Look for an Evergreen Day
December 19, 2013 in the World
Look for an Evergreen Day is today. To many people, only a fresh cut real tree will do for Christmas. The scent of fresh pine helps to capture the feel of the holidays. Nothing looks more real than a real tree, each one with it’s own character and appearance.
There is no shortage of types of Christmas trees. Generally classified as firs, spruces, and pines, the most popular varieties have changed over the years. Personal preference will determine whether you select a short needle, or long needled tree.
If you haven’t selected a tree yet, it is certainly getting late. By the 19th of December, most people have found and put up their Christmas tree. So if you are still treeless, this special day could be the day to do so.
How to select and care for the perfect Christmas Tree:
http://www.gardenersnet.com/tree/xmastree.htm
Where is Look for an Evergreen Day?
Worldwide
Oatmeal Muffin Day
December 19, 2013 in the World
Oatmeal Muffin Day is celebrated on December 19th of each year.
Oatmeal muffins are made with the primary ingredient of oatmeal. Additional ingredients can just about anything, however the most common are raisins, nuts, and chocolate chips depending on your preference. The level of sweetness can also vary greatly.
Oat groats are coarsely ground to make oatmeal, or cut into small pieces to make steel-cut oats, or first steamed and then flattened to make rolled oats. Quick-cooking rolled oats (quick oats) are cut into small pieces before being steamed and rolled. Instant oatmeal is pre-cooked and dried, usually with sweetener and flavoring added. Both types of rolled oats may be eaten uncooked as in Muesli or may be cooked to make porridge. It is also used as an ingredient in oatmeal muffins, oatmeal cookies and oat cakes, or as an accent, as in the topping on many oat bran breads and the coating on Caboc cheese. Oatmeal is also sometimes porridge with the bran or fibrous husk as well as the oat kernel or groat. In some countries rolled oats are eaten raw with milk and sugar or raisins. Oatmeal is also used as a thickening agent in savory Arabic/Egyptian thick meat plus vegetable soups.
When using oatmeal in a recipe, read the label carefully! Not all oatmeal is the same: Rolled, quick, instant and steel-cut oats vary in texture and required cook time.
Where is Oatmeal Muffin Day?
Worldwide
Historical Events:
324 – Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor.
1686 – Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Daniel Defoe)
1732 – Benjamin Franklin under the name Richard Saunders begins publication of “Poor Richard’s Almanack”
1843 – Charles Dickens publishes “A Christmas Carol,” in England
1871 – Albert L Jones (NYC), patents corrugated paper
1904 – Dawson City hockey team begins 9 day walk to get a boat to Seattle to catch a train to Ottawa to play in Stanley Cup on Jan 13 1905
1917 – 1st NHL game played on artificial ice (Toronto)
1918 – Robert Ripley began his “Believe It or Not” column (NY Globe)
1922 – Mrs Theres Vaughn, 24, confessed in court to being married 62 times
1941 – US Office of Censorship created to control info pertaining to WW II
1971 – CBS airs “Homecoming A Christmas Story,” (introducing the Waltons)
1971 – Stanley Kubrick’s X-rated “A Clockwork Orange” premieres
1980 – Iran requests $24 billion in US guarantees to free hostages
1984 – UK signs agreement with China to return Hong Kong to China in 1997
1995 – Queen Elizabeth asks Prince Charles & Diana to divorce
