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National Cream Puff Day

January 2: National Cream Puff Day

Is it weird to anyone else that there is an entire restaurant dedicated to cream puffs?

Don’t believe me?

This place exists. How it exists (all over the place, apparently) is really weird to me. Do that many people need a restaurant that basically just sells cream puffs and eclairs? Yes? Okay then.

I had a vanilla cream puff. I was underwhelmed. I think I expected it to be filled with whipped cream, not vanilla pastry cream/custard. Bummed.

Tomorrow: Chocolate Covered Cherry Day

Apple Gifting Day

January 1: Apple Gifting Day

Happy 2014, friends! Or, as I prefer to refer to it as: Happy Year of the Horse!

I got a horse mask for Christmas this year, and decided to take photos wearing it all over the place. Bryce is, therefore, the default photographer and he already hates the horse mask less than one month into the year. Sorry I’m not sorry, Bryce.

In addition to Apple Gifting Day, today is also Bloody Mary Day. This makes sense seeing as many (many) people get crunk on NYE, but since my NYE alcohol consumption ended at 2pm once I had polished off a few glasses of prosecco, I was not in need of any hair of the dog.

Here is Bryce gifting me an apple.

Tomorrow: National Cream Puff Day

National Champagne Day

December 31: National Champagne Day

I think everyone knows that it can only be called champagne if it’s made with certain grapes grown in the Champagne region of France. But I, like most people, call all bubbly vino champagne. Even if it is prosecco.

Also: this picture was taken at like, 2pm. Winning or failing?

Tomorrow: Apple Gifting Day

National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

December 30: National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

When I read “bicarbonate of soda”, I assumed it meant club soda (since some selzers contain bicarbonate of soda). But then I realized I think they mean straight up baking soda. Which is… interesting.

This was an easy work around. (This is Bryce’s toothpaste. I like “real” (read: Colgate Total) toothpaste.)

Tomorrow: National Champagne Day

Pepper Pot Day

December 29: Pepper Pot Day

Bryce and I were in Minnesota visiting his parents on Pepper Pot Day. It was a good day for pepper pot (which is basically a beef vegetable soup) seeing as it was -40 degrees in Minnesota. Brrr.

Pepper Pot is surprisingly delicious! I think Bryce and I will definitely make it again (except I’ll likely use chicken and chicken broth next time). According to The Internet, pepper pot is the national dish of Guyana. We used this recipe, which doesn’t have cassareep (as found in this recipe). I’m not sure if one is more authentic than the other, but the one we made was really good. Flavorful and spicy!

Also, worthy sidenote… this is the third “food holiday recipe” that has allowed me to use leeks (see also: vichyssoise day, and bouillabaisse day) and they’re becoming a favorite of mine.

Tomorrow: National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

National Chocolate Candy Day

December 28: National Chocolate Candy Day

I wasn’t sure if “chocolate candy” meant candy with chocolate in it (like a candy bar) or an olde tyme-y chocolate candy. I went with the latter and got a turtle.

Tomorrow: Pepper Pot Day

National Fruit Cake Day

December 27: National Fruit Cake Day

Did anyone grow up watching Pee Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special? If not, you should watch it now. Anyway, he ends up building a room out of fruit cakes he’s been gifted. That’s about all I know about fruit cake.

I’ve never had a fruit cake, to my knowledge. I don’t think the type of fruit cake I selected is the type people typically whine about.

I bought a Panettone (and Italian fruit cake-ish bread). What was my reasoning? It was on clearance at Walgreens.

Tomorrow: National Chocolate Candy Day

National Candy Cane Day

December 26: National Candy Cane Day

If anyone is ever murdered with a candy cane, I’ll likely be a suspect. I’ve always thought a sharp candy cane would be an excellent murder weapon. Sharp, effective, easily disposed of permanently.

Tomorrow: National Fruit Cake Day

National Pumpkin Pie Day

December 25: National Pumpkin Pie Day

Today was kinda a fail. First of all, I’m sort of peeved that CHRISTMAS is pumpkin pie day. Pumpkin pie? Really? Did Baby Jesus like pumpkin pie? No, he liked frankincense. Does Santa like pumpkin pie? No, he likes cookies and milk. Either of these options would be more appropriate than pumpkin pie, because, really, no one likes pumpkin pie.

Around Thanksgiving I wrote a post on Facebook about how I think that one really likes pumpkin pie, they just eat it because they think they’re supposed to like it. WOW. Backlash! But I’m sticking to my guns: pumpkin pie is gross and people are brainwashed.

I’m in charge of PIES in my family, but I wasn’t about to waste a Christmas pie on pumpkins. I made that mistake on Thanksgiving. So I went to the store to try and find a pumpkin pie flavored thing. Except there wasn’t anything. Then I made my dad go through the McDonald’s drive-thru because I was CONVINCED I’d seen pumpkin pie on their menu. Nope. Apple Pie and “Holiday Pie” only. Then my dad backed out of the drive-thru, and we joked that people probably thought we were drunk… because, really, who goes to the McDonald’s drive-thru on Christmas, asks for pumpkin pie, then backs out when they say no?

Anyway, I had no choice but to drink (another) glass of egg nog in honor of Egg Nog Month. I’m sorry I’ve failed everyone.

Tomorrow: Candy Cane Day

National Egg Nog Day

December 24: National Egg Nog Day

I already celebrated nog once this year on National Roast Suckling Pig Day since there was no way I was going to eat Zuckerman’s Famous Pig, but nog is worth celebrating more than once a year. In fact, I think that’s why they give it the whole month of December.

Tomorrow: National Pumpkin Pie Day