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Sherman A1

(38,958 posts) Fri Jan 2, 2015, 04:55 AM Jan 2015

Daily Holidays -January 2

National Cream Puff Day As if we haven’t had enough to celebrate, today is National Cream Puff Day. This delicious pastry is actually pâte à choux (pronounced path-ah-shoo, like a sneeze), and it lends itself to many presentations, both sweet and savory. In this country, when we think of cream puffs we are usually referring to a rich dessert that made its debut here in the 1880s. But pâte à choux, as it is known in Europe, dates back to the 1540s, when Catherine de Medici’s pastry chef created the baked puffed shells for her husband, Henry II of France.
Also known as profiteroles, or choux à la crème, these are usually filled with whipped cream, pastry cream, or ice cream. They can be left plain or dusted with powdered sugar. Should you want a little more decadence, consider topping the dessert with chocolate sauce, caramel, or a ginger-butterscotch sauce.
The basic recipe is an easy one to remember: 1-1-1-1-1. One cup water, one stick butter, one cup flour, one cup eggs (four large), and one pinch of salt (or sugar, depending on how you plan to use the puffs). In researching this column, I found that substituting sweet rice flour for the all-purpose flour gives you a gluten-free pâte à choux that is just as good (some may say even better) than the usual version.
Sweet rice flour can be found in the supermarket in the Asian section; it is also known as “glutinous” rice flour, even though it is gluten-free. The technique for making the puffs is the same, whichever flour you choose to use. Pâte à choux is considered by some to be labor intensive, but should you want to use your stand mixer, or even your food processor, you can adapt the recipes accordingly. In fact, Jacques Pepin’s instructions for gougères might even change your way of thinking about this wonderful pastry. http://www.capenews.net/columns/gourmets-and-good-eaters-celebrating-national-cream-puff-day/article_e4eb0156-9228-11e4-9ed9-83994aa9467b.html

55-MPH Speed Limit Day On this day in 1974, President Richard M. Nixon signs the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, setting a new national maximum speed limit.

Prior to 1974, individual states set speed limits within their boundaries and highway speed limits across the country ranged from 40 mph to 80 mph. The U.S. and other industrialized nations enjoyed easy access to cheap Middle Eastern oil from 1950 to 1972, but the Arab-Israeli conflict changed that dramatically in 1973. Arab members of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) protested the West's support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War by stopping oil shipments to the United States, Japan and Western Europe. OPEC also flexed its new-found economic muscle by quadrupling oil prices, placing a choke-hold on America's oil-hungry consumers and industries. The embargo had a global impact, sending the U.S. and European economies into recession. As part of his response to the embargo, President Nixon signed a federal law lowering all national highway speed limits to 55 mph. The act was intended to force Americans to drive at speeds deemed more fuel-efficient, thereby curbing the U.S. appetite for foreign oil. With it, Nixon ushered in a policy of fuel conservation and rationing not seen since World War II. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-signs-national-speed-limit-into-law

Happy Mew Year for Cats Day

National Buffet Day T

raditionally, the “Day to Feast” before the great diet begins
Five Food Finds about Buffets

There are many variations of buffet, including a “cold buffet” and a “finger buffet”.
The buffet table originates from the 16th century Brännvinsbord—Swedish schnapps table.
The actual word “buffet” originally referred to the French sideboard where the food was served.
The “all-you-can-eat” buffet has been ascribed to Herb Macdonald, a hotel manager in Minneapolis, Minnesota who introduced the idea in 1946.
In Japan, a buffet is known as a viking (バイキング – baking). http://foodimentary.com/2014/01/02/january-2-is-national-buffet-day/

National Motivation and Inspiration Day H. Res. 308

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

December 18, 2001.

Whereas motivation and inspiration have played important roles in the greatest achievements of civilized society and are characteristics common to all great leaders;

Whereas both children and adults need motivation and inspiration in order to achieve success and happiness in their lives;

Whereas the inspiration to define goals at school, home, and work and the motivation to achieve those goals is critical to achieving success and happiness;

Whereas all children and young adults need mentors to inspire them to achieve their goals and to motivate them to direct their energies toward positive and constructive activities and goals;

Whereas adults who mentor children and young adults become inspired and motivated themselves;

Whereas a renewed focus on motivation and inspiration is particularly important in the wake of the tragedies of September 11, 2001;

Whereas the beginning of the year is often a time of reflection, planning, and goal setting;

Whereas the establishment of a National Motivation and Inspiration Day would provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to focus on the importance of maintaining motivation and inspiration in their lives; and

Whereas prominent citizens of Long Island, New York, are attempting to establish January 2 as National Motivation and Inspiration Day: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals of a National Motivation and Inspiration Day.

Attest:

Clerk.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/107/hres308/text

National Personal Trainer Awareness Day

National Science Fiction Day

National Science Fiction Day is unofficially celebrated by many science fiction fans in the United States on January 2, a date that was chosen[when?][by whom?] to correspond with the official birthdate of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.[1]

While not an official holiday of any sort (in the sense that it is not recognized or declared by any government), National Science Fiction Day is given some degree of credence by its recognition by organizations such as the Hallmark Channel[2] and by the Scholastic Corporation.[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Science_Fiction_Day

Pet Travel and Safety Day