December 10th

Today December 10th you can Celebrate...
*Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales

You may ask "What the??" At least I did when I first heard of this Holiday.  I'm attaching a link that I found very informative and fun to read about this unique and fun Holiday.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1210_021210_whalespirits.html

Happy Celebrating!!!

December 9th

Today December 9th you can Celebrate......
*National Pastry Day
*Christmas Card Day

Every December 9th it is "National" Christmas Card Day!  I couldn't find the origin of this Holiday but, it is recognized by Hallmark so I'm going with it!  What an awesome reminder to mail out those Christmas Cards (or in my case go and get them ordered;)) If you actually mail your Christmas Cards on December 9th you know they will arrive to your friends and families in plenty of time for them to enjoy them before Christmas.  Today I will be ORDERING Christmas Cards to Celebrate this fun Holiday!

NATIONAL PASTRY DAY!  Yes, I  think my husband may have died and gone to Heaven!  If there is one thing on this earth my Husband loves (other than me, the kids, football, Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, oh well you get the point) HE LOVES PASTRIES! I can't blame him pastries are so much fun, and come in so many varieties! One of the very first pastries I learned how to cook was my Mom's State Fair Cream Puffs/Eclairs!  They seemed so intimidating and I was scared that I would just mess them up!  But, after following the recipe, perfect yummy cream puffs appeared! This is a family tested and tried recipe and I can't think of a better way of Celebrating Pastry Day then with a plate full of these scrumptious Cream Puff's!!!!

State Fair Cream Puff's
1 Cup Water
1/2 C. Butter (do NOT Substitute)
1 Cup Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
4 Eggs

In a saucepan over medium heat, bring water and butter to boil.  Add flour and salt all at once; stir until a smooth ball forms.  Remove from heat; let stand for 5 minutes.  Add Eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.  Beat until smooth. Form small balls (almost like you were making cookies) onto greased baking sheets.

Combine
2 Tablespoon Milk
1 Egg yolk
Brush this mixture over puffs then Bake at 400 degrees for apx. 35 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove to wire racks.  Cut slit in side immediately for steam to escape.  Let cool.  Cut slit puffs and fill

You can fill puffs with Whip Cream, Ice Cream, Fruit, or my favorite
2 Cups Cold Milk
1 Package (5.1g) instant vanilla pudding
1 Cup Whipping Cream (Prepared and whipped Separately)
Combined these ingredients then add
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
Mix all together then fill puffs (so good!)

Dust each puff with Powdered Sugar or Chocolate Icing

Chocolate Icing Recipe
2 Squares Semi Sweet Chocolate (Or cocoa equivalent)
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
2-3 Tablespoons Milk

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stir in sugar add milk until smooth consistency then drizzle over puffs:)

I LOVE cooking in the kitchen with my kids and today is going to be so much fun making Cream Puff's as a family! I'm glad Pastry Day only comes once a year or my waistline would definitely be in trouble!  Happy Celebrations!!!

December 8th

Today you can Celebrate.....
*National Brownie Day
*National Take it in the Ear Day
*1980 John Lennon was Shot
*1941 US Enters World War II

Today at my house we will be Celebrating National Brownie Day and Take it in the Ear Day!

There is nothing better then a pan full of Delicious Brownies!  Everyone likes them a little different some like them full of nuts, coconut, frosting, and marshmallows.  Some love the edges (crisp goodness all the way around) and if you are like me you like moist soft brownies made from scratch with buttermilk!  Yes, I'm going to share with you My Grandma's DELICIOUS Buttermilk Brownie Recipe.

Buttermilk Brownies

2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Flour
4 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup Water
1 Cube Butter
1/2 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
2 eggs

Combined all dry ingredients then, take your Butter, Oil, and Water and Combined in a saucepan bring to a boil and add to dry ingredients.  Mix ingredients together and slowly add buttermilk.  After beating the batter until it has a smooth consistency then add your two eggs and beat until completely combined.
Pour batter onto a prepared cookie sheet.
Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes

Frosting
1 Cube Butter
1/4 Cup Cocoa
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 pound Powdered Sugar

In a saucepan bring Butter, Vanilla and Cocoa to a boil,  Stir consistently because it can burn quickly.  Remove from heat and beat in Powdered sugar until smooth.  Then pour over hot brownies! 

To celebrate "Take it in the Ear Day" The kids and I today are going to play a game of Telephone.  This fun game is where you sit in a circle or a line (just as long as you are sitting close together) the first person thinks of a phrase and whispers it to the person next to them, then that person whispers what ever they hear to the person next to them and so on until the phrase is whispered to the last person.  Then the last person announces the phrase out loud!  This game is so much fun (especially to play with 2 and 3 year olds!) I can guarantee this game will have your entire family laughing!  This is definitely a fun way to CELEBRATE "Take it in the Ear Day"

Make your Celebrations simple and stress free! Happy Celebrating!!

I'M BACK

I can't wait to start sharing fun and exciting ways we can all Celebrate Each and everyday!  After literally a year of research I am ready to start!  Please check back tomorrow for a fun and Unique way to Celebrate your day and EVERYDAY!