The once lowly meatball is in the spotlight today. Once a method to extend limited meat resources by adding some breadcrumbs and egg as a binder with some herbs and other flavors thrown in, it is now a culinary category. In New York you can find multiple restaurants based around the meatball. In recipes everywhere … Continue reading National Meatball Day
Holidays/National Days
National Banana Bread Day
Today is National Banana Bread, the best way to use up those over-ripe bananas you bought earlier this week. I have several recipes but this is one of the better ones. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, grease and flour only the bottom of a 9 inch loaf pan. Combine the following in a large … Continue reading National Banana Bread Day
Presidents Day
Today is Presidents Day, a day off for many, and an opportunity to salute the Presidents who have made this country great. Though timed for the birthdays of George Washington (who demonstrated restraint with power) and Abraham Lincoln (who brought civility to our nation's greatest challenge), it is intended to salute all presidents. This post … Continue reading Presidents Day
Valentines Day
Today is Valentine's Day. Coming mid-week it makes a romantic rendezvous tougher because it is surrounded by school nights. Don't be discouraged. It doesn't mean you have to lose that loving feeling. It doesn't require a late night candlelight dinner or fancy jewelry as a gift. See how I'm lowering those expectations? You're welcome. For … Continue reading Valentines Day
National Bagel Day
Today is National Bagel Day, a food whose origins are often debated. But there is no question there is no better bagel than one made in New York City. Many reasons are given but it is likely because of our clean unfiltered water piped in from the Catskills. In any case they are delicious. There … Continue reading National Bagel Day
National Nutella Day
Today is National Nutella Day. This delicious spread was invented in Italy after World War II when cocoa was rationed but hazelnuts were plentiful. By extending the chocolate flavor with the nut butter an irresistible treat was created. I enjoy it but do not crave it, unlike SOMEBODY who shall go unnamed. When I introduced … Continue reading National Nutella Day
Groundhog Day! Again!
Today is recognized as Groundhog Day, which was once a quaint little National Day until the 1993 movie by the same name was released and changed everything. Now Groundhog Day is viewed through the lens of the movie instead of a rodent predicting the weather. My favorite scene: Phil: What would you do if you … Continue reading Groundhog Day! Again!
National Croissant Day!
Today is National Croissant Day, one of my favorite food groups. Not those mass market imitations but fresh made by a local bakery who knows what they are doing. While we recognize this delicate pastry as a French product it was apparently invented in Vienna and the shape derives from the Islamic crescent after a … Continue reading National Croissant Day!
National Popcorn Day
Today is National Popcorn Day! Component of Cracker Jacks, in many flavors and forms, festive and warming. One of my favorite snacks. I love it so much I invested in one of those movie theater popper units. I also have incorporated it into my Polaris North shows as part of the reception. Recently I have … Continue reading National Popcorn Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Sometimes I can be pretty naive. I became politically aware at a relatively young age in 1968. The riots, the war, the losses of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. hit me pretty hard and made me wonder about how we could ever move forward. But I found hope in the fact that times … Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. Day
WBAB Cold Finger Run – not this year
On New Years Day for most of the last decade I have participated in the WBAB Cold Finger Run - an organized ride for motorcycles of all types, ages and expertise to cruise the highways and byways of Long Island. Each entrant pays a fee of $20 which all goes to various children's charities and … Continue reading WBAB Cold Finger Run – not this year
National Marzipan Day
Today, January 12, is National Marzipan Day. This almond based sweet is one of my favorite flavors in the world. I get the love of this treat from my father, for whom it was also a favorite. I have found that people seem to either love marzipan or hate it. I am happy to take … Continue reading National Marzipan Day
Manhattanhenge
Today is one of the four Manhattanhenge days on the calendar where the sun aligns with the New York City street grid layout. The term "Manhattanhenge" was popularized by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History and a native New Yorker. It is a reference to Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument … Continue reading Manhattanhenge
National Spaghetti Day
Today is National Spaghetti Day and definitely my go to comfort food. Whether topped with a bolognese, puttanesca, Ameritriciana or four way Cincinnati Chili (with onions, not beans, which are an abomination on Cincy Chili, but that is fodder for a different blog post), I love it. Fortunately options for American pasta have improved exponentially … Continue reading National Spaghetti Day
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day
Today is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day. If offered a shot at a box of mixed chocolates I will always shoot for the chocolate covered cherry option first. Definitely a pairing made in heaven. Ironically I am just writing about it now but this was a long standing go-to gift that Pamela would always buy … Continue reading National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day
Welcome to 2018
Here we are, 2018. I don't make New Years Resolutions, I'm too busy catching up with all the To Do lists I am making everyday. As the saying goes, "I was put on this earth to accomplish certain things, I am so far behind I will never die." Well, I suspect I will die someday … Continue reading Welcome to 2018
Farewell 2017, Hello 2018
In our relatively random way we mark this as the end of one year of measure and the start of another. It has certainly been an interesting and challenging year. I hope yours has been positive and that you are looking forward to another turn of the calendar. Two million people are predicted to gather … Continue reading Farewell 2017, Hello 2018
National Bacon Day
Tomorrow, Saturday, December 30, is National Bacon Day. Sorry vegetarians. The smell of bacon on the stove is one of my all time favorites. Today it is fashionable to add bacon to all matter of things including delicious candy - the sweet and salty mix perfectly. But there is nothing like pure delicious bacon, whether … Continue reading National Bacon Day
Post-Christmas Blues
I'm not really blue, just thinking back on the holiday. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas yourself American culture tends to sweep everyone into it regardless. I celebrated the day with Pamela's grandchildren and family in Virginia. It is wonderful to see a Christmas morning through the … Continue reading Post-Christmas Blues
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas. No wisecracks from me today, no reviews, no recipes, no obscure references. Just wishing you peace, health and happiness for you and your family - whether they are gathered near or far away. Merry Christmas. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes TOMORROW: Post Christmas Blues
And all through the house…
Shhh. What are you doing awake at this time? Don't you know it is Christmas Eve? Put the little ones to bed, explain to them what the heck a sugarplum is (and tell me while you are at it) and get those blessed sugarplums dancing in their heads. Sounds a little crazy. When they fall … Continue reading And all through the house…
National Eggnog Day
Sunday, December 24 is National Eggnog Day. Not surprising as it is also Christmas Eve. Fresh eggnog shows up in our grocery stores only between Thanksgiving and New Years Day. I once tried what was purported to be an eggnog recipe from the writings of George Washington. I cannot tell a lie, it was OK. … Continue reading National Eggnog Day
National Gazpacho Day!
Odd that as winter closes in someone would name today National Gazpacho day. This fresh vegetable cold tomato soup is something I associate more with summer days. But since someone went to all this trouble here is my favorite recipe: In a large bowl, mix the following: 4 cups ripe tomatoes (about 2 pounds), chopped … Continue reading National Gazpacho Day!
National Cookie Day!
Today is National Cookie Day. To many this means a chocolate chip cookie celebration. For me it is a celebration of my favorite - Snickerdoodles! I use the recipe I got from my Aunt Priscilla. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In your mixer bowl cream: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 … Continue reading National Cookie Day!
National Pie Day
Today is National Pie Day. A sublime pie crust separates truly great pies from average pies. It must be flakey, not soggy - stand up to the filling but not be tough or chewy. People spend years mastering the technique to create the perfect pie crust. My favorite story of this comes from my ex-wife. … Continue reading National Pie Day
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