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Odd foods that are dropped on New Year’s Eve instead of a ball

Every city has its own way of celebrating the turn of a new year. There’s no shortage of alcohol, parties and dazzling, dropping disco balls dangling from towers. But for some towns, this all seems just a bit too boring. Here are 13 towns that celebrate New Year’s Eve by dropping something a little more flavorful than a sparkly ball. https://www.instagram.com/p/BOme7KmDegD/?taken-by=rosaduartetv 1. A Peep (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)  Peeps usually make their only appearance during Easter, but in Bethlehem, the town where the famous candy was invented, New Years Eve brings the annual “PeepFest.” Every year on the 31st of December, a gigantic 400-pound Peep is dropped at precisely 5:15 p.m., followed by a colorful fireworks display. The massive Peep is made out of fiberglass and therefore, unfortunately, it is inedible. However, the big yellow icon is still a joy to see and something locals look forward to at the end of every year. https://www.instagram.com/p/xFFif8vEEj/?tagged=moonpieovermobile 2. A Moonpie (Mobile, Alabama)…

Festive fruit kabobs perfect for patriotic holidays

Some people can pull off elaborate cakes that look like perfect American flags. Those works of art are inspiring, but hardly practical. For the party host who wants to add patriotic flair to the table, without staying up too late the night before, here is a simple recipe solution. These fruit and pound cake kabobs make for a cute and tasty table-topper. Just wash some berries, cube your favorite white cake (vanilla cake, angel food cake, etc.) and skewer away! To make this even easier, I used a store-bought vanilla pound cake. You can also use blueberries and strawberries instead if you prefer. Happy summer holidays! American Flag fruit kabobs Makes 10 kabobs Ingredients Approx. 50 raspberries, washed and dried Approx. blackberries, washed and dried 10 long skewers 1 half loaf of poundcake or angel food cake, cut in 3/4″ cubes Directions Starting with a red raspberry, alternate red raspberries…

19 Fun facts about champagne

Champagne is synonymous with celebration, and nothing says New Year’s quite like popping a bottle of bubbly. Throughout the year it might be seen as slightly snobbish, but on December 31 Champagne becomes holiday revelers’ drink of choice in countries all over the world. It seems that simply letting those bubbles fly sets the tone for a festive celebration, but what do you actually know about this fizzy favorite? Here are 19 fun facts about Champagne you likely never knew. 1. There are about 49 million bubbles in a 7500ml bottle of Champagne. 2. A standard-sized glass emits 30 bubbles every second. 3. France has the largest Champagne market (of course). The French consume 162.5 million bottles every year, or about 52 percent of the entire world production of Champagne. 4. Champagne has 3 times more carbonation than beer. 5. The pressure in a Champagne bottle is about 3 times the amount of pressure…

Tortellini skewers are an easy holiday appetizer

We’ve all been there. You have to bring an appetizer to a party, but “veggie tray” has already be claimed from the list. What do you bring when you’re concerned about travel time and keeping an appetizer warm or cold? Tortellini skewers are the answer to this age-old appetizer question. They’re both filling and festive, and the easy-to-eat design, means people will pick this up and they’ll be gone in no time. This dish can be served either warm or cold, so no need to stress about hauling coolers or reserving time in your friend’s oven. And it’s only 4 ingredients! Now that makes for holiday merriment. holiday Tortellini skewers Ingredients 10 ounce package of pre-made tortellini (multi-color make for some fun) 1/4 cup prepared pesto 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienne 1-2 tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese about 2 dozen skewers Directions Cook tortellini as the package per the package directions. Drain tortellini and toss with…

8 Christmas traditions from around the world

In today’s globalized economy, the Christmas holiday can seem a little too expected. Images of Santa Claus, decorated evergreen trees, and candy canes be found all over the world. But if you dig a little deeper, you can still find people celebrating the beloved holiday in their own special way — particularly with food. While you’re tearing up tissue paper and singing festive songs this Christmas morning, consider what people around the world might be doing to add to their holiday cheer. https://www.instagram.com/p/BcqXOPkn9mb/?tagged=japankfc Japan Christmas is not an official holiday in Japan, but that doesn’t stop people from waiting in long lines at their local KFC. So why all the love for the fast food joint? December 25 is the one day a year KFCs in Japan serve “Christmas Chicken” — a tradition that dates back to a wildly successful ad campaign from 1974. The campaign was so successful, the people still flock to KFC…

Putting up your holiday decorations early can make you happier

If you’re one of those people who scoffs at the neighbors for putting up holiday decorations before Thanksgiving has even arrived, you may want to reconsider your Scrooge-like stance. There is reason to believe that setting up your tree and lights early could make you happier. “In a world full of stress and anxiety, people like to associate to things that make them happy, and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of the childhood,” psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told Unilad. “Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement!” The Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that decorations can cue your neighbors that you are accessible, and accessible people are regarded as friendlier. In the study, participants were shown houses either decorated or not and asked to assess the homeowner’s sociability. Those with the decor were deemed more…