2 whole breast (blank)s boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
8 ounces kielbasa, diced
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
½ cup diced celery
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups uncooked white rice
4 cups chicken stock
3 eaches bay leaves
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Directions
Instructions Checklist
Step 1Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Saute chicken and kielbasa until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic. Season with cayenne, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, or until onion is tender and translucent. Add rice, then stir in chicken stock and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce.
August 30 is Frankenstein Day. The unofficial holiday celebrates the life and times of English author Mary Shelley who wrote one of the word’s most read monster novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus.
Born on August 30, 1797, Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818 anonymously at the young age of 22.
Early Science Fiction
Considered to be a predecessor of modern day science fiction, Frankenstein recounts the story of scientist Victor Frankenstein and his experiment that ends with the creation of a human-like creature. In the novel, the creature who is hated and rejected by everyone due to its appearance does not have a name. In popular culture, however, it is mistakenly referred to as Frankenstein after its creator.
Although everyone in the novel believes him to be a monster, he is also an intelligent and emotional being who is looking to be accepted by others.
The holiday is also known as National Frankenstein Day.
How to Celebrate?
Fan of the macabre, the strange, and the scary? Here are some ways you can celebrate this literary holiday:
Pick up a copy of the book and spend the day reading it.
Watch the many TV and film adaptations of the book.
Halloween may be 2 months away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Frankenstein Day by hosting a Frankenstein themed party. Decorate your venue as a lab, serve green colored food, and bake a cake with Frankenstein’s face on it. Think of this as a dress rehearsal for your Halloween party!
Frankenstein isn’t Mary Shelley’s only literary work. She wrote a number of short stories, travelogues, historical novels, and even a novel, The Last Man that depicted a apocalyptical world. Honor her by reading one of her works.
Did You Know…
…that a similar holiday called Frankenstein Friday is celebrated every year on the last Friday in October?
On August 29, honor expertise, authority, and the rules because it is According to Hoyle Day. Named after the English language phrase, according to Hoyle, the unofficial holiday celebrates the life and times of Englishman Edmond Hoyle, who died on this day in 1769.
A lawyer by trade, Edmond Hoyle is best known for publishing books detailing the rules and regulations of many popular card and board games of his time, including chess and backgammon. He is also known for writing an authoritative pamphlet on the card game of Whist.
Game of Skills
Whist is a trick card game played by two teams of two players each. The card game evolved from a previous game called Ruff and Honors and is the predecessor of Bridge. Popular in the 18th and the 19th century, the game required mathematical and logical skills.
Appeal to Authority
The phrase according to Hoyle came from the authoritative books Hoyle wrote on the rules and regulations of games. When people played these games and made a play that was questioned, they could invoke Hoyle’s rules by saying “according to Hoyle…”. Today, the phrase is used generally to suggest expertise or the highest authority on a subject matter.
How to Celebrate?
Play a game of Whist by following Hoyle’s rules. Don’t know how? Today is a good excuse to learn!
Are you an expert on a subject? Why not spend the day jotting your thought about the subject?
Did You Know…
…the word Whist comes from whisk, from whisking or moving the cards during the game?
Discover how easy it is to make delicious homemade ice cream that rivals what you’d stand in line for at the best ice cream shops.
Once you learn the basics, you can turn out your own small-batch artisanal frozen desserts (you could totally call it that) in any flavor imaginable. Get ready, here’s how to make ice cream at home.
Types of Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream comes in two basic styles: Custard-style (also called French) and Philadelphia-style (also called New York or American).
Custard-style ice cream starts with a cooked base enriched with egg yolks, sugar, and cream. This style of ice cream has the smoothest, creamiest, richest texture and flavor.
Philadelphia-style ice cream contains no eggs, eliminating the need to cook a base. The texture is lighter and more delicate than custard-style ice cream. It’s also faster to make because there’s no cooked base to cool before churning, although you do want to make sure the mixture is quite cold before it hits the ice cream machine.
How to Make Custard-Style (French) Ice Cream
Get the recipe for a classic cooked custard Ice Cream Base.
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and half of the sugar. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, stir together the cream, half-and-half, salt, and remaining sugar. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring often, until it comes to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium.
3. Add about 1/2 cup of the cream mixture to the egg mixture while whisking constantly (this helps prevent the eggs from cooking). Repeat with another 1/2 cup of the cream mixture.
MEREDITH
4. Using a heatproof spatula, stir the cream mixture in the saucepan constantly as you pour the egg mixture into the pan.
5. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and mixture coats the back of the spatula, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat.
August 28 is Bow Tie Day, an annual holiday that celebrates the elegant fashion accessory usually worn by men at formal occasions.
A type of necktie, the bow tie became a part of a fashionable man’s wardrobe in the early 19th century. It is believed that tie evolved from another type of male neckwear called the cravat. The cravat originated in Croatia in the 17th century as a band of cloth that was wrapped around the neck and was possibly worn as a way for soldiers to close the fronts of their shirts or to hide any stains on the front of their shirts. By the 18th century, the cravat had become popular among fashionable circles in France and Europe.
No Longer Formal Wear
In the early days, the bow tie was specifically reserved for formal occasions. Black tie attire became a term synonymous with tuxedos worn with black bow ties. Outside of formal events, bow ties gained a reputation of being associated with stodgy intellectualism, thought to be worn by people who did not care much about what others thought of them. In recent years, bow ties have become cool again. Today, they are part of the daily attire of many men and women.
How to Celebrate?
If you have never worn a bow tie before, today is the day to procure one and spend some time learning how to tie it.
Host a bow tie party. Decorate the venue with bow ties and require all your guests to come wearing a bow tie. Serve cookies and cakes in the shape of bows and give out bow ties as favors or prizes for party games.
Do you have a creative side? Why not then hand knit, crochet, or sew your own unique bow tie to wear to your next event?
Did You Know…
…that a very fashionable person is known as a clotheshorse?
The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day on August 27 celebrates the life, times and works of Irish author Margaret Wolfe Hungerford.
Born in 1855, Hungerford wrote anonymously under the pen name, The Duchess. She is most well known for her book Molly Bawn.
It is unclear why August 27 was chosen by the unknown creators of this unofficial holidays to honor Hungerford, but some people speculate that the day is called the Duchess Who Wasn’t Day because of the anonymity in which Hungerford spent her life as a writer.
Anonymous Female Writers
History is full of women writers who spent their lives writing and publishing books and novels anonymously. This was because in the past, it was believed that women could not write. Books published under a female name were either rejected for publication or did not do well in the bookstores. This forced talented writers like Hungerford to publish under pen names or male sounding names.
Some examples of now famous authors who wrote under pseudonyms because they were women are: the Brontë sisters, who wrote under the names Currer Bell (Charlotte), Ellis Bell (Emily), and Acton Bell (Anne); Jane Austen, who wrote as The Lady; and Mary Ann Evans, who wrote Middlemarch as George Elliot. The Dutchess Who Wasn’t Day also celebrates these and many other women authors who were unable to be themselves because of societal constraints.
How to Celebrate?
Celebrate the day by reading some of Hungerford’s work. In addition to Molly Bawn, her other works include A Little Rebel, Phyllis and Faith and Unfaith.
Read books by other anonymous women authors and read about their lives as women trying to break societal expectations of what they could and could not do.
Did You Know…
…that Hungerford is attributed for making the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” famous?
Put the box away and make this homemade hamburger helper. This Instant Pot Hamburger Helper is quick and easy, plus the entire family will love it! It brings me back to my childhood and I remember eating it at my parent’s table. The flavor is amazing and I love that it’s an easy dinner recipe in my pressure cooker. Put this Cheeseburger Macaroni on your regular rotation!
The pressure cooker can seem a little daunting, right? Well, I’m here to tell you, don’t be afraid! It’s really easy to use, so if you’re new to the IP (short for Instant Pot) let’s start with this simple easy recipe! If you’re an old hat and you’ve been using your pressure cooker for some time, then great!
Either way, you’re going to love this recipe!
INSTANT POT CHEESEBURGER MACARONI
I developed this recipe because my most popular recipe on this blog is my Instant Pot Hamburger Stroganoff and these recipes are like brother and sisters… different yet kind of the same concept!
GROCERY LIST FOR INSTANT POT HAMBURGER HELPER
vegetable oil
ground beef
yellow onion
garlic
kosher salt
ground black pepper
Worcestershire sauce
tomato paste
beef broth
cheddar cheese
elbow macaroni dry
HOW DO YOU COOK GROUND BEEF IN AN INSTANT POT?
The great thing about the pressure cooker is they come with a saute function. You do not have to dirty an extra pan. Set the IP to saute when it’s time to brown the ground beef.
CAN YOU COOK HAMBURGER HELPER IN INSTANT POT?
From start to finish yes! It will be 100 times better than what you get in a box! If you don’t have a pressure cooker try my stovetop hamburger helper!
STEPS TO MAKE INSTANT POT CHEESEBURGER MACARONI
Add the oil to the pressure cooker and set to sauté.
Next, add ground beef and diced onion. Brown the ground beef, about 5 minutes.
Season with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes.
Pour in 1/4 c. of beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to release any pieces of beef that may be stuck to the bottom.
Add the rest of the broth and macaroni. Stir well.
Lock the lid, turn the pressure valve to closed and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
When instant pot beeps and is done cooking, quick release the steam valve.
Stir in the cheese until melted and combined.
See?!! Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni is easy, delicious and made in the pressure cooker takes no time at all! I really hope you give this a try and when you do, be sure to come and comment below and give me five stars for this tasty recipe!
August 26 is Dog Day or Dog Appreciation Day, a day to appreciate your best friend on four legs.
Founded in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle expert and animal behaviorist Colleen Paige, the day honors dogs for all that they do to enrich our lives and communities. The holiday also aims to raise awareness about dog adoption and the importance of providing rescue dogs with a safe and loving environment.
Man’s Best Friend
Often known as man’s best friend, dogs were the first animals to be domesticated by humans and they were often used for guarding property, herding stock, and for hunting game. Today, dogs are used as companions and are considered to be a member of the family in many parts of the world.
The unofficial holiday is also sometimes called World Dog Day, National Dog Appreciation Day, or International Dog Day.
How to Celebrate?
Adopt a dog and give it a loving home.
If you have a dog, treat them with their favorite treats.
If you are unable to have a dog in your family, celebrate the day by donating your time and money to the local animal and dog shelter.
Did You Know…
…that Dalmatians are born without any spots? Their characteristic spots appear as they grow older.
This dish embodies the spirit and heart of Italian cuisine; fresh, simple ingredients with a few key flavours like garlic and oregano. Pan-frying the shrimp with lots of Parmesan gives this dish wonderful contrasting texture.
Perfect for a light summer lunch, finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and serve with chunk of toasted ciabatta bread slightly dipped in a good quality olive oil.
Ingredients: 2 dozen shrimp, deveined, head removed and tail on 1/4 cup olive oil 4 large cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/8 tsp ground pepper Handful finely chopped basil leaves Zest of one lemon + juice 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan, divided
Directions: 1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic, lemon zest and chopped basil to combine. 2. Add shrimp and 1/2 Parmesan, and toss well with hands to coat. 3. Heat pan on maximum heat, add shrimp and cook each side until pink, about 3 to 4 minutes total. 4. Remove from heat and squeeze lemon juice on top; cover with the rest of the Parmesan and serve immediately with slices of toasted ciabatta or baguette.
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