Today is National Ice Cream Soda Day.

Orange Ice Cream Soda

1. Pour the orange juice into a glass.
2. Add the ice cream.
3. Top with the cream soda.

Today is National Almond Buttercrunch Day.

Really quick and easy candy to make.

You need:

Place your almonds in a small skillet.

Over medium heat stirring constantly toast the almonds until lightly browned.

In a large saucepan over medium heat add the sugar and butter.

Once the butter has and sugar has melted pour in the water and cornstarch.

Allow the sugar to boil stirring occasionally.  Once it has reached 250 degrees on a candy thermometer pour the mixture evenly and carefully into 2 cookie sheets.  Spread it out evenly.

Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water.

Pour even amounts of chocolate on top of the sugar.

Spread it completely on top.

Get right into the corners.

Sprinkle the almonds on top of the chocolate.

Place the cookie sheets in the fridge for several hours.  Once it has completely hardened it can then be broken into little pieces.

Almond Butter Crunch

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat melt the butter. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Stir in the water and corn syrup
2. Cook the butter and sugar until it reaches 270 degrees, stirring often.
3. Grease 2 cookie sheets.
4. Pour the hot sugar onto the cookie sheets and let it harden.
5. In a bowl over a pot of boiling water melt the chocolate chips. Once completely melted pour the chocolate over the top of the harden sugar and spread it out evenly.
6. Sprinkle the almonds on top and let it cool completely in the fridge. Break into pieces before storing in the fridge or freezer.

Today is National Tapioca Day.

First harvested by the Mayans Tapioca is derived from the root starch of the Cassava or Yucca plant. It can be used to sweeten food, thicken soups, as a laundry starch, bread flour and most commonly to make pudding.

Making your own tapioca from the roots of cassava at home can be quite dangerous as it contains cyanide that has to be carefully extracted.

Today is National Indian Pudding Day and National Orange Blossom Day.

The Orange Blossom was invented back in the times of Prohibition when the gin was too harsh to drink straight and they needed something to make it more palatable. Given it’s time of inception you can consider this drink to be the parent of the screwdriver we drink today.

Orange Blossom recipe

1. Combine the gin, orange juice, and sugar in a shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
2. Shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Today is National Chocolate Pudding Day.

These cookies are great used to make ice cream sandwiches.

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a bowl combine the flour and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In another bowl mix the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, pudding mix, and vanilla. Beat until creamy. Add the eggs and mix well.
4. Gradually stir in the flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Drop from teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheets about 1 inch apart.
6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Today is National Strawberry Parfait.

Here’s the link to the Mixed Berry Parfait I did last month. Just substitute in strawberries.

Today is National Pralines Day.

Pecan Pralines

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, milk, butter, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, to 230°.
2. Add the toasted pecans and continue cooking, stirring constantly, to 236° F.
3. Remove from the heat and add vanilla; let stand for about 5 minutes.
4. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thickened and slightly creamy, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
5. Spoon the pralines onto a sheet of parchment paper or waxed paper in small tablespoonfuls.

Today is National Pecan Sandies Day.

Pecan Sandies

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl cream together the butter, vegetable oil, 1 cup white sugar and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
4. In another bowl combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; stir into the creamed mixture.
5. Mix in the pecans.
6. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll each ball in remaining white sugar.
7. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are golden.
9. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Today is National Chocolate Eclair Day and National Onion Rings Day.

This batter can be used for fish as well.

Beer Batter Onion Rings

1. Mix together the flour, salt, pepper, oil and egg yolks. Gradually whisk in the beer.
2. Refrigerate the batter 3 to 4 hours before using.
3. Slice onions into rings; separate rings and dip in the batter.
4. Deep-fry in batches in 370° oil until golden brown.

Today is National Peaches and Cream Day.

Peaches and Cream

1. In a medium bowl beat together the cream and sugar till thick.
2. Beat in the sour cream until thoroughly combined.
3. Gradually pour in the liqueur while continuing to beat the mixture.
4. Divide the peaches into bowls and top with cream.