• Extras for Chinese Holidays

    Good Luck Dinner

    Good Luck Dinner for the Chinese New Year. Everything in this meal has meaning: Law Bock Gow is a homophone for “good fortune.” Pork symbolizes strength, wealth, and blessings. Noodles represent longevity—they shouldn’t be broken. Dessert is made with eight types of fruit. The number eight sounds like another Chinese word, “fa,” which means rich or to thrive in business. The sweetness represents luck and sweetness for the new year. Menu Turnip CakeChinese Roast PorkRainbow Long NoodlesEight-Treasure Riceserves 8-10 Turnip Cake | Law Bock Gow The translation is turnip, but it’s really made with daikon, Chinese radish. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or large pan over high heat.…

  • National Pineapple Day
    June

    June 27: National Pineapple Day

    National Pineapple Day celebrates the tropical pineapple. MauiWine has celebrated this day since at least 2017 with tours, tastings, and specials. Pineapple Facts & Trivia Notable Pineapple Foods & Drinks Pineapple-themed Dinner Bacon Wrapped PineapplePineapple Shrimp Ceviche with ricePineapple Meringue PieAfterglowserves 6 Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites 24 1-inch chunks fresh pineapple12 strips bacon, cut in half1/3 cup brown sugar24 wooden toothpicks Preheat oven to 350F. Set a rack inside a large baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Wrap each piece of pineapple with a piece of bacon. Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Dredge in brown sugar, pat down as needed. Place on the rack. Bake 25 to 30 minutes…

  • World Meat Free Day
    June

    June 13: World Meat Free Day

    World Meat Free Day is sponsored by organizations such as Eating Better Alliance, Compassion in World Farming, and Friends of the Earth to bring awareness to how reducing meat consumption can positively impact planet sustainability and personal health. There are many no-meat/vegetarian celebrations throughout the year. Most focus primarily on personal health or ethics. But one of the main reasons for this day (and World Meat Free Week) is to lessen the impact on the planet. According to WorldMeatFreeWeek.com, just one meat free meal “could save the equivalent of 9 people’s daily water usage, a carbon saving equivalent of boiling a kettle 388 times, an 11g fat saving and up…

  • National Shrimp Day
    May

    May 10: National Shrimp Day

    May 10 is National Shrimp Day. It’s a day to celebrate shrimp, the shrimp industry, and shrimp dishes. According to the World Atlas, shrimp is the most popular seafood in the United States with over one billion pounds of shrimp is consumed each year. Shrimp have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and low levels of mercury. They also contain selenium, vitamin B12, phosphorous, and choline, copper, iodine, iron, niacin, zinc, and magnesium. They are 90% protein. Shrimp Facts & Trivia Shrimp are born male. Around 2 or 3 years, they mature into females. They are found in salt and fresh water, and in both cold and warm water. Most…

  • Extras for Mexican Holidays

    Menu & Recipes: Cinco de Mayo Get Together

    Menu and recipes for a Cinco de Mayo Get Together. Start with spicy cheese dip and chips. The main course is a chicken tamale pie and a citrusy grapefruit and avocado salad. For dessert a coffee flan with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate, a twist on a classic. For drinks a refreshing watermelon drink and an orange and tequila cocktail. Menu Queso Dip and ChipsTamale PieGrapefruit-Avocado SaladMexican Coffee FlanWatermelon Agua Fresca | Mexi-tiniserves 5-8 Queso Dip 2 tablespoons tablespoons olive oil1/4 small yellow onion1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced3 cloves garlic, minced1 jalapeno, minced20 oz. asadero cheese, cubed (or Monterey Jack)1/2 cup milk1 medium tomato, diced4 oz.…

  • Extras for Islamic Holidays

    Menu & Recipes: Persian Dinner

    Menu and recipes for a Persian dinner. This menu is great for a spring dinner. Start with a fresh herb and cheese platter, move on to a zucchini frittata and a stew made with pomegranates, walnuts, and chicken with rice and finished with an nutty-saffron brittle. Menu Sabzi KhordanKuku KadooFesenjan and riceSohan-e QomServe 4-5 Sabzi Khordan 2 cups walnuts8 oz. feta cheese1 tablespoon coriander seeds1 tablespoon cumin seeds1 tablespoon caraway seeds1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oilcoarse salt2 bunches whole fresh herbs, any combination: spearmint, basil, cilantro, flat-leaf parsley, tarragon, dill, chives, marjoram1 bunch green onions, quartered crosswise, roots removed6 radishes, trimmed and quarteredLavash or other flatbread Soak walnuts in cold water…

  • ostara
    Extras for Wiccan Holidays

    Menu & Recipes: Ostara Spring Feast

    Menu and recipes for an Ostara Spring Feast. Start with bacon-studded deviled eggs, and a fruity spinach salad followed by herb roasted lamb, potatoes, and asparagus. Dessert is a triple lemon cake. All served with a citrusy mulled wine. Menu Bacon and Chive Deviled EggsSpinach, Strawberry, and Sunflower Seed SaladRoasted Leg of LambRosemary PotatoesOven-Roasted AsparagusLemon Mirror CheesecakeSpiced Wineserves 6-8 Bacon and Chive Deviled Eggs 4 slices of bacon1/4 cup mayonnaise4 tablespoons chopped chives2 teaspoons yellow mustardsalt and pepper to taste8 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, and cut in half lengthwise Cook bacon until crisp-tender. Place bacon on paper towel to drain. Reserve a teaspoon of the bacon fat. Removing yolks from white…

  • National Empanada Day
    April

    April 08: National Empanada Day

    Empanadas are stuffed bread or pastries that are baked or fried. The name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, which translates as “enbreaded.” They are made by folding dough over a filling, then cooking. The filling may be savory or sweet. They originated in the regions of Galicia, Portugal and León. They first appeared in medieval Iberia during the time of the Moorish invasions. They are believed to be derived from the Indian meat-filled pies, samosas. In 1520, recipes for empanadas were included in Robert de Nola’s cookbook Libre del Coch. In Argentina empanadas are filled with a variety of ingredients. During Lent, empanadas de vigilia (Easter empanadas) emerge filled…

  • Extras for Valentines Day

    Menu & Recipes: Amorous Aphrodisiacs

    Recipes for Valentine’s Day! This meal is packed with “aphrodisiacs.” Afraid of the garlic? Don’t worry you’re both eating it! Menu Sicilian Stuffed ArtichokesShrimp in Garlic Sauce serve with French breadAsparagus in a Wine SauceChocolate Truffle Cakescoffeeserves 2-4 Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes 2 medium sized artichokes1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs1 clove garlic, minced1 tablespoons grated parmesan or Romano cheese1/2 teaspoon parsleysalt & pepper to taste1-2 tablespoons olive oil Prepare artichokes. Cut off top third of artichoke and discard. Cut off stem. Remove the tough outer leaves by bending them backwards until they snap off. Using scissors trim off any thorny tips that remain. Use a knife to trim the outside of base…

  • Extras for Valentines Day

    Menu & Recipes: For Our Littlest Valentines

    Fun and easy meal to please children of all ages. Most everyone’s favorite: pizza, just shaped into a heart. Dessert is an edible chocolate box filled with strawberry mousse. And to drink, a sparkling berry lemonade. Menu Heart-shaped PizzaChocolate Surprise BoxesCupid’s Brewdecorate the table with candy hearts and chocolate kisses.serves 4 Heart-shaped Pizza refrigerator pizza doughmarinara saucemozzarella cheese, shreddedtoppings of your choice Preheat oven to 350F. Roll out pizza dough. Cut out heart shapes. Build up the outside edges of the hearts, this will help the filling stay inside. Place on lightly greased baking sheet or one dusted with coarse cornmeal. Spoon marinara sauce onto hearts. Sprinkle with cheese and…

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