Ew, prunes!!!
Believe it or not, January marks a month-long devotion to the oft-ridiculed dried plum.
National Prune Breakfast Month celebrates the fruit most closely associated with, ahem, regularity. But a bevy of other benefits have been noted by researchers including the power to help lower cholesterol, prevent type 2 diabetes and even help the body resist cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Oh, and let’s not forget another point. As far as dried fruits go, they’re downright tasty. So instead of that bowl of Frosted Flakes, take a few extra minutes this morning and treat yourself to something delicious and nutritious.
Quinoa prune breakfast porridge
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped pitted prunes
2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond milk
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Bring water and salt to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Stir in the quinoa and reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer an additional five minutes.
I like me some soup.
With the cold weather still in abundance, January is the perfect month to celebrate and enjoy soup of all kinds.
From thick, creamy, calorie laden soup (also known as a Bisque or Chowder), to the water-based and healthier broth or consommé, and the vegetable-laden chili and gazpacho, almost every country around the world has it’s own special recipe. Most restaurants also offer a home-made “soup of the day” as a starter course, so why not expand your pallet and try a new flavour for Soup Month?
It is thought that soup could trace back as far as the Neolithic Age, with evidence suggesting that people who should have died out through natural selection were kept alive for a long time before the discovery of Milk, which was later used to keep such people alive. Soup seems the most likely way to nourish these people – perhaps a broth made of boiling water and meat.
I'm down with this.
National Hat Day
Date When Celebrated : Always January 15 th
National Hat Day is set aside to wear and enjoy a hat of your choice and style. Isn't it great that hats come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles? There's one to fit every size head and personality. Often, hats are used to make a statement, or to promote a cause or a product.
Oh yeah... hats have logical uses, too. Some hats (Aka helmets), offer safety protection. Some hats keep your head warm, or the sun out of your eyes....how boring.
National Hat Day is not intended to just keep your noggin warm. Its a chance to make a statement and to display you favorite headgear. We suggest you wear a number of different hats over the course of the day.
Did you know? More body heat is lost from your head than other parts of the body. So, wearing a hat goes a long way towards staying warm on a cold winter's day (or night).
Hey, why not!
National Popcorn Day
Date When Celebrated : January 19 th
The origins of this holiday are unknown. We have not found any information or documentation to confirm this is a true "National" day. But, don't let that pop (burst) your bubble, err pop your corn that is. It's a day to celebrate healthy (until you load it with salt and butter), and addicting popcorn.
Strangely, National Popcorn Day is in January, yet National Popcorn Month is October. According to tradition, it is celebrated on January 19th each year. There is some suggestion that Popcorn Day may, at one point, have been tied to the Superbowl. And, we found one reference to it being on January 30th.
On National Popcorn Day, we suggest you pop up some fresh popcorn, kick back and enjoy!
Originally posted by Scribble
Anything happening today, Riv?
Penguin Awareness Day
Date When Celebrated:
Penguin Awareness Day: Always January 20
World Penguin Day: Always April 25th
About Penguin Awareness Day, and World Penguin Day:
Penguin Awareness Day, and World Penguin Day are great opportunities to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica. On these days, spend a little time learning about them.... a pictorial book or internet site is fun. You can also watch a documentary of these cute and popular, grounded birds.
These days are also a time to wear black and white---penguin colors. However, wearing a tuxedo in their honor is optional. It is also popular today to tell a penguin joke or two.
Origin of Penguin Days:
World Penguin Day coincides with the annual northward migration of penguins. This happens each year on or around April 25th. Penguins do not fly. Rather, they walk, or waddle their way to and from.
Our research did not uncover any information about the origin of Penguin Awareness Day. And, we found no consensus on the date. Rather, we found several conflicting dates in January. If anyone can provide information about this day, please contact us.
Did you know? Penguins are found in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos Islands. Elsewhere, they are only found in zoos.
Why indeed....
Measure Your Feet Day
Date When Held : Event is always January 23
Measure Your Feet Day is a day to, well it's a day to measure your feet. At this point, we stop and ask ourselves...why? We pondered this question for a while. Then, we decided it was best not to even speculate.
Celebrate today by measuring your feet. Both of them. Measure the length. Then, measure the width. For a little fun, see if you can measure someone else's feet.
Note: We are so glad that congress did not spend the time to declare this a "National" day.....yet.
This made for a classic Spongebob episode!
Opposite Day
Date When Held : Event is always January 25
Opposite Day is a topsy, turvy day when everything you say, do, see, and hear are the opposite. If you say go left, you mean go right. If you say look up, it means look down. If you see your left foot...is it really your right?
Yesiree, Bob. Opposite Day can be a whole lot of fun. It can also be very, very confusing. This special day is celebrated primarily among school children. Sponge Bob Square Pants even got into the act, with an episode containing the whimsical nature of this day.
Thought for the Day: Opposites attract.