Today is Tuesday April 13, 2010

National Peach Cobbler Day

Cobbler is a delicious dish enjoyed in both the United States and the United Kingdom, though they are cooked quite differently in these two locations. In England, cobbler is usually a meat dish made into a type of casserole. American cobbler is typically a dessert consisting of fruit filling and batter that when baked, rises into a dumpling. There are many different types of fruit cobblers including apple, blackberry, mango, cherry, rhubarb, pear, and of course peach.

Did you know that the world's largest peach cobbler that has ever been baked was 11 by 5 feet and 8 inches deep? It was made out of 90 pounds of butter, 150 pounds of sugar, 150 pounds of flour, 32 gallons of milk, and 75 gallons of peaches! This gigantic cobbler was made for the Georgia Peach Festival and every year they try and out-do the previous year. To celebrate National Peach Cobbler Day, try making some of your own delicious peach cobbler to enjoy!

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

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

On this day in History:

1870 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in New York City.

1943 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial.

1958 - Van Cliburn of Kilgore, TX, earned 1st prize in the Soviet Union's Tchaikovsky International Piano Contest in Moscow. He was the first American to win the award.

1972 - The first strike in the history of major league baseball ended. Players had walked off the field 13 days earlier.

1985 - "The Grand Ole Opry" debuted on television.

1997 - Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament at the age of 21. He also set a record when he finished at 18 under par.

Quote of the Day:
Everybody believes in something and everybody, by virtue of the fact that they believe in something, use that something to support their own existence.
- Frank Zappa

Today is Monday April 12, 2010

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

The grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect comfort food for anyone, regardless of their age! The gooey center paired with the crispy bread makes for one of the most sought after sandwiches in America. Though it only contains three ingredients, bread, butter, and cheese, this divine sandwich is quite versatile. It can be made in a frying pan, oven, grilling appliance, or toaster oven. It can also be eaten by itself or paired with soups such as tomato or chicken noodle.

The grilled cheese sandwich is a variation of the French recipe Croque Monsieur, which is a hot ham and cheese sandwich. During the 1920's, American grilled cheese sandwiches first became popular, but they were often made with only one slice of bread. In the 1960's the top piece of bread was added and it became the standard for grilled cheese sandwiches.

To celebrate Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich cooked your favorite way!

Today is also National Licorice Day

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

On this day in History:

1833 - Charles Gaylor patented the fireproof safe.

1934 - F. Scott Fitzgerald novel "Tender Is the Night" was first published.

1954 - Bill Haley and the Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock." The song was released a year later in the movie "Blackboard Jungle."

1981 - The space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, on its first test flight.

1985 - USA for Africa's "We Are The World" album was released


Quote of the Day:
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
- Abraham Lincoln

Today is Saturday April 10, 2010

Today is:

National Cinnamon Croissant Day

If there are any two delicious flavors that should be combined, it is definitely cinnamon and croissants! The pungent aroma of cinnamon mixed with the buttery taste of a croissant leaves you drooling just thinking about it.

Although croissants were first created as far back as the 13th century, cinnamon has been around even longer. The spice is mentioned in Chinese writings in 2800 B.C. and it has since been used in various cultures around the world. Cinnamon was once so highly-prized that wars were fought over it and it was even once used as a form of currency! During Medieval times, cinnamon was used for medicinal purposes to treat coughing and sore throats and it was also used to preserve meat.

Cinnamon's popularity has continued over the years in the culinary world and it is one of the most often used spices in recipes. Cinnamon also has many health benefits as studies show it helps in the treatment of diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, memory function, and even leukemia and lymphoma. To celebrate National Cinnamon Croissant Day, bake a batch of scrumptious cinnamon croissants to bring to the office or enjoy at home!

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

On this day in History:

1790 - The U.S. patent system was established.

1825 - The first hotel opened in Hawaii.

1866 - The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was incorporated.

1925 - F. Scott Fitzgerald published "The Great Gatsby" for the first time.

1957 - Ricky Nelson sang for first time on TV's "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He performed the song "I'm Walking."

1958 - Bobby Darin recorded "Splish Splash."


Quote of the Day:
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking

Today is Friday April 9 2010

Today is:

National Cherish an Antique Day

Antiques are unique, old artifacts that represent a previous era in society. They can be anything from a piece of furniture or artwork to jewelry or a watch. These products were often crafted by hand and made so sturdy that they have lasted all of these years. Antiques are collected for their age, rarity, condition, or unique features.

Many antiques are passed down through generations of families and are therefore of some intrinsic value to the owner. The market for antique purchasing has also flourished because of each object's uniqueness and character. People become interested and curious about each item's history and are willing to pay high prices for it. The demand and prices paid for these antiques have often led to widespread making of reproductions. But there is nothing like owning a historical artifact that no one else in the world owns.

To celebrate National Cherish an Antique Day, head to a nearby antique shop or dig through your own attic or closet. You may find some interesting knickknacks worth keeping!

This week is also National Bake Week

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

On this day in History:

682 - Robert La Salle claimed the lower Mississippi River and all lands that touch it for France.

1865 - General Robert E. Lee and his 26,765 troops surrendered to Union General Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This event was effectively the end of the U.S. Civil War.

1770 - Captain James Cook discovered Botany Bay on the Australian continent.

1872 - S.R. Percy received a patent for dried milk.

1959 - NASA announced the selection of America's first seven astronauts.


Quote of the Day:
"The essence of personal mastery is learning how to generate and sustain creative tension in our lives."

--Peter M. Senge

Today is Wednesday April 7 2010

Today is:

National No Housework Day

Are you always looking for an excuse to put off housework and cleaning for just one more day? Well look no further, today's holiday absolutely insists that you put down the sponge and cleaning supplies and just relax!

A 2008 study conducted at the University of Michigan found that the average American woman scrubs her house at least 17 hours a week! After a long day at school or work, housework is the last thing anyone wants to come home to. Doctors and health experts say that it is essential for people with busy lifestyles to factor in time to relax. Relaxation can lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce headaches, and improve concentration.

Celebrate National No Housework Day by ignoring the dirty dishes in the sink and the piles of laundry that need to be done and just relax. You deserve it!

Today is also Coffee Cake Day & National Beer Day

This week is also National Bake Week

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

On this day in History:

1652 - The Dutch established a settlement at Cape Town, South Africa.

1933 - Prohibition ended in the United States.

1949 - The musical "South Pacific" by Rogers and Hammerstein debuted on Broadway.

1970 - John Wayne won his first and only Oscar for his role in "True Grit." He had been in over 200 films.


Quote of the Day:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the fine line between sanity and madness gotten finer?
- George Price

Today is Tuesday April 6, 2010

Today is:

National Tartan Day

National Tartan Day honors and celebrates Scottish culture and the role it has played in the development of the United States. Canada has been celebrating Tartan Day since 1993 and the U.S. Senate officially passed it into law in 1998. There are three groups of people that came from Scotland to America including the Lowland Scotts, the Highland Scotts, and the Scotch-Irish. Each of these groups have had some type of influence on American culture including passing on Scottish last names, introducing the sport of golf, playing bagpipes, and wearing tartan.

Tartan is a crisscrossed pattern of horizontal and vertical bands woven into cloth. It is made by alternating pre-dyed colored threads as they are woven at right angles to each other. The Dress Act of 1746 attempted to ban the tartan and other aspects of Gaelic culture in order to bring people under tighter government control. The law was repealed in 1782 and tartan became symbolic as the national dress of Scotland. To celebrate National Tartan Day, wear your favorite tartan and celebrate Scottish-American culture and all of their accomplishments!

Today is also National Caramel Popcorn Day

This week is also National Bake Week

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

On this day in History:

1789 - The first U.S. Congress began regular sessions at the Federal Hall in New York City.

1830 - Joseph Smith and five others organize Mormon Church in Seneca, NY.

1896 - The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece.

1927 - William P. MacCracken, Jr. earned license number ‘1’ when the Department of Commerce issued the first aviator’s license.

1956 - Capitol Tower, the home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, CA, was dedicated. It was the first circular office tower designed in America. It is 13 stories tall and 92 feet in diameter.

1987 - Sugar Ray Leonard took the middleweight title from Marvin Hagler.

1997 - Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) announced that he would retire from the National Hockey League (NHL) following the playoffs of the current season.

1998 - The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 9,000 points for the first time.

Quote of the Day:
The reason there are two senators for each state is so that one can be the designated driver.
- Jay Leno

Today is Monday April 5, 2010

Today is:

National Caramel Day

Caramel is a tasty treat used for a variety of purposes. It is a delicious topping on ice cream or custard, the perfect filling for candies and chocolate, and a delightful flavor of puddings, desserts, and even coffee! The color of caramel can range from beige to dark brown. Quality caramels are made with sugar, brown sugar, butter, heavy cream, and other flavorings.

Soft caramel candy was invented in America, but the exact date and location is unknown. By 1650, Americans were boiling water and sugar in deep kettles over a fire to make hard candies. During the 1800's, butter and milk were added to the recipe and thus, soft caramel candy was created. Following its invention, candy manufacturers all over America began mass producing the caramel candies. Milton Hershey's first business was actually the Lancaster Caramel Company, where he learned to make chocolate while seeking a coating for his caramels.

To celebrate National Caramel Day, enjoy some of your favorite caramel candies or try making some of your own homemade caramel!

This week is also National Bake Week

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

On this day in History:

1614 - American Indian Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia.

1792 - U.S. President George Washington cast the first presidential veto. The measure was for apportioning representatives among the states.

1843 - Queen Victoria proclaimed Hong Kong to be a British crown colony.

1955 - Winston Churchill resigned as British prime minister.

1985 - An estimated 5,000 radio stations around the world simultaneously played the song "We Are the World."

1998 - The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan opened becoming the largest suspension bridge in the world. It links Shikoku and Honshu. The bridge cost about $3.8 billion.

Quote of the Day:
The best way to compile inaccurate information that no one wants is to make it up.
- Scott Adams