:) ;) :D ;D :( :'( 8==D
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Good morning! 
It is Sunday, 18 July 2021
Today is: 
Ice Cream Day🍦
Obviously another northern hemisphere day to celebrate on the midst of the heat of their summer, but it’s ice cream 
good pretty much any time, any where.
Ice Cream is without a doubt the perfect dessert ever devised by man. It’s rich and creamy, full of the flavours of summer while being made from the cold like the winter, and is perfect at any time of the year. Ice Cream can be used to make sandwiches or entire cakes, or just eaten as a scoop all on its own. Ice Cream Day celebrates this delicious treat and all the varieties it comes in!
Ice cream has become one of the most popular dishes enjoyed by people all over the world. Therefore, it is only right that we have a date to celebrate this sweet treat, and to be able to eat as much as we want of it without feeling guilty. Well, a lot of us do that anyway, and we’re proud of it, right? After all, who wouldn’t want to eat ice cream all of the time? No matter whether you eat ice cream every week or it is a rare treat for you, we definitely recommend that you indulge on Ice Cream Day!
Ice Cream has been around for a very long time, since the first time milk and ice saw each other and fell in love. Throughout the years it has come in every conceivable flavour, from gentle and universally loved vanilla, to the unusual flavour that is crab ice cream. That’s right, that’s how amazingly versatile ice cream is, you can literally flavour it like anything!
Due to the difficulty of obtaining snow in hot summer months, ice cream used to be very difficult to obtain and reserved only for those of wealth and note. Thankfully with the advances made in refrigeration technology we’re able to have ice cream any time of year!
That’s why we enjoy Choco-Tacos in the summertime, banana splits in the winter, ice cream cakes in the springtime, and ice cream sandwiches in the fall! What a wonderful world we live in to be able to enjoy this rich and delicious treat any time of the year!
Of course, these days we have unusual variations of ice cream as well, such as those made instantly by using liquid nitrogen, or those served up in individually frozen beads. What wonders the world has created for us to love on Ice Cream Day.
Americans have President Reagan to thank for Ice Cream Day. He wanted to commemorate the treat that more than 90% of the population in the United States enjoy, and so he decided he would decree a day for ice cream. He did so in 1984. Doing this actually ended up glorifying the dairy industry in the United States, and so it probably does not come as any surprise for you to learn that Americans eat more ice cream per year than anywhere else in the world. (Big Dairy wins again!)
In fact, they eat 23 gallons each per annum to be precise. That’s almost 90 liters each. That’s a lot of ice cream, right? Reagan even created an Ice Cream month because he loved it so much. He described it as a wholesome and nutritious food that the vast majority of the United States loved. (Basically, Reagan was a Big Dairy stooge!)
We also need to understand the history of this incredible dessert. Ice cream is one of the oldest types of desserts. It is believed that the history of ice cream probably started in Iran’s Achaemenid Empire, in roughly 500BC. This is when different flavours were combined with ice in order to create treats to enjoy during the summer months. In 400C, the Persians created a special chilled food, which was a mix of vermicelli and rose water, which was served to the Royals during the summer months.
The ice was mixed with fruits, saffron, and a number of other flavours.
Bastani Sonnati is now the most popular type of Persian ice cream. This is a type of Iranian ice cream that is made from pistachios, vanilla, saffron, rose water, sugar, eggs, and milk. It also often has frozen flakes of clotted cream inside. It’s a real treat!
There are lots of tasty and incredible ice cream recipes online, so why not try your hand at creating your own ice cream?
You may even decide to simply throw out the rulebook and add all of the flavours you love the most to see what the outcome is! Or, why not try your hand at creating one of the traditional ice cream treats, such as the Persian bastani sonnati dessert?
Even though you may not be able to pop out to your favourite local spot for a deliciously decadent ice cream sundae this Sunday, you could still make the most of Ice Cream Day at home! Either way, have a terrific day!
Know More:
Today is also Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is an annual day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18 July 2009.
On 27 April 2009, the 46664 concerts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation invited the global community to join them in support of an official Mandela Day. Mandela Day is not meant as a public holiday, but as a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s former President, and his values, through volunteering and community service.
Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact.
The Mandela Day campaign message is:
"Nelson Mandela fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.”
"We would be honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity.”
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Day #200
It is Monday, 19 July 2021
(W29 | D200 | 165 rem)
Today is: Get Out of the Doghouse Day
Have you wronged anyone lately? Have you not had a chance to make it up to them? Have you been too busy to connect with them? Are you looking for the perfect opportunity to get together with them?
Or have you sent someone to the Dog House? Are you still upset or mad at them? Get Out of the Doghouse Day is all about making up with someone who has sent you to the dog house, or bringing someone back in from the cold!
The day takes place annually on the third Monday in July. The phrase “In the doghouse” usually means in disgrace or out of favor. The original idea came from the symbolism in the 1911 Peter Pan novel written by J. M. Barrie. In Chapter 16, Mr. Darling goes out and sleeps in the dog kennel, remorseful for not paying enough attention to his family and allowing his children to be kidnapped.
Although it is not written as the specific idea and is not fully recognized as an idiom or the now well-known phrase until it is written in print in Criminalese, in 1926 by J. J. Fintery.
Generally, when you are “in the doghouse,” you have fallen out of favour with someone, usually your spouse or significant other. However, you can also be “in the doghouse” with a friend or your boss at work. This day uses all those good cliches to get you back in the big house where you belong.
We all make mistakes, and when we do, many times we end up hurting someone. That’s when it’s time for us to say we’re sorry. However, just saying the words isn’t enough.
Hopefully, we don’t end up in the dog house very often. These steps to a genuine apology will hopefully get you out of the dog house and lead to fewer transgressions.
- RECOGNISE YOUR MISTAKE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DID WRONG
An apology doesn’t mean much if we’re just saying, “I’m sorry,” to get out of trouble with someone we care about. It’s essential to identify the issue so we can make an appropriate apology. Otherwise, we’re just looking for quick forgiveness.
- BE SINCERE
A sincere apology shows in the presentation. Our words, body language, and how the apology is delivered all factor into its sincerity. The best apologies are offered in person whenever possible. Sometimes, though, the mistake is one that needs to be conveyed to a broader public that may be difficult to reach in person. These types of apologies need to consider every word used to be deemed sincere and genuine.
Face to face, we can ensure a sincere apology by looking directly at the person. Whatever we say, we should include the phrases “I’m sorry” or “I apologise.” The people we hurt need to hear those words. Avoid the words “if” and “but” since those words lead to placing the blame elsewhere.
- DON’T DELAY
Once we realise our mistake, it’s important to apologise to the offended person as soon as we can. Yes, apologies can be awkward, and they should be, so we avoid repeating the same mistake. We’ve harmed someone, damaged a relationship. But delaying an apology can cause more damage, making the injured party think we’re ignoring the issue. Let the healing begin and swiftly!
- TAKE OWNERSHIP
Admitting to a mistake is often looked at as a reflection of our character. But what’s more revealing is how we handle making an apology. When we take ownership of a mistake, we avoid placing blame elsewhere. Blaming the weather, lack of sleep, or someone else involved in the circumstances makes for a weak apology.
- CORRECT THE BEHAVIOUR
Our apology should include the steps we’re going to take to prevent future mistakes. The circumstance will dictate what we need to do. For chronic lateness, we might start using an alarm or a reminder on our calendar. If we’ve spoken hurtful words in anger, we may need to practice new techniques for stressful situations or even seek therapy. In the business world, correcting behaviour may include a change in policy or training.
- LISTEN
When we apologise to someone, they will want to express their feelings about the situation. Let them talk. Listen to their feedback. We may learn something new about the situation or other ways to correct it.
- DON’T EXPECT A RETURN APOLOGY
It’s not a competition. We don’t apologise to someone so they apologise to us. It’s not a race to see who apologises first. A genuine apology is about accepting that we’ve made an error, and then going forth and mending the damage done.
While following these steps may not lead to immediate forgiveness, it starts the healing. It’s also important to remember that we’re not always at fault. We shouldn’t apologise unless we mean it, and the mistake is truly our own. Open up a dialogue if there is confusion about an issue. Identify the concerns. Once the concerns have been discussed, if we find we’ve harmed someone, begin preparing that apology.
Be the better human and let those that have wronged you out of the doghouse today. Hopefully, those that you have upset will do the same for you. Happy Monday!
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It is Tuesday, 20 July 2021
(W29 | D201 | 164 rem)
Today is: Moon Day🌑
Every once in a while, the human race achieves something truly remarkable, and Moon Day celebrates the occasion when we first left footsteps upon our nearest neighbour.
It’s probably best to gloss quietly over how long it is since the last visitors landed there, but that’s no reason to skimp on the celebrations. After all, there’ll never be a better excuse to launch firework rockets over your neighbourhood and dress up in a tinfoil suit with a fishbowl on your head. Alternatively, you might prefer to drag a telescope out into the garden, or maybe sit in a circle howling like wolves as the moon rises.
Neil Armstrong became the first man to step down onto the cratered surface of the moon and he said the following words:
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
When this happened, it was one of the most monumental occasions in our history. On Moon Day, we celebrate the historic landing on the moon that occurred on the 20th of July in 1969. We also take the time to consider the monumental effort that it takes in order to get a space program off the ground. You may have thought that we would have made thousands of space expeditions since then, but it simply is not that easy! Or that cheap!
In order to understand the history of Moon Day, we first need to understand the history of such space expeditions. On the 25th of May in 1969, it was announced by John F. Kennedy, who was president at the time, that the Apollo space program would start. This initiated NASA’s work on a manned lunar landing. He stated that it was his plant to make sure that there was an American on the Moon by the end of the decade.
After this, Americans were treated to the very first television images of the surface of the moon. This was possible because images were transmitted by Ranger 7, which was NASA’s unmanned probe. Americans were then able to watch as Apollo 8 repeated its orbit ten times around the moon.
The historic first took place when Apollo 11 landed on the moon for the first time. The world held its breath when three men became the first humans to step onto the surface of the moon. However, it was not all systems go, as NASA ended their Apollo program with Apollo 17. This was the final Moon landing mission, which happened in 1972.
However, in recent times, we have started to see more space programs initiated, so we could start to see more space activity from now on. This has been made possible because NASA has partnered with commercial companies in order to ensure that there is the funding needed to keep these projects going.
SpaceX is a prime example. Owned by Elon Musk, this company designs manufactures and launches advanced spacecraft and rockets. Their aim is to colonize Mars, and we have seen a lot of incredible innovations that they have brought to the fore. If you do not know a lot about this, we recommend using some of your time on Moon Day to find out more.
The obvious way (#ThanksCovid) to celebrate Moon Day is by watching a film about landing on the moon. There have been a number of different films and movies that have been created about this incredible event, so we definitely recommend checking some of them out. The obvious place to start is with Apollo 11.
This film was directed by Todd Douglass Miller, usually powerful visuals to retell the story of man’s first trip to the moon. This includes images such as Neil Armstrong being reflected in Buzz Aldrin’s helmet, the American flag being planted on the lunar surface, and the blast-off moment. You may think that this is simply going to be another remake of a story that you have heard about plenty of times, but it is more than this.
It actually uses sound and never-before-seen footage from the mission, which has somehow been scanned and restored. This means you get to enjoy the occasion from a whole new perspective, which is incredibly interesting to say the least.
There are a number of other interesting films about landing on the moon. Another one to consider is The Dish, which was released back in 2000. Although a true story, it does have a bit of fiction mixed in as well. It tells the story of how an Australian observatory played a critical role in ensuring everyone around the globe would be able to watch the first steps that humankind took on the moon. Other movies to consider include First Man, The Last Man on the Moon, and For All Mankind.
Have a lunar landing Tuesday! 
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If only man had stepped foot on the moon. 
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Directions unclear… Got arrested for indecent exposure.
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It is Wednesday, 21 July 2021
(W29 | D202 | 163 rem)
Today is: Lamington Day
A little bit of an Aussie celebration for a change today - it’s Lamington Day!
For those of you that don’t know, a Lamington is a sweet snack from Australia that is cake-based and generally eaten for morning tea, afternoon tea, or high tea. This delicious treat was a kitchen mix-up that became Australia’s most famous culinary icon.
If you have never heard of a Lamington before, you are seriously missing out! But don’t worry; this day gives you the perfect opportunity to indulge in this delicious treat. In fact, you may have even tried one before, yet you may have simply not realized that they are called Lamingtons!
So, what is this delicious treat? It is essentially an Australian cake that is made from squares of sponge cake or butter caked, which is then coated in a layer of chocolate sauce, and finally rolled in desiccated coconut. Is your mouth watering yet?
The thin mixture is absorbed into the sponge cake’s outside layer, and it is then left to set. This creates the distinctive texture of the cake. There have been a number of different variations of this cake that have been created over the years. One of the common variations is to have a layer of cream or strawberry jam in between two halves of Lamington.
Of course, you could put any sort of flavored cream or jam in between two halves of the cake to create your own unique treat. Maybe this is something you could experiment with to celebrate Lamington Day?
In fact, there are a lot of different variants of Lamingtons that are now enjoyed all around the world. The raspberry variant of this dessert is popular in New Zealand. St Helena Island, which is a small British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean has a variant that is similar, known as Coconut Fingers.
These are traditionally made for birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations. Coconut cubes or čupavci are eaten in Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Slovenia. In the United States, coconut bars are very popular in the city of Cleveland. There is also a similar confection, known as ystervarkies - little porcupines – that is made right here in South Africa, albeit it is a lot smaller.
At over a century old, this treat was named after the Governor of Queensland, Lord Lamington. The story goes that he was having his favorite yellow sponge cake served for his guests when the maid-servant accidentally dropped the cake into melted chocolate. When his Lordship heard he was the one who recommended them to roll the squares in coconut shavings to make them less messy for guests to eat with their tea. And thus the Lamington was born.
There is even an Australian Lamington Appreciation Society (ALAS ) which is committed to the preservation of their world famous Lamingtons, and annually celebrating Lamington Day.
Lamington Day would be a great day to try out a new recipe and have your Lamington and invite friends over for afternoon tea! Here is a good recipe from the ALAS website.
Paul Tully’s True-Blue Delicious Aussie Lamington recipe
What you will need:
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence (if you only have extract use about 1 ½ teaspoons)
- 1 cup of self-rising flour
- ½ cup of milk
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons boiling water
- 3 cups shredded coconut
Method
Beat the eggs well, gradually adding the sugar until dissolved. Add the milk and vanilla essence and then stir in the self-rising flour. Next whip the butter into the mixture. Pour the mixture into a cake tin or Llamington baking dish and bake in a moderate oven of 180 degrees Celsius (355 degrees Fahrenheit) for 35 minutes. Allow the cake to cool for at least 10 minutes and then stand for 24 hours preferably in the refrigerator, before applying the icing.
The Chocolate Icing:
Stir the cocoa and icing sugar vigorously in a large bowl, adding the milk, butter and boiling water, warming the chocolate mixture over a very low heat until it has a smooth creamy texture. Cut the sponge cake into equal squares about ½ in x ½ in and, using a fork or thin skewer, dip each piece into the chocolate mixture ensuring that the mixture is liberally and evenly applied. Dip each piece into the desiccated coconut, allowing the Lamingtons to cool on a wire tray or even on parchment paper for several hours.
So, yum My Dudes! Have a great tasting Wednesday.
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Love me some Lammingtons.
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Ew. Coconut 
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Did we FINALLY find your kryptonite?
I love coconut, especially fresh coconut
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Nah, I just don’t like it. I don’t have any negative effects from coconut.
Avocados OTOH…
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Avo is just disgusting
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I decided to try them since they’re apparently such a healthy fat to eat. Ended up bouncing between bed and bathroom for a day and a half.
Then roco mammas decided to try poisoning me when I sent back a speciality burger that I asked for no avo. Ok, it was a new server, so I cut her some slack. Told the assistant manager who I knew previously… I said “avocados make me violently ill”. He them got the staff to scrape it off and put it on a new bun.
Bastard…
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Pro Tip: before sending food back, overly salt it. That way you will know if you receive any of the same crap back.
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Yup, my afterthought was, “I should have cut it in half”.
I thought I could trust the guy since he’s an old friend’s cousin…
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It is Thursday, 22 July 2021
(W29 | D203 | 162 rem)
Today is: Penuche Fudge Day
Back-to-back decadent dessert days. My waistline is suffering so much. In these dark days though, a little comfort food is fine. And while we did have a day for all fudges recently, today is for celebrating a special type of fudge: Penuche!
Penuche Fudge Day on July 22nd recognizes the creamy candy with an Italian name. If you like maple flavor, this nut-filled fudge is for you!
Penuche (pə- ˈnō- chə) is pronounced pe-new-chee. The Italian form of the word is panucci. The fudge-like candy includes the following ingredients: brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk.
Lighter in color than traditional fudge, penuche tastes like maple thanks to the brown sugar. If you are looking to celebrate, many shops in New England sell this fudge. There they will add pecans and other nuts, especially if making a candy form of penuche. Southerners call it brown sugar fudge candy.
Of course, the day provides an opportunity to test recipes, too. Add walnuts or pecans for a nutty texture to any recipe. However, if you prefer the creamier version, nuts are always purely optional. Cook the sugar mixture in a heavy saucepan. Making good candy or fudge is no time to go cheap. No matter what recipe you use, keep stirring and watch the temperature. Always use a candy thermometer. Fudge is finicky and will seize up on you.
Whether you taste a homemade bite, store-bought, or your first bite, be sure to savour it. Don’t forget to share!
Today is closer to the weekend than yesterday! Have a good one folks.
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Ooh… I think I know what I’ll be making this weekend. 
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Oh good 
Call me sceptical… Maple and maple flavour are two completely separate things. Both are good though. I’ve check a few recipes, and they all say packed brown sugar. The crystally stuff we have here probably won’t work (as well)… What is really needed is North American style brown sugar, like this:
It has a very similar feel to kinetic sand, in that it sticks together nicely, but also is extremely satisfying to watch it slowly fall apart.
We have a similar kind here by a company called Natura, but even though it is listed on their website, I think they discontinued it, or at least aren’t selling it in my area anymore. It was still a little dry, but it was close in flavour. Maybe order online? Last 2 in stock
^^^ This is the one you’ll need. Ones like muscovado, treacle or demerara might not give the right texture or flavour, YMMV.
More info here: Do different types of sugar really make a difference in baking? - Food24 (see the section on “soft brown sugar”
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The important (or perhaps stupid in my circumstance) question is, where do you find or get these different types of sugars?
I mean I just normally buy brown sugar for all purposes, Salati or Hewletts. I can’t recall seeing muscavado or dememerara variants in the like of Checkers or Pick 'n Pay.
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They’re in smaller plastic bags, usually with a ziplock top. I’ve noticed they’ve been harder to find in the past year, but they’ve always had a very small section amongst all the other sugar somewhere.
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