also had the show, Friends, playing in the background.  Some of the girls never saw the show.  They did sit and watch a little of the show when they first got to the party.

"I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you,  like I've been there before
I'll be there for you, 
cause you're there for me too"

I made a few posters for the walls.   All you need are a few poster boards, some markers and, well, get coloring!

"The One Where Bella Turns 14."  If you are a Friends fan you know that is how they title their episodes.

"How you doin'?"  The line that Joey always uses.

"I'll be there for you"  Part of the "Friends" theme song.

You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight.
You've burned your breakfast so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees.

If you remember the show, Rachel worked at Central Perk Coffee House.  That's where the gang hung out (if they weren't hanging out in Monica's apartment).  I used the logo and made little decorations for cupcakes (note the colors on the cupcake are the colors in the "Friends" logo).  Just for fun, I added the logo to some "To Go" coffee cups so the girls could have hot chocolate.

"I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you,  like I've been there before
I'll be there for you, 
cause you're there for me too

No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you"

Made little goody bags for the girls to take home after the party.  I attached a "Friends" logo to the bag that was filled with fun goodies.  I also made Phoebe's grandmas famous cookie recipe that she got from her French friend, Nestle Toulouse (a.k.a. Nestle Tollhouse).

I think the party was a success!  Another party in the bag.

Oh, and the best part?  Bella got her very own nail clippers for her birthday.  My clippers are still in the witness protection program.  I'm hoping they can be released soon.  (If you're new here, you should probably read this post)

"I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you,  like I've been there before
I'll be there for you, 
cause you're there for me too."

Vegan Diaries: Chick Pea Tikka Masala

I think it's time for another Vegan Diaries.  It's been awhile.

I have been in a cooking rut for quite awhile.  Making some of the same, plain, boring meals.   There have been quite a few complaints here about my lack of desire to cook. I had to shake myself out of it.  I needed some inspiration.

I started perusing Pinterest and came across this recipe for vegan Tikka Masala.  You can find the recipe by clicking here.  I pinned it and last week I finally decided to give it a try.

If you enjoy Indian food and like Tikka Masala, give this recipe a try.  The aroma with all of the spices was wonderful.  This recipe does seem a little involved and detailed (can you say crazy?), but, it's well worth the effort.  

How good was this dish?

Well, there were no left overs, so, I'm thinking this dish was a success.  I will definitely be making this recipe again soon.

Here's the recipe:


Chick Pea Tikka Masala (Vegan)

Ingredients:
For the Chick pea Tikka

2 cups cooked chick peas
2-3 garlic cloves finely minced
1/2" ginger finely minced
3/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 TBSP oil
salt to taste

For Masala Sauce
1 small onion, diced
1 can whole tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2" ginger, finely chopped
1/4 cup raw cashews
1 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp oil, divided
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garam masala


Directions:
For chick peas:

Oven 400F.
In mixing bowl, mix all ingredients under Chick pea Tikka.
Spread evenly on non stick baking tray.
Bake chick peas for 10 minutes.  Stir them and continue baking for another 10 minutes.


For the Tikka Masala Sauce:

Heat 1 tsp oil in large skillet.  Add chopped garlic, ginger and onion.  Cook until onion is translucent (about 2-3 minutes)
Add tomatoes and raw cashews.  Cook until tomato softens (about 4-5 minutes)
Add Cumin and coriander.  Mix well, then transfer into a blender or food processor.  Add 1 cup of water and blend until smooth.
Heat remaining oil on low heat.  Add chili powder and cook until fragrant.
Add blended tomato mixture.
Add garam masala, mix well, cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes.
Add roasted chick peas, garnish with some cilantro and serve.



*I forgot to add the cashews (it wasn't missed)
*I served this over some cooked basmati rice.
*You can add more water if you like so the sauce isn't that thick.
*I used canned chick peas and it wasn't the end of the world.

I served this with some fresh home made naan.  It's really easy to make the naan.  Here is the link.

Enjoy!

World Vinegar Day

It's World Vinegar Day!  Woot, Woot!

If you know me and my addiction to love of white vinegar then you know that I can't let this day go by without recognizing it!  I use white vinegar for EVERYTHING!  RT describes my use of white vinegar similar to the father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," who used Windex for everything.  My answer?  Hey, it works!

Vinegar is a common household product.  It can be used to zest up a salad, in a marinade, it is also used in canning (pickles or pickled jalapeños) and can also be used as a cleaning agent (add a little baking soda for some cleaning fun).

Vinegar is produced by a fermentation process.  There are many types of vinegar:  Apple Cider, Balsamic, Beer, Cane, Coconut, flavored vinegar, fruit, kombucha, malt, rice, white and wine...just to name a few.

Vinegar can be used in food preparation or salads or marinades.  It is used in condiments like ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce and even mayonnaise.   It is used as a flavoring for potato chips.  Vinegar can be a substitute for lemon juice.  It can be used in sushi rice.  Vinegar is used for medical remedies and treatments.   In fact, some forms of vinegar are believed to have health benefits.   Vinegar is used for cleaning and disinfecting.  Vinegar is also used in gardening and in pest control.

How to celebrate Vinegar Day?  How about cleaning?  Instead of Spring Cleaning, do a little Winter Cleaning.  The holidays are coming up what a great time to give your house a little once over with vinegar before all of the festivities begin.  As it gets colder outside, more time is spent indoors.  Why not start the season off with a clean house?

Don't feel like going all out and cleaning?  How about a salad with a vinaigrette dressing?

Oh, yea, you can participate on social media by using #nationalvinegarday.

World Vegan Day

Today is World Vegan Day!  Hooray!

World Vegan Day is celebrated by vegans around the world on November 1st.  World Vegan Day was established by Louise Wallis in 1944.  He chose November 1 as the date because, "I liked the idea of this date coinciding with Halloween and the Day of the Dead - traditional times for feasting and celebration, both apt and auspicious."  November is a perfect month for feasting!

World Vegan month is celebrated around the world as a time to recognize how far the vegan movement has come and how easy and beneficial it is to live a vegan lifestyle.  World Vegan Month is also to encourage the vegan curious to give veganism a try.

2019 marks 75 years since the foundation of The Vegan Society.  The Vegan Society started as an offshoot of The Vegetarian Society until it was decided that it was important to distinguish the difference between Vegan and Vegetarianism. Vegans do not eat meat nor do they eat anything that is made from an animal (milk, cheese, eggs, etc).  The Vegan Society began celebrating World Vegan Day in 1994 and has celebrated every year since.

"World Vegan Day evolved from celebrating for one day into celebrating one week and now they celebrate the entire month!  World Vegan Month.  Where vegans and veganism is celebrated in workplaces, shops, restaurants and in homes all over the world."

How can you celebrate World Vegan Day?  You can host a vegan lunch or vegan dinner party with friends, share you favorite vegan recipes on social media, challenge your friends or family to go vegan for 30 days, plant a tree or host a potluck.

If you decide to post on social media, make sure to use the hashtags:
#worldveganmonth
#worldveganday

I know I will be part of the celebration!  How about you?

Belly Ache Day

Another Halloween has come and gone and tons and tons of candy have made their way into our house.   How much candy did you eat yesterday?

Bella went Trick-or-Treating with some friends and came home with gobs and gobs of candy.  We have so much candy that I think we might be able to start our own candy store!  Of course, we can't, because "someone" won't let us touch her candy.  Oh, and she hides her candy stash every year.  (yes, of course I know where the stash is hidden!)

Yes.  It's true.  Bella loves  likes to eat candy.  Oh, and, so does, RT!  The two of them already dove  into the huge candy stash and ate quite a bit of candy last night.  Talk about sugar highs!  I even saw RT squirrel away some candy for a rainy day (he thinks that I don't know that he does these things!)

My Dad always called the day after Halloween, "Belly Ache Day."  He said that on Halloween, you get lot of candy trick or treating and you tend to eat quite a bit that night.  You wake up the next day, and you have a belly ache from all of that candy you ate the day before!   I always thought it was funny.  I never ate too much candy on Halloween (probably because I had a fear of celebrating Belly Ache Day), so, I never suffered on Belly Ache Day.   I always relayed this to my children every year after Halloween.  The kids ate candy, but, no reported belly aches in our family on November 1.

If you are looking for some way to use up some of that Halloween candy, check out my recipe for Halloween Cupcakes.  (You can click HERE for that recipe)

Here's hoping that all of you are not suffering this Belly Ache Day!