Archive
MMM-mmm-Mint Chocolate Day!
Holy Mint Chocolate Day, Batman!
I really love these food holidays, they are the easiest and yummiest to celebrate! Last night at dinner my older son asked me which direction I am taking my blog- am I going to specialize in national holidays or historical holidays or just try to find the zaniest ones to share with my readers. I told him that the beauty of Celebrate Holiday is that it could be any of those and more. However, if I had to choose, it might very well be food holidays.
So today being Mint Chocolate Day, I have decided to share a phenomenal recipe for Chocolate Mint Cookies that I found on one of my favorite recipe websites, www.allrecipes.com.
Chocolate Mint Cookies (photo by mckarlson)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 36 chocolate mint wafer candies (like Andes)
Directions
- In a large pan over low heat, cook butter, sugar and water until butter is melted. Add chocolate chips and stir until partially melted. Remove from heat and continue to stir until chocolate is completely melted. Pour into a large bowl and let stand 10 minutes to cool off slightly.
- At high speed, beat in eggs, one at a time into chocolate mixture. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, beating until blended. Chill dough about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Roll dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes. While cookies are baking unwrap mints and divide each in half. When cookies are brought out of the oven, put 1/2 mint on top of each cookie. Let the mint sit for up to 5 minutes until melted, then spread the mint on top of the cookie. Eat and enjoy!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
This one is going out to all the LOVERS in the world…. an oldie but a goodie from Jazz royalty, Nat King Cole, “LOVE”!
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart and please don’t break it
Love was made for me and you
At our wedding, our DJ had anyone who wanted the bride and groom to kiss come up front and sing a song with the word LOVE in the lyrics- of course this one was performed (by my husband’s cousin I believe). It was really a cute thing to do and that portion of our video is one of the best!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Celebrate Holiday readers!
XOXO, Michelle
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Opens Tonight!
Tonight, “With Glowing Hearts”, we will witness the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games! I am thrilled to have had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful city last summer and cannot wait to see the Opening Ceremony on television tonight (NBC, 7:30 PM PST for me).
Watching the Olympic Games has always been emotional for me. I am always affected by the cultural inspiration & spectacle of the host city.
2010 Vancouver Olympics logo from Business Week "Hot Property" post by Dan Foust
I love the torch relay and the final lighting of the cauldron usually brings me to tears! 
Seeing representative athletes from each country also can move me, especially since they each have their compelling stories to tell. Of course, my national pride comes out completely when the USA enters the stadium!
It is an inspirational moment in time, when the most dedicated athletes from every nation have an opportunity to come together, compete, and make new friends. It is a time of great national pride for virtually every citizen on the planet. We are amazed by the achievements of these athletes, by the graciousness of the host city, and by the spirit of friendship and tolerance that inspires the games.
It is going to be an exciting few weeks! GO TEAM USA!
Happy Groundhog Day!
**Update: The Groundhog has spoken, “If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be.”**
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!
Phil’s inner circle in Punxsutawney are more than ready to share the news with the world this year as they present Groundhog Day via a live webcast ! Want to get a text of the outcome? Just send “Groundhog” to 247365 on your mobile device between now and Groundhog Day. Follow the event on twitter! You can even send free ecards for your Groundhog bash!
Will Phil see his shadow and ensure 6 more weeks of winter in that chilly clime?
Or will he predict an early spring?
I promise to update as soon as I get my text!
Celebrate National Freedom Day & Black History Month
National Freedom Day on February 1st celebrates the signing of the resolution that became the 13th Amendment that outlawed slavery in the United States by President Lincoln in 1865. Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr., a former slave, first commemorated Freedom Day in 1945 at Independence Hall and with the ceremonious laying of a wreath at the Liberty Bell. President Truman ratified the holiday in 1948.
February 1st also marks the celebration of Black History Month, which observes remembrances of important
Black History Month (image from Kevin Fell at HOZA!)
people and events of the African diaspora in the United States and Canada. Media outlets and educators use this month to highlight the special achievements, notable moments in history, and influential people of African descent whose words and deeds have contributed to the shaping of the world today.
Some criticism of Black History Month has been aired by religious leaders, celebrities, and journalists who contend that one race should not be singled out for observance and, moreover, ‘Black’ history is American history.
What do you think?
Celebrate Holiday 