I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. Henry David Thoreau

October 7,

Pumpkin Day

Today is the day when people traditionally begin to hunt for their perfect pumpkins! Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere. They have been around for over 5,000 years, the Native Americans call them "isquotersquash." The Europeans had never seen a pumpkin until Columbus.

Pumpkin carving dates back to the ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain in which Halloween is derived from. On this day the realm between our world and the spirit world is believed to be the thinnest. The Europeans used to carve turnips and gourds as a way to ward off any malevolent spirits. Once in America, the size of the pumpkin made for easier carving. Before candles where used inside Jack O' Lanterns  hot pieces of coal were used to light up the smiling pumpkins.

Lift your glass in celebration of all the things that go bump in the night, that haven't gotten into your house! Cheers to natures guard dog!

Pumpkin Pie 

Today is a perfect day for pumpkin pie! You can do pie your way, and I'll do it mine!

Ingredients:

1 oz. Malibu Rum

3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling

1/2 oz. Kahlua

2 oz. Cold milk

Cinnamon

Directions:

Mix ingredients in blender with ice and blend thoroughly;

Pour into graham cracker-rimmed highball glass

(Dab the top of glass in honey, then in smashed graham crackers)

 garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

I personally like to add a little dollop of whipped cream, as I would on a slice of pie!

"May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright Of soft and golden hue Pierce through the future’s veil and show What fate now holds for you.”

I Say Potato, You Say ... Potatoe? Really?

October 5,

Zinger Day!

Not the amazing little cakes. You know, a Zinger: a quick, witty, or pointed remark or retort.

After an afternoon spent recounting every person in the media's take on the debates Wednesday, this is a fun distraction. Do you remember the days of truly entertaining debates? These are the times when we miss our nations first clown Vice-President, Dan Quayle. What? He wasn't a clown, he was for real?! Ohhh, I see. Any ways we can thank him for our fun today.

On October 5, 1988, during the U.S. Vice Presidential debates, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen faced Republican Dan Quayle. Dan the Funny Man stated,  "I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."

Bentsen quickly shot back with the oft-parodied zinger: "I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Since that night, October 5^th has been known as Zinger Day. So let the sarcasm roll!

I'm gonna leave you with a little present today... The Best of Dan Quayle. They just don't make vice-presidents like they used to, thank God!

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."

I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future." 

"The future will be better tomorrow."

"We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world." 

"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe." 

"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican." 

"I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix." 

"It's wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago."

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." 

"When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame." 

"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it." 

"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur." 

"For NASA, space is still a high priority." 

"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children." 

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." 

"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system." 

"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make."

"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things." 

"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."

Wedding Cake Martini

A really great couple I know is getting hitched tonight! I invite everyone to share a toast for the happy couple and send them all your best! Congratulations Matt and KT!

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 oz. Amaretto

1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shake it up ooh yeah, Shake it up

Strain into martini glass

Toasts a long and happy life

Enjoy!

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

Eating Taco Bell Is Like Sleeping with Your Ex. Your Gonna Feel Horrible Afterwards, and You Will Only Do It Drunk - unknown

October 4,

National Taco Day

Holy Frijoles! It's a whole day dedicated to tacos! Soft shell, hard shell, corn flour, whatever! Fish, beef, carnitas, chicken, tongue, Taco Bell, doesn't matter! I love tacos!

Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a conquistador who was alive from 1492-1585,  wrote an eyewitness account of the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards for Hernán Cortés. He details a taco feast put together by Cortés for his captains in Coyoacán. The taco predates the arrival of Europeans, originating with the indigenous people in the Valley of Mexico, where they filled their tacos with small fish, yum.

I know what I'm having for dinner! Everyone head to your favorite Mexican restaurant, or whip up a batch of your own homemade tacos. Here's to the taco mis amigos! Delicioso!

Key West Margarita

Who can have a taco and not have a margarita? It's unnatural. The traditional margarita is delicious, but it's the twenty first century, let's step it up a notch. This beauty is not your grandma's margarita.

Ingredients:

 1 1/2 oz tequila

  1 oz melon liqueur

  1 oz Pina colada mix

  1/2 oz lime juice 

 1/2 oz orange juice

  1 dash grenadine

  1/2 cup crushed ice

 Directions:

  Mix all in blender with ice. 

Blend at slow speed until smooth 

 Pour into a glass.

Drink

Pour Another

"Any man who eats dessert is not drinking enough."    — Ernest Hemingway.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

October 3,

Triple Crown Baby!

 Tonight Detroit's own Miguel Cabrera has secured the Triple Crown, making him the first baseball player to win the coveted Triple Crown since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. This win will make Venezuelan born, Cabrera the first ever Latino ball player to win the coveted award. 

On this same date in history, October 3, 1919, Cuban baseball player  Adolfo Luque, a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, became the first Latin player to appear in a World Series.

While we here in the "D" have been celebrating all week, today is extra special!  

Salud y felicidades! 

Way to go Cabbie! Eat 'em Up Tigers! Eat 'em Up!

Guarapita

The Venezuelan national rum punch is a perfect drink to celebrate with!

Ingredients:

1 (14 oz) package frozen passion fruit pulp or juice (do not defrost)

1/2 cup cold water

6 oz. Venezuelan anejo rum (Santa Teresa)

1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar (Panela) or brown sugar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender to dissolve sugar.

Pour drink over ice 

garnish with tropical fruits and mint spring

Orgullo Latino! 

“I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time.” Charlie Brown

October 2,

Good Grief!

On October 2, 1950, the first ever Peanuts strip debuted. Written and illustrated by Charles M Schulz, the comic strip ran through Februaury 13, 2000.  With 17,897 strips published in all, it is considered to be the most popular and influential comic strip in history. At it's peak the strip ran in over 2,600 newspapers, with a readership of 355 million in 75 countries, and was translated into 21 languages. 

The television debute of the Peanuts gang came in  1959 with a series of color television commercials for Ford Motor Company. The first half-hour animated special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas", aired on December 9, 1965 on  CBS. Charlie Browns All-stars and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired in 1966. Thirty animated specials would run through out the years. 

It was the death of Charles Schulz on February 12, 2000 that brought the series to an end.

Cheers to Charlie Brown, the lovable loser who never quits...To holiday specials that continue to shape generations!

"Peanuts" Butter Cup Martini

This is a seriously delicious treat!

Ingredients:

Chocolate syrup

1.5 oz  Chocolate Vodka 

1 oz Castries Crème Peanut Rum (may subsitute Frangelico)

.75 oz Chocolate liqueur

.5 oz Cream

Directions:

Drizzle chocolate syrup along the inside of the Martini glass

 Add the remaining ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. 

Then there should be A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On!  

Strain into the prepared glass.

 Garnish with a peanut butter cup.

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 

― Charles M. Schulz

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, May luck be yours on Halloween.

October 1,

It's October!

It's time for Halloween decorations, Scary movie marathons, bobbing for apples, haunted houses and carving pumpkins! This is my favorite time of the year! 

Nuff said!

Creepy Cocktail

Seems like a good enough name!

Ingredients

Black sanding sugar

1 lime wedge

1 tbsp Llime juice

1 oz. Light Rum

3 tbsp Simple syrup

1/4 cup Pomegranate juice

1 oz. Dark rum

Licorice spider, for garnish

Directions:

Spread black sanding sugar on a saucer.

 Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip in sugar to coat.

Add ice to glass.

 Add lime juice, light rum, simple syrup, and pomegranate juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake Rattle and Roll

 Strain into glass, leaving space at top.

 Gently pour in dark rum so it floats on top.

Garnish with licorice spider tied to a stirrer.

Eat, drink and be scary. ~Author Unknown

Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it. Hank Ketcham

September 30,

 Chewing Gum Day

This day would certainly make Violet Beauregarde happy! Did you know chewing gum has been around for over 5,000 years. In 1848, the first commercial gum was put on the market, The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. In 1860,  chicle was exported from Mexico for use as a rubber substitute. Chicle didn't go far as a rubber, but thanks to companies like Adams New York Chewing Gum (1871), Black Jack (1884) and “Chiclets” (1899), it dominated the market as a chewing gum.  Most chewing gum companies now use synthetic gum bases as they are cheaper and more readily available.

So here's to a whole day of bubble blowing, gum popping, all out obnoxious fun!

Blow Pop Martini

These yummy treats were orriginally creaated in 1966 at the Triple T Candy So in Atlanta Ga. They became Charms Blow Pops in 1973.

Ingredients:

1.25 oz. Buble Gum Vodka

.5 oz. Pucker Flavor of your choice

.5 oz. Sour mix

Splash of Sprite

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shakashakashake

Strain into a martini glass

Garnish with a mini Blow Pop *take the wrapper off first, Duh"!)

Oompa Looma Song

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Listen close, listen hard / The tale of Violet Beauregarde / This gentle girl she sees no wrong / Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / She goes on chewing till at last / Her chewing muscles grow so fast / From her face her giant chin / Sticks out just like a violin / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa/ For years and years she chews away / Her jaws get stronger every day / And with one great tremendous chew / They bite the poor girl's tongue in two / And that is why we try so hard / To save Miss Violet Beauregarde / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing all day long / Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing all day long./ Chewing, chewing all day long./ Chewing, chewing all day long./
Blueberry Violet: Mr. Wonka!