Today is...
International Coq Au Vin Day!

Coq Au Vin is French for “rooster with wine." It is a popular dish made with braised chicken that is slowly cooked with red wine, mushrooms, pork fat, and various spices. According to some legends, Coq Au Vin has ties to Julius Caesar or Napoleon, but most historians agree that the dish has more humble roots. Roosters are only butchered when they are quite old and rather inedible. Peasant families most likely invented the Coq Au Vin recipe to avoid wasting the meat.
Coq Au Vin became popular in the United States thanks to Julia Child, who featured the dish in her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It also appeared many times on her TV show "The French Chef." Today, it is a popular dish in many French restaurants, but it is also a fabulous dish to cook at home. 
To celebrate International Coq Au Vin Day, embrace your inner chef and plan a French-inspired dinner party. Bon Appétit!

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May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & Motorcycle Awareness Month

   

This week is National Frozen Yogurt Week

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		History for May 29th        1790 - Rhode Island becomes the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution.         1916 - The US Presidential Flag is adopted.          1942 - Jews in Paris are forced to sew a yellow star to their coats.        1989 - Student protesters in Tiananmen Square China construct a replica of the Statue of Liberty.          2004 - WWII Memorial dedicated in Wash., DC. ______________________________________________________ "The broad general rule is that a man is about as big as the things that make him angry." - unknown

Today is...
National Hamburger Day!

Nothing is more American than a big, juicy hamburger. Hamburgers and cheeseburgers have been a staple of the American diet for decades. In 2001, over 8.2 billion burgers were served in commercial restaurants in the United States. This number doesn't even take into account the number of burgers people eat at home, which is another 15 billion!
Although hamburgers originated in Hamburg, Germany, eating the burger in a bun is actually an American innovation. The hamburger sandwich was most likely invented in Seymour, Wisconsin. Each year the city hosts a hamburger festival called Burger Fest. That is where the world's largest hamburger made its debut in 2001. It weighed 8,266 pounds!
To celebrate National Hamburger Day, host a backyard barbeque with your friends and grill up some tasty burgers. Don't forget about all the delicious ways you can customize your burger — add bacon, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and your other favorite fixings!

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May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & Motorcycle Awareness Month

   

This week is National Frozen Yogurt Week

 images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

		History for May 28th        1905 - Battle of Tsushima (Japan def. Russia).         1930 - The Chrysler Building in NYC opens.          1936 - On Computable Numbers, paper by Alan Turing, submitted for publication.        1957 - Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to move to west coast.          1971 - USSR Mars 3 is launched and the first spacecraft to soft land on Mars. ______________________________________________________ "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."  - Jim Ryun

Today is...
Sun Screen Day!

With summer on the horizon, you are probably starting to spend more time outdoors. It is essential to wear sunscreen to protect your body from the harmful effects of the sun.
Sunlight consists of ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays, both of which are harmful to humans. UVA rays cause suppression of the immune system, which has a negative impact on the body's ability to protect against the development and spread of skin cancer. UVB rays cause a sunburn to occur, which can also lead to the development of skin cancer.
There are more than 1 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. To minimize your risk, wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun — even on non-sunny days. Sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside and should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming. Even if you do not typically burn from the sun, your skin is still at risk from the harmful UV rays.
Sun Screen Day is a good reminder to make sure you apply and reapply your sun screen whenever you go outside!

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Today is also National Grape Popsicle Day
 

May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month & Motorcycle Awareness Month

   

This week is National Frozen Yogurt Week

 

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

		History for May 27th        1919 - First ever transatlantic flight: The NC-4 aircraft arrives in Lisbon, Portugal from Newfoundland (and Azores).         1936 - Maiden voyage of the "RMS Queen Mary" ocean liner.          1941 - FDR proclaims an "unlimited national emergency."        1969 - The construction of Walt Disney World begins.          1997 - The first all female relay team, 20 British women, reaches the North Pole in a challenging 620 mile trek. ______________________________________________________ "One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it."  - French Proverb

Today is...
World Turtle Day!

Did you know that turtles have been around for more than 200 million years? These ancient creatures evolved before mammals, birds, snakes, or lizards! Biologists believe that turtles have managed to outlive many other species due to the unique protection provided by their shells.
Turtles come in all different shapes and sizes, and can be found on every continent except Antartica. The smallest is the Bog Turtle, which usually measures just four inches in length, and the largest is the Leathery Turtle, which can weigh up to 1500 pounds!
To celebrate World Turtle Day, donate to your favorite “save the turtles” organization! 

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Today is also National Taffy Day & National Wig Out Day

May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month


 

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		History for May 23rd        1785 - Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals.         1911 - Dedication of New York Public Library.          1929 - The first talking cartoon of Mickey Mouse, The Karnival Kid, is released.        1934 - American bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde, are ambushed by police and killed.          1940 - Frank Sinatra records "I'll Never Smile Again" with Tommy Dorsey. ______________________________________________________ "A constant struggle, a ceaseless battle to bring success from inhospitable surroundings, is the price of all great achievements." - Marden

Today is...
Buy a Musical Instrument Day!

It is unknown when the first musical instrument was invented, but historians believe that flutes made of animal bones date back 37,000 years. Today there are 6 main instrument categories - percussion, woodwinds, brass, strings, keyboard, and electronic.
The most played instrument worldwide is the piano, followed by the guitar and the drums. 21 million Americans play the piano; which is more then all other instruments combined! Other popular instruments include the flute, ukulele, saxophone, clarinet, trombone, and violin. Not only is playing a musical instrument fun, it can also increase abilities in other areas. Children who play a musical instrument are shown to read at advanced levels, have larger vocabularies, and work better in teams. 
Playing a musical instrument is a fun and engaging activity for people of all ages. Celebrate today as you learn to play a new instrument, or tune up an old one! 

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Today is also National Vanilla Pudding Day & Chardonnay Day

May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month


 

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		History for May 22nd        1939 - Hitler & Mussolini sign the "Pact of Steel".         1942 - United Steelworkers trade union forms after the breakup of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee.          1947 - The first US ballistic missile is fired.        1973 - U.S. President Richard Nixon confesses his role in the Watergate cover-up.          1990 - The Windows 3.0 operating system is released by Microsoft. ______________________________________________________ "Everything comes if a man will only wait."   - Benjamin Disraeli

Today is...
National Strawberries and Cream Day!

The simple combination of fresh sliced strawberries and homemade whipped cream has been a popular dish for centuries. In fact, in medieval England it was customary for newlyweds to enjoy strawberries and soured cream for their wedding breakfast.
The strawberry is the first fruit to ripen every spring and each refreshing bite contains high levels of Vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and potassium. If you’re feeling experimental, there are many interesting variations on the classic strawberries and cream recipe. Try flavoring your whipped cream with amaretto liqueur or substituting a combination of fat-free sour cream and brown sugar instead. For a more elaborate dessert, put together a trifle with alternating layers of fruit, cream, and a sweet pastry such as ladyfinger cookies. For more ideas, check out these recipes for stuffed strawberries.
To celebrate National Strawberries and Cream Day, head to a local farm and pick your own fresh strawberries as a fun spring activity for the whole family. Then enjoy the fruits of your labor with a delicious snack of strawberries and cream at home!

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May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month


 

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		History for May 21st          1804 - Lewis & Clark Expedition begins.           1819 - The first bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced in NYC.            1925 - Canadians allow the selling of beer.          1945 - Lauren Bacall weds Humphrey Bogart.           1964 - The first nuclear-powered lighthouse is put into operation in Chesapeake Bay. ______________________________________________________ "A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Today is...
Be a Millionaire Day!

Today is the perfect opportunity to dream big and imagine what life would be like as a millionaire! While a million dollars may not be what it used to be, seeing a seven-figure number in your bank account is still considered a major financial milestone.
The first multi-millionaire in the United States was John Jacob Astor (1763 – 1848). Astor made his fortune in trade and later established the first trust in American history. His great-grandson, John Jacob Astor IV, was the wealthiest person aboard the Titanic.
There are many different ways to celebrate Be a Millionaire Day. Invest money in a savings account or stock portfolio, or purchase a lottery ticket to try your luck!

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Today is also National Quiche Lorraine Day

May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month


 

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

		History for May 20th          0325 - The First Council of Nicaea held.           1873 - Levi Strauss patents blue jeans.            1882 - The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy is formed.          1891 - Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope first displayed.           1927 - Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York aboard "Spirit of St. Louis". ______________________________________________________ "Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth." - Julie Andrews

Today is...
National Devil's Food Cake Day!

What is chocolatey, light, decadent, and moist? Devil's food cake of course! Today is a celebration of this delicious dessert, which is considered the counterpart to the classic white angel food cake. Devil's food cake has a unique light and moist texture, which sets it apart from other chocolate cakes. The recipe calls for quite a bit of baking soda, and boiling water instead of milk. Both of these ingredients contribute to the fluffiness of this confection. 
Devil's food cake first appeared in the United States in the early 1900s. It is quite similar to red velvet cake and the names are often interchangeable in some parts of the country. To celebrate National Devil's Food Cake Day, make some divine devil's food cake to have for dessert tonight!

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Today is also Victoria Day & National Boy's Club and Girl's Club Day

May is National Bike Month & National Hamburger Month & National Strawberry Month


 

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

		History for May 19th          1884 - The Ringling Brothers circus premieres.           1896 - The Benz is the first automobile to arrive in the Netherlands.            1962 - Marilyn Monroe's birthday song to U.S. President John F. Kennedy.          1964 - US diplomats find at least 40 secret microphones in the Moscow embassy.           1992 - The 27th Amendment, which prohibits Congress from raising its salary, is ratified. ______________________________________________________ "Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience." - Victoria Holt