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Holiday Insights, where every day is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.

Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.

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Recipes Peanut Butter Blossoms

Hershey's Kisses Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Recipe

About this Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Recipe

This peanut butter blossoms cookie recipe is popular for every day and especially many cookie-serving events. It is very popular during the holidays. You will find it on cookie trays at most office and home parties.

From the Kitchen of: Contributed by Debbie M., Rochester, NY.

Yield: 48 cookies

Today’s Quote: “A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” – – Ingrid Bergman

Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

granulated sugar

48 Hershey kisses

Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Directions

Preheat oven to 375° F.
Remove the foil from the Hershey Kisses and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together shortening and peanut butter.
Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until fluffy.
Add in egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat together.
Gradually stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat together.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
Roll dough balls into granulated sugar.
Place dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 – 10 minutes until lightly browned.
Remove cookies from the oven and immediately push a Hersey kiss into the center of the cookie.
Place cookies onto a wire rack to cool.

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Recipes Peanut Brittle

Homemade Peanut Brittle Recipe

About this Peanut Brittle Recipe

Who would have thought you could make peanut brittle at home? Well, you certainly can! And, it’s not hard to do. Use this homemade peanut brittle recipe to make a special snack that ever seems to go out of style. Now you can make your own, for just about any party or event.

Just a fair warning: You may have to make extra, as it goes fast!

Today’s Chuckle: “Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.” – – OgdenNash

Homemade Peanut Brittle Ingredients

1 cup Karo syrup

1 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon water

2 cups peanuts, unsalted

1 teaspoon baking soda

Peanut Brittle Directions

In a pan, add Karo syrup, water, and sugar.
Bring to a boil slowly, stirring almost constantly.
Add peanuts.
Continue to stir and cook to thicken.
When it is brown, add baking soda, stirring to mix in.
Pour mixture out onto buttered aluminum foil to cool.
After it is completely cool, it can be broken into bite-sized pieces.

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Recipes Party Punch

How to Make Party Punch Recipe

About this Non-Alcoholic Party Punch Recipe

This non-alcoholic party punch recipe is a favorite. It goes well with any of your parties and special events. You can use it any time of the year. It is an old-fashioned recipe, including freshly squeezed juice of lemons and oranges. It serves a large group. However, you can cut the recipe ingredients in half for a smaller group.

Serves: 25-30

Today’s Quote: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” – – Norman Vincent Peale

Party Punch Ingredients

4 cups sugar

2 cups water

Juice of 12 lemons

Juice of 12 oranges or 3 cups of orange juice

1 large can of pineapple juice

2 cups of black tea

3 gallons water

12 oz. maraschino cherries

2 quarts ginger ale

Orange and Lemon slices for garnish

Tip: For Halloween and other seasonal parties, float a frozen hand in the punch. It’s novel! See: Frozen Hand Recipe

Party Punch Directions

Mix together sugar, and two cups water.
Bring to a boil to make syrup. Set aside to cool.
Pour and mix the cool syrup with the remaining ingredients, except ginger ale.
Add ginger ale just before serving.
Float orange and lemon slices on top of the punch.

Related Recipes

Here is another punch recipe for you to try at your next party:

Festive Party Punch

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Recipes Cheesy Party Potatoes

How to Make Cheesy Party Potatoes Recipe

About this Cheesy Party Potatoes Recipe

My family just loves this Cheesy Party Potatoes recipe. And, your family will love it, too. Make it for holidays, special days, or birthdays. It goes well with just about any meat. And, it’s quick and easy to make. So, make cheesy party potatoes for your next get-together. Then, watch people go for big second helpings.

Contributed By: From the kitchen of Debbie Matthews, Rochester, NY

Today’s Chuckle: Trust science. Studies show that if your parents didn’t have children there’s a high probability you won’t either.

Cheesy Party Potatoes Ingredients

1 package of frozen hash browns

2 cans cream of potato soup

1-pint sour cream

1 16-ounce package of shredded cheddar cheese

Cheesy Party Potatoes Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 ° F.
First, in a large bowl, combine all ingredients and 3/4 of the cheddar cheese package.
Next, pour the mixture into a large baking dish.
Then, top the potato mixture with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake in the oven for 90 minutes.
Serve hot.

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Recipes Okra Seafood Gumbo

How to Make Okra Seafood Gumbo Recipe

About this Okra Seafood Gumbo Recipe

Are you ready to try your hand at New Orleans Cajun cooking? try this Okra Seafood Gumbo recipe. Enjoy it on Mardi Gras or any time of the year when you’re looking for something for dinner that’s just a little bit out of your ordinary. In other words, make it at any time of the year.

Today’s Quote: “I have a wonderful make-up crew. They’re the same people restoring the Statue of Liberty.” – – Bob Hope

Okra Seafood Gumbo Ingredients

2 lb. shrimp, shelled, deveined, cooked

2 Tablespoons flour

3 Tablespoons butter

1 lb. okra, sliced

1 onion, minced

1/2 green pepper, chopped

2 cups stewed tomatoes

2 quarts water

1 teaspoon salt

1 can oysters, with liquid

1 package of frozen crab meat

1/4 teaspoon tabasco sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups rice, cooked

How to Make Okra Seafood Gumbo Directions

In a large pot, combine butter, onion, green pepper, and flour.
Begin to cook.
Add stewed tomatoes, and bring to near a boil.
Add water and salt.
Simmer for 20 minutes.
Add shrimp and oysters.
Continue to simmer for 15 more minutes.
Add tobasco, Worcestershire, and crab meat.
Simmer for another 15 minutes.
Serve hot over cooked rice.

Recipe Tip: Don’t hesitate to experiment. Try additional seafoods, as available.

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Recipes Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

How to Make Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

This oatmeal cookies recipe is one of our family favorites. It will certainly become one of your family favorites, too. Caution: They will go very fast.

From the Kitchen of: Debbie M., Rochester, NY.

Yield: about 5 dozen

Today’s Quote: “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” – – Milton Berle

Oatmeal Cookies Ingredients

3 cups oatmeal

1 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs, well beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

How to Make Oatmeal Cookies Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.
Thoroughly cream shortening and granulated sugar.
Add brown sugar and mix thoroughly.
Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
Add dry ingredients and mix them together.
Add Oatmeal and mix well.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased cookie sheet.
Flatten the cookie with a spoon.
Bake for 10 minutes.

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Recipes Oatmeal Bread

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bread Recipe

How to Make Oatmeal Bread Recipe

This is a warm and hearty old-fashioned oatmeal bread recipe that is perfect for cold days. Try serving it warm with butter, or your favorite jelly.

Yield: 2 loaves

Today’s Quote: “I made decisions that I regret, and I took them as learning experiences… I’m human, not perfect, like anybody else.” – – Queen Latifah

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bread Ingredients

2 cups milk

2 cups quick rolled oats, uncooked

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

2 tablespoons shortening

1 package active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water (110 – 115 degrees)

5cups flour

1 egg white, beaten

1 tablespoon water

Rolled oats

How to Make Oatmeal Bread Directions

Scald milk.
Stir in 2 cups oats, brown sugar, salt, and shortening.
Allow to cool to lukewarm.
Pour water into a large bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Mix until dissolved.
Stir together milk and oats mixture, yeast mixture, and 2 cups flour.
Beat in a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Continue to add and mix in the remaining flour, a little at a time. Mix in with your hands when the dough gets too hard for the mixer.
Stop adding flour when the dough leaves the sides of the bowl.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured board. Knead until smooth.
Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
Place dough into a greased bowl, and turn it to grease the entire dough.
Cover and let rise until about double in size.
Punch down, cover, and let rise again until almost double in size.
Turn the dough back onto a board and divide into 2 equal parts. Cover and let rest for 10-15 minutes.
Shape dough into loaves, and place in greased 9X5X3″ loaf pans.
Let rise until almost doubled.
Brush the tops of loaves with egg whites, and sprinkle with rolled oats.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cover tops of loaves with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking, if necessary to avoid over-browning.
Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack.
Serve warm or cold.

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Recipes Mint Julep

How to Make Mint Julep Recipe

Below is the Old Forester Mint Julep Recipe. It is the official beverage of the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is steeped in tradition. So, it is important to use this exact recipe for your Kentucky Derby party.

Did You Know? Approximately 125,000 Mint Juleps are served during the two-day Kentucky Derby event. And, 60,000 pounds of ice are used.

Today’s Quote: “Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.” – – Napoleon Bonaparte

Mint Julep Ingredients

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Sprigs of fresh mint

Crushed ice

Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky

Silver Julep Cups

How to Make Old Forester Mint Julep Recipe Directions

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes.
Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon of mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Whisky.
Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Now you are ready to enjoy the race!

Related Holidays

Old Forester Mint Juleps go perfectly with these holidays and events:

Kentucky Derby Day

Mint Julep Day

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Recipes Mincemeat Pie

Mincemeat Pie Recipe

How to Make Mincemeat Pie Recipe

This mincemeat pie recipe makes a tasty old-fashioned pie. Many people will fondly remember Grandma making it. I do! Mincemeat pie is popular at Thanksgiving and other holiday meals.

Yield: 1 pie

From the Kitchen of: Grandma

Today’s Quote: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – – Audrey Hepburn

Mincemeat Pie Ingredients

Pie Crust for two 9-inch pies (Grandma would make this from scratch)

2 cups (or 28-ounce can) of mincemeat

1 cup tart apples, peeled, cored, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup lemon juice

How to Make Mincemeat Pie Directions

Preheat oven to 450° F.
Mix mincemeat, apples, and lemon juice in a bowl.
Line pie pastry in a 9-inch pie pan.
Pour the mixture into the pie.
Cover with top crust.
Seal and crimp edges.
Cut slits in the top to vent.
Cover the edge of the crust with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Then, remove it in the final 15 minutes of baking.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
Serve warm.

Suggestion: Top with whipped cream when serving.

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