February 9

How I Celebrated

Bagels and lox is so good. I didn't get any capers, I still don't really understand what those are. Also, I really hate onions, so the everything bagel was plenty of onion for me. I needed to keep our cream cheese for tomorrow's cream cheese brownies, so I used the rest of the cheese dip from the super bowl party (OMG sooooo good). Then tomato and lox trimmings. GREAT great meal. Would recommend. Would eat again. Will eat again 'cause there is still some left.

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  This is a sugar free everything bagel. And sugar free pancakes. Here is a whole wheat thin crust pizza dough recipe (uses coconut sugar instead)

• Gluten Free

  There are quite a few gluten free bakeries now, but if you don't live in one of these super health obsessive communities, try out one of these recipes for bagels, pancakes, or pizza dough.

• Vegetarian

  Lox is fish, if you haven't figured that out. But bagels are ok, pancakes are fine, and pizza is all about toppings. Choose wisely. 

Recipes

• Food Network looks like they have a delicious recipe for bagel and lox
• Get back to basics with Martha's easy pancakes
• How about a literal pizza "pie" with double crusts

Follow Molly's board February 9 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

Punchbowl on bagels and lox
I had heard about bagels and lox, but I had only thought about bagels and cream cheese, because that was about the only time I got to eat cream cheese growing up (so I thought, I didn't realize how much cream cheese is used in other recipes). The first time I had bagels and lox was at work, but I didn't put two and two together for a while.

Merchandise

There are so many cute books about pancakes. Someone should make a year of children's food books. Make that mon-ay.
Follow Molly's board February 9 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• The Pie was the spot for pizza in Utah
• We also have tried Pie Awesome in Burbank thanks to a gift card from the parentals
• If you are looking for a better pancake house than just your regular old ihop or common diner, try something on a list like this one from Los Angeles eater
• Looks like there are plenty of bagels and lox plates to go around in LA as well. Don't be so snooty

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• National Cherry Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• American Camp Week
• Boy Scout Anniversary Week
• Celebration of Love Week
• Children of Alcoholics Week
• Dump Your Significant Jerk Week
• Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
• Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
• International Petroleum Week
• International Week of Black Women In the Arts
• Jell-O Week
• Just Say No to Power Point Week
• Love Makes the World Go Round, but Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week
• National Green Week
• National Marriage Week USA
• National Secondhand Wardrobe Week
• Risk Awareness Week
• Extraterrestrial Culture Day
• Extraterrestrial Visitor Day
• National Kite Flying Day
• National Stop Bullying Day
• National Toothache Day
• Paczki Day
• Read in the Bathtub Day
• Safer Internet Day

February 8

How I Celebrated

This was my first time cooking anything with molasses and I had never had a molasses bar. It is a very strong flavor and not too sweet. After a long Super Bowl Sunday filled with  snacks and a party, it almost felt sobering to me. A palate cleanser if you will. Also, the leftover potato chips made it easy to have something ready for potato lovers day, and I'll probably have some oatmeal for breakfast tonight.

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  Molasses is made from sugar cane/ brown sugar, usually. The articles I have read say there are other ways of making it, but a quick search does not show up to be very fruitful. Here is a flavoring molasses made from stevia (I am not sure how they make molasses "flavor" but okay...)

• Gluten Free

  Here is a recipe from jam hands for gluten free molasses bars
  Be careful about oatmeal, just because of where it is produced/ manufactured. Otherwise oats are gluten free.

• Vegetarian

  You will mostly have to make sure your Chinese New Year Dishes are meat free.

Recipes

• Here are a bunch of molasses bar recipes from cooks.com
• And a bunch of simple potato recipes from country living
• And an amazing amount of recipes for oatmeal from Mr. Breakfast
• Food network has you covered for recipes for Chinese New Years

Follow Molly's board February 8 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

Punchbowl on molasses bar day
I don't know if I have had real molasses before. Hmm need to read more about it, it is interesting that it can come from more than just sugar cane.

Merchandise

That potato sack dress is hilarious. And quite appropriate for torsos.
Follow Molly's board February 8 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• There is a restaurant called Molasses at the St Regis Hotel in Puerto Rico
• Here is a bunch of stuff to do in LA during Chinese New Year
• Even restaurants like Mcdonald's sells oatmeal for breakfast now (man, they must make a killing), but there is an oatmeal bar in NY called Oat Meals
• Humble Potato looks like a modern (cough hipster) restaurant with a Japanese twist and the potatos they serve are... fries. Nice.

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• National Cherry Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Boy Scout Anniversary Week
• Celebration of Love Week
• Children of Alcoholics Week
• Dump Your Significant Jerk Week
• Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
• Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
• International Week of Black Women In the Arts
• Jell-O Week
• Just Say No to Power Point Week
• Love Makes the World Go Round, but Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week
• National Marriage Week USA
• National Secondhand Wardrobe Week
• Publicity for Profit Week
• Risk Awareness Week
• Boy Scout Anniversary Day
• Laugh and Get Rich Day
• Lunar New Year
• Opera Day

February 7

How I Celebrated

Fettuccini is a quick one if you buy the premade sauce like I did. But, with the whole wheat noodles I had, I would suggest cooking them longer than the package suggests. The first noodle I tried was al dente, but then while I was trying to enjoy my meal, it tasted a bit uncooked in the center. At least is it Super Bowl Sunday. That means I can eat a bunch of other snacks including my traditional trifle to get over it!

Diet Helpers 

• . Sugar Free

  All good!

• Gluten Free

  To help out with the noodles, you can use yellow squash like this Paleo girl

• Vegetarian

  You betcha

Recipes

• Get that heavy cream and buttery goodness from all recipes

• Maybe you trust Giada more
• This recipe claims to be healthier/ lighter, but I still see that heavy cream you sneaky!

Follow Molly's board February 7 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

Punchbowl
Interesting that this dish was invented for this guy's wife to start eating again after giving birth. I wonder if I could have that problem. In a way that is sad, cause Nate won't invent any amazing foods to entice me to eat, cause I'm always hungry. He needs to do the opposite. Damn Americans, right?

Merchandise

I have no room for all of the crazy kitchen gadgets that are out there. I would like to try making pasta though. I should just take a cooking class that does that once. Although, I feel like the cooking class would cost more than the pasta maker :P
Follow Molly's board February 7 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• Go to Alfredo alla Scrofa for "the original Fettuccine" in Italy
• Here are the places that foursquare suggests in LA
• Go to any Italian restaurant. I can't find any famous places because I guess it is just too similar. Well, if you want to spend all your money on a simple dish, you can hang out with these cats on chowhound

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• National Cherry Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Super Bowl Sunday
• Boy Scout Anniversary Week
• Burn Awareness Week
• Celebration of Love Week
• Children of Alcoholics Week
• Dump Your Significant Jerk Week
• Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
• Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
• International Week of Black Women In the Arts
• Jell-O Week
• Just Say No to Power Point Week
• National Marriage Week USA
• National Patient Recognition Week
• National Secondhand Wardrobe Week
• Publicity for Profit Week
• Risk Awareness Week
• Solo Diners Eat Out Week
• Women's Heart Week
• World Interfaith Harmony Week
• Ballet Day
• Dump Your Significant Jerk Day
• E Day
• International Day of Black Women in the Arts
• Man Day
• National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day
• Send a Card to a Friend Day
• Scout Sunday
• Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day

February 6

How I Celebrated

So Menchie's is one of my favorite froyo spots, and they had their free 6oz on the first (not the real froyo day) and I also saw that yogurtland was advertising their froyo day on the 8th (also not the real froyo day), but hey, if you need more excuses to eat froyo, there you have it.

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  Most froyo places I have been to do have a sugar free option. I usually make mine without refined sugar as well (usually honey or stevia).
  Ice cream might be a little harder to find, but just as easy to make.
  I know there are a lot of sugar free chewing gum options, there are also some for bubblegum even though it may be harder to find. I have also heard to be wary of sugar free candies as they cause a lot of stomach irritation.
  Use a sugar free simple syrup for your pisco sour

• Gluten Free

  Read your packages people. Here is a guide for gluten free gum.
  Ice cream and froyo you need to be cautious about mix ins.
  No gluten in pisco sours (At least the basic recipes I scrolled through)

• Vegetarian

  Ioe (yes)

Recipes

• Rachel Ray wants to teach you how to make bubblegum
• If you want a recipe instead of being crazy like me and throwing everything in the ice cream maker, all recipes will give you tips on frozen yogurt.
• Here is a great idea for breakfast ice cream from the Candid Appetite (I mean maple ice cream with waffles and bacon? Sounds good to me...)
• Epicurious can guide your efforts to make a pisco sour.

Follow Molly's board February 6 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

Punchbowl
Punchbowl says that recipes for frozen yogurt have changed to make it taste better. That explains the difference in frozen yogurt shops and my own home made. I know it is a bit more tart, but I actually like making my own at home. A lot of reading for today, children.

Merchandise

I wanna grab me some samurai sword chopsticks or light saber chopsticks. Even though I usually don't eat with chopsticks. Even in China I had the luxury of eating everything with a spoon haha.
Follow Molly's board February 6 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• We love to get some frog whenever we are downtown Hollywood. But there are a ton of others around to try
• Menchies is my jam for frozen yogurt. You get free yogurt on your birthday and I think they will have some today for frozen yogurt day too! (up to a certain weight of course). They have awesome flavors and all the mix ins!!!
• Doesn't look like there are any specialty bubblegum stores yet. Someone should get on that. Otherwise, try a shop like this Bulk candy store for your bubblegum needs
• Try an upscale Pisco sour as recommended by LA Weekly
• I'm sure there are plenty of diners that offer a scoop of ice cream with their waffles or pancakes, but this is the first one that showed up on google, Dumser's Dairyland in Maryland
• There are tons of restaurants with Chopsticks in the name and obviously plenty of Asian restaurants you get to eat your food with chopsticks. Golden Chopsticks happens to be near where I live. And I haven't been there yet.

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• National Cherry Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Burn Awareness Week
• Catholic Schools Week
• Children's Authors & Illustrators Week
• National Meat Week
• National Patient Recognition Week
• Publicity for Profit Week
• Solo Diners Eat Out Week
• Women's Heart Week
• World Interfaith Harmony Week
• World Leprosy Week
• Canadian Maple Syrup Day
• International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
• Lame Duck Day
• Ronald Regan Day
• Take Your Child to the Library Day

February 5

How I Celebrated

Initially we were going to only do chocolate fondue in my little fondue machine and then have some fake Nutella on the side. But then we found some cheap Nutella at one of our special grocery outlet/ thrift store (Utahns read Market Square, but not as big). And then I was like, well we could just put the Nutella in the fondue machine, but we already bought some chocolate. Now we have all this freaking chocolate. It usually is not a big deal, but seriously I have to say, I might actually be getting tired of sugar. I know, I know, is this the real life or is this just fantasy? Anyhow, there are a ton of chocolate spreads now (even with hazelnut) and when we find cheap ones, we kind of stock up (and we don't really eat them so here was the opportunity). YAY.

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  Why do all the things I like have sugar in them? Imagine if I tried to do this challenge without using sugar. That is a real challenge... for my wallet.
  So here is a recipe for your sugar free chocolate fondue
   and for nutella

• Gluten Free

  Be careful what you dip in your chocolate

• Vegetarian

  yes

Recipes

• Make your own nutella!
• Here is a list of things you can make with some nutella
• Food network has you covered for chocolate fondue
• I guess before I leave you to fend for yourself on the internet I can give you  Betty Crocker Chocolate fondue recipe

Follow Molly's board February 5 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

Punchbowl
I did not realize that cheese fondue started because they tried to figure out what to do with hardened cheese. Very resourceful. I don't know if I would ever have leftover cheese like that to turn hard, but if and when it does happen, I will know what to do. But don't forget it is about chocolate fondue today. At my college, the graduation banquet had a fondue fountain only in APRIL. So, when I graduated in December, unlucky me didn't get to drown my face in liquid chocolate heaven. Everyone feel sorry for me.Also everyone read about the etiquette on the wiki page. It's way better than spin the bottle.

Merchandise

The company that makes nutella must be so wealthy. I think nutella is what made me love hazelnuts and go for all the hazelnut candies at the store. We buy knock off hazelnut chocolate spread (by other companies like hershey and jiff and whatever we can find on sale!) I also have a little hello kitty chocolate fondue pot and I have already had a mini fondue party. Such fun.
Follow Molly's board February 5 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• The Melting Pot is the famous fondue restaurant. Still haven't been there
• La Fondue might have chocolate fondue, but I'll never know cause their page won't load for me.
• Max Brenner sounds like my kind of place... a chocolate bar
• LA Weekly found restaurants to go to when you need some nutella
• Or maybe go to Nutelleria (their website is a bit... lacking)

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• National Cherry Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Burn Awareness Week
• Catholic Schools Week
• Children's Authors & Illustrators Week
• International Hoof Care Week
• International Networking Week
• National Meat Week
• National Patient Recognition Week
• National School Counseling Week
• Pride in Food Services Week
• Publicity for Profit Week
• Solo Diners Eat Out Week
• Women's Heart Week
• World Interfaith Harmony Week
• World Leprosy Week
• Adlai Stevenson Day
• Disaster Day
• Girl Scout Cookie Day
• Give Kids a Smile Day
• Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, PA Day
• National Doodle Day
• National Primrose Day
• National Wear Red Day
• National Weatherperson's day
• Shower With a Friend Day
• Western Monarch Day
• Working Naked Day

February 4

How I Celebrated

Stuffed mushrooms sound really good, but we just put a crockpot dried soup mix on and added our own spices. Easy and tasty.

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  The mushrooms will probably not have any added sugar, but depending on the soup, you may have to check if there is added sugar. I know I add a bit of honey to some of my soups.

• Gluten Free

  You are also probably safe here in both cases, just make sure there are no breadcrumbs in your stuffed mushrooms and no flour in your cream soups.

• Vegetarian

  Vegetarian options of both are easy and tasty, just don't add meat! 

Recipes

• Epicurios was the first to come up for stuffed mushrooms on google
• And now a recipe from Giada
• Since there are so many ways to make soup, I just decided to put one list with 50 different soups from country living

Follow Molly's board February 4 Recipes on Pinterest.

 History

Punchbowl on Stuffed Mushroom Day and Homemade Soup Day
Soup was the first thing I learned how to make when I worked in the cafeteria. It was one of the most creative things I had to do as well because it was never a set recipe for soup. We were to use the leftovers in soup so it was different all the time. Now, I think soup is probably one of the most useful dishes to know how to make.

Merchandise

Of course there is a ton of stuff for mushrooms. They are so interesting and make really cute people.
Follow Molly's board February 4 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• The Stuffed Mushroom is a catering company in FL
• Looks like the Olive Garden has popular stuffed mushrooms
• Here is a list of several places to get not just stuffed mushrooms, but mushrooms in general
• LA Weekly says these are the best 10 soups in LA
• I think almost every restaurant has some sort of soup and salad combo, and it is usually the cheapest thing on the menu!

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Burn Awareness Week
• Catholic Schools Week
• Children's Authors and Illustrators Week
• International Hoof Care Week
• International Networking Week
• National Meat Week
• National Patient Recognition week 
• National School Counseling Week
• Pride in Food Services Week
• Publicity for Profit Week
• Solo Diners Eat Out Week
• Women's Heart Week
• World Interfaith Harmony Week
• World Leprosy Week
• Facebook's Birthday
• Fat Thursday
• Liberace Day
• National Create a Vacuum Day
• Quacker Day
• USO Day
• World Cancer Day

February 3

How I Celebrated

Carrot cake became one of my favorite cakes after having some at Ted's bakery. I always appreciated the spice and sometimes nutty texture of cake that is not too sweet, but cream cheese frosting was not always my favorite ( I prefer whipped cream). So this time, for my first attempt at baking a carrot cake, I used a sugar free yellow cake mix (sweetened with splenda) and added according to some recipe I found, some carrots and pineapple. It was supposed to be crushed and grated, but instead, I decided to make it extra smooth and used a blender. I should have melted the coconut oil before I added it because the batter was a bit lumpy and made holes in the cake (well, hand mixing doesn't help either). I thought the smooth texture was pretty great, but I would love to try a cake flour from scratch recipe next time. I really want to get that smooth , moist texture of Ted's. *sigh* so heavenly.

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  Here is a recipe for sugar free carrot cake even though the first ones probably didn't have much sugar anyhow.

• Gluten Free

  This must be a popular search because even Betty Crocker has a gluten free recipe (I guess they are also making gluten free mixes now)

• Vegetarian

  yep

Recipes

• If you don't mind raisins, here is one from all recipes
• The number one recipe that came up I didn't put first because I just haven't seen this site before (my recipes. com)
• This one from gimme some oven looks like the best so far

Follow Molly's board February 3 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

Punchbowl
 I don't particularly like raisins in anything. I know it is traditional and now reading and thinking about sugar being rationed, I think I would start to like raisins if that was the case. I am surprised they don't ration sugar now just because of obesity in America.

Merchandise

That Goku hoodie though
Follow Molly's board February 3 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• Teds is known for chocolate haupia pie, but their carrot cake is probably one of my most favorite cakes of all time.
• Here is a food GPS guide to carrot cake in LA
• There is a huffpo article about the best carrot cake in America being in NY. I can already tell by the picture that I like Ted's better.

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• National Cherry Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover's Month
• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Great American Pies Month
• Fiber Focus Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• Return Carts to the Supermarket Month
• Bake for Family Fun Month
• Burn Awareness Week
• Catholic Schools Week
• Children's Authors and Illustrators Week
• International Hoof Care Week
• International Networking Week
• National Meat Week
• National Patient Recognition Week 
• National School Counseling Week
• Pride in Food Services Week
• Publicity for Profit Week
• Solo Diners Eat Out Week
• Women's Heart Week
• World Interfaith Harmony Week
• World Leprosy Week
• Cordova Ice Worm Day
• Four Chaplains Day
• National Girls and Women in Sports Day
• National Patient Rectognition Day
• National Signing Day
• The Day the Music Died