December Foodie Holidays: Week 1

December is National Fruit Cake Month and Egg Nog Month.

Dec. 1: Pie Day
Dec. 2: Fritters Day
Dec. 3: Apple Pie Day
Dec. 4: Cookie Day
Dec. 5: Sacher Torte Day
Dec. 6: Gazpacho Day
Dec. 7: Cotton Candy Day

From one of my husband's aunt's:

Eggnog Bread 

3 C. flour

1/2 C. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 beaten egg

1 3/4 C. canned OR dairy eggnog

1/2 C. cooking oil

1/2 C. chopped pecans

1/2 C. golden raisins

1/2 C. sifted powdered sugar

2-3 tsp. eggnog

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Combine the eggnog, egg and oil; add to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Stir in the nuts and raisins. Turn into a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake in a 350ºF oven for 60-70 minutes. Cover with foil after 50 minutes is bread browns too quickly. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool on a wire rack. Wrap bread; store overnight. To serve, stir together powdered sugar and enough eggnog to make of drizzling consistency. Drizzle over bread.

Comments: “This is a nice bread to give away.”

November Foodie Holidays: Week 4

Nov. 22: Cashew Day, Cranberry Relish Day
Nov. 23: Espresso Day
Nov. 24: Sardines Day
Nov. 25: Parfait Day
Nov. 26: Cake Day
Nov. 27: Bavarian Cream Pie Day
Nov. 28: French Toast Day
Nov. 29: Chocolates Day, Lemon Cream Pie
Nov. 30: Mousse Day

I got this recipe from my dad, who made it when Mom was either out of town or under the weather and not cooking, I don't recall which. (She was appalled.) The directions are a bit scanty, but "simmer until done" is about par for the course for chili, really.

Sardine Chili

1 tin sardines (plain)

1 can chili beans w/ seasoning

1 can tomato chunks

1 bottle tomato juice

1 envelope chili seasoning

Directions: Simmer until done.

November Foodie Holidays: Week 3

Nov. 15: Bundt Day, Raisin Bran Cereal Day
Nov. 16: Fast Food Day
Nov. 17: Baklava Day, Homemade Bread Day
Nov. 18: Vichyssoise Day
Nov. 19: Caffeinated Soda Day
Nov. 20: Peanut Butter Fudge Day
Nov. 21: Gingerbread Day

Another recipe from Mamaw's recipe box, a pair of them, in fact: "White" Fudge and Peanut Butter Fudge:

November Foodie Holidays: Week 2

Nov. 8: Cappuccino Day, Harvey Wallbanger Day
Nov. 9: Scrapple Day, Cook-Something-Bold Day
Nov. 10: Vanilla Cupcake Day
Nov. 11: Sundae Day
Nov. 12: Pizza with Everything Day
Nov. 13: Indian Pudding Day
Nov. 14: Spicy Guacamole Day, Pickle Day

From my paternal grandmother's recipe box:

November Foodie Holidays: Week 1

November is National Peanut Butter Lover's Month, Pepper Month, Pomegranate Month, Raisin Bread, and World Vegan Month.

Nov. 1: Bison Day, Deep Fried Clams Day, World Vegan Day
Nov. 2: Deviled Egg Day
Nov. 3: Sandwich Day
Nov. 4: Candy Day
Nov. 5: Doughnut Day, International Stout Day
Nov. 6: Nachos Day
Nov. 7: Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

I really don't know why some of these food holidays were picked for the months/days they were. I don't associate Deviled Eggs with November at all, but ok. (shrug) This is Mom's recipe for for them, usually served at cookouts in the summertime, or at Easter when she had to do something with all those colored eggs we made.

Deviled Eggs

6 hard-cooked eggs

3 Tbsp. mayonnaise

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions: Cut peeled eggs in half lengthwise. Slip out yolks; mash with fork. Add other ingredients; mix thoroughly. Fill egg whites with this mixture, heaping slightly. May be refrigerated, covered, for up to 24 hours.

October Foodie Holidays: Week 4

Oct. 22: Nut Day
Oct. 23: Canning Day, Boston Cream Pie Day
Oct. 24: Bologna Day
Oct. 25: Greasy Foods Day, World Pasta Day
Oct. 26: Pretzel Day, Mince Meat Pie Day, Pumpkin Day
Oct. 27: Potato Day, American Beer Day
Oct. 28: Chocolate Day, Wild Foods Day
Oct. 29: Oatmeal Day
Oct. 30: Buy-a-Doughnut Day, Candy Corn Day
Oct. 31: Trick or Treat for UNICEF Day

Consider including an appendix to your cookbook, with tips and tricks from seasoned cooks. All the snarky remarks about Millennials not knowing how to do this or that, taking classes on so-called mundane things... this is the sort of information, the everyday stuff that "everyone knows," yet no one seems to know anymore. Find the people who have the common sense stuff, and gather those pearls!

I received this tip from one of my husband's grandmothers, who planned a wedding reception for her daughter.

How many nuts to buy?

According to Grandma W., you need 1 1/2 lbs. of mixed nuts for 50 people at a party (or reception, wedding, etc.).

October Foodie Holidays: Week 3

Oct. 15: Chicken Cacciatore Day, Roast Pheasant Day
Oct. 16: World Bread Day, World Food Day
Oct. 17: Pasta Day
Oct. 18: Chocolate Cupcake Day
Oct. 19: Seafood Bisque Day, Oatmeal Muffin Day
Oct. 20: Brandied Fruit Day
Oct. 21: Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, Caramel Apple Day, Apple Day

Several of the men on my husband's side are avid outdoorsmen. Game is often on the menu (watch out for the birdshot!), and it is from one of those men that I have this recipe, from my mother-in-law's brother. (Yeah, I know it's not "Roast Pheasant," I didn't have one for roast pheasant.)

"Famous" Pheasant

pheasant breasts

flour

butter

2 Tbsp. soy sauce, or to taste

Directions: Cut pheasant breasts in strips or chunks and dredge in flour. Place in a skillet well greased with butter. Cook on low (250ºF) until brown. Add soy sauce. Cook 20-22 minutes. Serve on wild rice or dressing.