General Order No. 11
“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.”
Dated 5 May 1868
General John A. Logan
1n 1868, the first Decoration Day (Memorial Day) celebration was held at Arlington National Cemetery where 5,000 people decorated the graves of 20,000 Civil War Veterans (both from the Confederacy and the Union) buried therein. This celebration was inspired by services held in a few small towns across the country honoring soldiers who fell in the 3 years following the Civil war.
In recognition of the sacrifice of those fallen Civil War soldiers, communities across the country began to hold their own ceremonies. The Northern States celebrated the holiday May 30th, while the Southern states celebrated Confederate Memorial Day during January, April or June, depending on which state you lived in. Confederate Memorial Day is still celebrated in many southern states. Following WWI, Decoration Day changed from honoring only Civil War veterans to a day honoring soldiers who fell in all wars.
In 1915, Moina Michaels wrote the following short poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
She came up with the idea of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day and sold them to her friends, family and associates, donating the money to servicemen in need. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. In 1922, the VFW became the first organization to sell poppies to aid disabled veterans. In 1948, the Post Office honored Moina Michaels by issuing a postage stamp in her honor.
My earliest memory of Memorial Day is of donning our poppies and cutting the flowers in our yard. My family would then go to a nearby cemetery and find the graves of veteran’s that were undecorated. We would split up the flowers between them so that every grave would be decorated. It was very important to my father (WWII US Navy Veteran) to honor his friend’s and fellow soldiers.
In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend. It seems that the observance of Memorial Day has been lost since that time and it has become just another holiday week-end. The graves of our veterans are neglected and left undecorated. In our busy lives, it seems a shame that we cannot take a few minutes on one day a year to honor those who died for the freedoms we now enjoy. I have to admit that I have not gone to the cemetery or taken flowers this year, but I did make arrangements for my father’s grave to be decorated. I need to remember next year, and never forget the price paid for the freedoms we all enjoy.
*******
Red, White and Blueberry Pie
found at: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Red--White-and-Blueberry-Pie
* 4 squares (1 ounce each) white baking chocolate
* 8 whole fresh strawberries, halved lengthwise
* 1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (8 inches)
* 3/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries
* 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese, cubed
* 3/4 cup Domino® or C&H® Pure Cane Powdered Sugar
* 3/4 cup cold fat-free milk
* 1 package (3.3 ounces) instant white chocolate pudding mix
* 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
* 1 cup reduced-fat whipped topping
Directions:
In a microwave, melt white chocolate; stir until smooth. Dip the halved strawberries halfway in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place cut side down on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet.
Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set. Spread the remaining melted chocolate over the bottom and sides of crust. Arrange sliced strawberries in crust.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually add milk. Beat in pudding mix on low speed for 2 minutes or until thickened; spread evenly over sliced strawberries.
Place blueberries in center of pie. Arrange dipped strawberries around the edge. Pipe whipped topping between the strawberries and blueberries. Chill until serving. Yield: 8 servings.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Saturday, May 23
Saturday started out like any other normal day – computer time, housework, a trip to town. Nothing prepared me for what was to come.
Dean stuck his head in the computer room and asked if I wanted to go for a 4-wheeler ride. I looked around at everything which needed doing and thought of all the goals that I intended to accomplish, and immediately said ‘Yes!”
You see, for years I have sought after the elusive jackalope. There have been numerous sitings in our area, but none which passed the scrutiny of the press. Perhaps today would be the day that I made history! So off we rode, into the desert.
As we followed the trail, I saw occasional flashes of fur and heard the thunderous noise of jackalopes on the hunt. Faster and faster we sped, until finally, "it" jumped out in front of us. "It" was huge–the size of a large dog!– Never had I seen a more perfect specimen of the jackrabbitous giganticus. While he was an amazing site, he was not our quarry, so on we drove. Staying on the trail, we passed through thickening stands of greasewood and scrub brush, stopping only to rest a few moments by the slow-moving Sevier.
While waiting, a relentless drone filled our ears, like the sound of a jet plane. I gasped in pain! I had been bit! Bit by a voracious skeetervore! Long thought to be extinct, these pre-historic insects can be found within flying distance of trilobite outcroppings. Striking out with gloved fists, we fought them off, finally escaping to the west. As a point of information, if you ever have a dead skeetervore clinging to you, take your hunting knife and cut the muscle on the left side of the neck in order to release it’s grip on you. They can be eaten for food in times of famine, (I’ve heard they taste like tibbars roasted over a spit) but I’ve never been that hungry. Leaving the area, we passed the bleached bones and skin of a calf which had not been so lucky. Shaking our heads, we decided that the time had come for a strategic retreat. The hunt was over.
Lost in thought, we did not even notice the approach of a truckisaurous tex until we found it directly in front of us. We stopped...it stopped. We stared at each other wondering who would make the first move. The truckisaur was a deep blue and towered over us like a ravenous wolf towering over a field mouse... never show fear. They sense it when you do. Determined to take control of the situation, Dean eased us onto the trail and he calmly, nonchalantly approached the behemoth. Just to prove that he was not afraid, he waved at it as we passed.
What courage, what self-control, he didn't even flinch. He's my hero! When I read this to him, he said, “it was just an uneventful ride out to the monument.” “Uneventful?” I didn’t even mention him bravely circling the snake or investigating the truckliner or stalking lizards!
Dean stuck his head in the computer room and asked if I wanted to go for a 4-wheeler ride. I looked around at everything which needed doing and thought of all the goals that I intended to accomplish, and immediately said ‘Yes!”
You see, for years I have sought after the elusive jackalope. There have been numerous sitings in our area, but none which passed the scrutiny of the press. Perhaps today would be the day that I made history! So off we rode, into the desert.
As we followed the trail, I saw occasional flashes of fur and heard the thunderous noise of jackalopes on the hunt. Faster and faster we sped, until finally, "it" jumped out in front of us. "It" was huge–the size of a large dog!– Never had I seen a more perfect specimen of the jackrabbitous giganticus. While he was an amazing site, he was not our quarry, so on we drove. Staying on the trail, we passed through thickening stands of greasewood and scrub brush, stopping only to rest a few moments by the slow-moving Sevier.
While waiting, a relentless drone filled our ears, like the sound of a jet plane. I gasped in pain! I had been bit! Bit by a voracious skeetervore! Long thought to be extinct, these pre-historic insects can be found within flying distance of trilobite outcroppings. Striking out with gloved fists, we fought them off, finally escaping to the west. As a point of information, if you ever have a dead skeetervore clinging to you, take your hunting knife and cut the muscle on the left side of the neck in order to release it’s grip on you. They can be eaten for food in times of famine, (I’ve heard they taste like tibbars roasted over a spit) but I’ve never been that hungry. Leaving the area, we passed the bleached bones and skin of a calf which had not been so lucky. Shaking our heads, we decided that the time had come for a strategic retreat. The hunt was over.
Lost in thought, we did not even notice the approach of a truckisaurous tex until we found it directly in front of us. We stopped...it stopped. We stared at each other wondering who would make the first move. The truckisaur was a deep blue and towered over us like a ravenous wolf towering over a field mouse... never show fear. They sense it when you do. Determined to take control of the situation, Dean eased us onto the trail and he calmly, nonchalantly approached the behemoth. Just to prove that he was not afraid, he waved at it as we passed.
What courage, what self-control, he didn't even flinch. He's my hero! When I read this to him, he said, “it was just an uneventful ride out to the monument.” “Uneventful?” I didn’t even mention him bravely circling the snake or investigating the truckliner or stalking lizards!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
Today is Mother’s Day. It’s an easy day to celebrate, right? All you have to do is talk about how wonderful and perfect your mother was during your growing up years. You can also tell warm, happy stories about women who are extraordinary, selfless, sacrificing and noble, with your mother at the top of the list. Perhaps you tell the story about how much you wanted that last piece of strawberry pie – the one that was supposed to be your mother’s, so you took it and she forgave you! Or the story about your mother working all day and staying up all night for weeks when you had the measles and how she never even frowned or complained about being tired. Then there was the time you invited 30 2nd grade classmates to your birthday party which your mother didn’t know you were having (because it wasn’t your birthday) and she didn’t yell at you. And then there was the time that...(insert your own story here). Everyone will be happy, right? ...well, maybe not everyone.
I used to have a lot of problems with Mother’s Day programs. I’d go to church and hear people tell stories of impossibly perfect women who lived lives of sacrifice and never said a cross word and never wanted to escape for even an hour. I went home from church feeling terrible. I couldn’t live up those perfect images. – I was a disgrace to the office of mother. I’ve come to learn that I was not alone in those feelings. Some women hate Mother’s Day. They come away from church either filled with guilt or else they don't go at all. They know they’re not perfect and feel that they can never measure up to the image of what a mother ought to be. Others are filled with anger. Their mothers weren’t perfect. They can’t forgive them for things done in the past, or for things happening in the present.
Perhaps this Mother’s Day is tinged with sadness because you’re a long ways away from your mother, or from your children, and you’ll not be able to see each other and express your love face to face. Perhaps you spend Mother’s Day all alone surfing the net while waiting for the phone to ring (or writing blogs).
Perhaps your mother has moved on to the next life and Mother’s Day is a reminder of what you have lost.
There are many women who have tried to become mothers, but without success. To them, having a baby is a dream just out of reach, and Mother’s Day is a day of tears instead of joy. Every year at church a little plant or some other gift to be taken home and thrown away is forced into their clenched fists.
There are two simple words that contain a lot of power to heal. The first one is "attitude" and the second is "action."
First of all, let’s talk about "attitude." Tremendous healing can come into our homes and our families if we would take the "attitude" of "speaking the truth in love." It starts by realizing that our parents weren’t perfect–they turned the hose on us full blast through our bedroom window when we wouldn’t get out of bed! They made mud puddles in the yard and threw our clothes in the puddles when we left them on the floor. They made mistakes. They said things which hurt. They made us cry. We expected them to be perfect, but they weren’t. We may have been disappointed in them at times(foolish children that we were). Now, let’s think about our own children. If we are realistic, we have to admit that our children aren’t perfect either. They’ve made a few mistakes along the way. Now comes the hardest one of all. We must admit that we’re not perfect either. “ I wasn’t a perfect child. And I haven’t been a perfect parent–I ate the last peach on the tree, and the last piece of fudge and I’m glad! I even lost my temper a time or two! I occasionally burnt rice (Ok, so my daughter says that she never had rice that wasn’t at lease scorched until she left home at 18! Pay no attention to her) You know what? It's all right to admit that we make mistakes, because no one else is perfect either."
So what do you do?
OPEN YOUR HEART.
"Be kind." Be kind to each other. Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself if your child can’t recite the alphabet in Latin by the time he’s two, or name the make and model every car ever made by the time she’s 3.
SHOW COMPASSION
Wouldn’t it be enlightening if somehow we could crawl into the flesh of our aging parents and know what it is like to be trapped in a body that won’t function anymore - that doesn’t see the way it used to - that doesn’t hear the way it used to - that can’t handle things the way it used to, and to know their frustrations because of all that.
What would it be like to have arms that have never held their own child and might never have that joy? How do you comfort the grieving mother who will never seen her child again in this life? Or heal an empty heart that longs to be filled with the sound of a husband’s voice and children’s laughter? Would we value our own children more, would we help others to understand that God still loves them and that being a "mother" is more than giving birth ?
Would we share more? Would we understand more? Would we care?
FORGIVE
Paul says, "Forgive each other," so learn to forgive. Forget those things that have caused rifts in the family, that have brought division and strain. Leave those things to God and forgive so that healing can take place and wounds can disappear. Once they have, your heart will open to the good memories, to the moments of laughter and silliness, of gospel truths taught. The future will be more joyous.
This morning, if you’re a mother living in a beautiful little house in a quiet little neighborhood, and your spring flowers are in full bloom and your children are healthy, and you have a loving supporting husband - then thank God for your blessings. Today is a happy day for you. But if you’re not one of those women, then it is important for you to know that our God has not forgotten you. He wants this to be your day, too. He wants to bring the healing power of His love into your life and into your home and into your family. He wants this to be a happy Mother’s day for all.
My mother loved bread pudding. I loved her, and wish I could make her some bread pudding today. I'd even put raisins in it(I HATE cooked raisins!) I hope it’s on the Celestial Menu for the Angel Arms Apartments in Heaven today.
Bread Pudding with sauce
2 cups half & half
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups bread, torn into small pieces (dried cake cubes work well too)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
In medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk (or half & half) just until film forms over top. Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk mixture. Place bread or cake cubes in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Pour batter on top of bread. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Serve warm.
Sauce
1 cup whole milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. flour
dash of salt
Mix everything together and bring to a boil for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside for 5 minutes, then pour on warm bread pudding.
I used to have a lot of problems with Mother’s Day programs. I’d go to church and hear people tell stories of impossibly perfect women who lived lives of sacrifice and never said a cross word and never wanted to escape for even an hour. I went home from church feeling terrible. I couldn’t live up those perfect images. – I was a disgrace to the office of mother. I’ve come to learn that I was not alone in those feelings. Some women hate Mother’s Day. They come away from church either filled with guilt or else they don't go at all. They know they’re not perfect and feel that they can never measure up to the image of what a mother ought to be. Others are filled with anger. Their mothers weren’t perfect. They can’t forgive them for things done in the past, or for things happening in the present.
Perhaps this Mother’s Day is tinged with sadness because you’re a long ways away from your mother, or from your children, and you’ll not be able to see each other and express your love face to face. Perhaps you spend Mother’s Day all alone surfing the net while waiting for the phone to ring (or writing blogs).
Perhaps your mother has moved on to the next life and Mother’s Day is a reminder of what you have lost.
There are many women who have tried to become mothers, but without success. To them, having a baby is a dream just out of reach, and Mother’s Day is a day of tears instead of joy. Every year at church a little plant or some other gift to be taken home and thrown away is forced into their clenched fists.
There are two simple words that contain a lot of power to heal. The first one is "attitude" and the second is "action."
First of all, let’s talk about "attitude." Tremendous healing can come into our homes and our families if we would take the "attitude" of "speaking the truth in love." It starts by realizing that our parents weren’t perfect–they turned the hose on us full blast through our bedroom window when we wouldn’t get out of bed! They made mud puddles in the yard and threw our clothes in the puddles when we left them on the floor. They made mistakes. They said things which hurt. They made us cry. We expected them to be perfect, but they weren’t. We may have been disappointed in them at times(foolish children that we were). Now, let’s think about our own children. If we are realistic, we have to admit that our children aren’t perfect either. They’ve made a few mistakes along the way. Now comes the hardest one of all. We must admit that we’re not perfect either. “ I wasn’t a perfect child. And I haven’t been a perfect parent–I ate the last peach on the tree, and the last piece of fudge and I’m glad! I even lost my temper a time or two! I occasionally burnt rice (Ok, so my daughter says that she never had rice that wasn’t at lease scorched until she left home at 18! Pay no attention to her) You know what? It's all right to admit that we make mistakes, because no one else is perfect either."
So what do you do?
OPEN YOUR HEART.
"Be kind." Be kind to each other. Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself if your child can’t recite the alphabet in Latin by the time he’s two, or name the make and model every car ever made by the time she’s 3.
SHOW COMPASSION
Wouldn’t it be enlightening if somehow we could crawl into the flesh of our aging parents and know what it is like to be trapped in a body that won’t function anymore - that doesn’t see the way it used to - that doesn’t hear the way it used to - that can’t handle things the way it used to, and to know their frustrations because of all that.
What would it be like to have arms that have never held their own child and might never have that joy? How do you comfort the grieving mother who will never seen her child again in this life? Or heal an empty heart that longs to be filled with the sound of a husband’s voice and children’s laughter? Would we value our own children more, would we help others to understand that God still loves them and that being a "mother" is more than giving birth ?
Would we share more? Would we understand more? Would we care?
FORGIVE
Paul says, "Forgive each other," so learn to forgive. Forget those things that have caused rifts in the family, that have brought division and strain. Leave those things to God and forgive so that healing can take place and wounds can disappear. Once they have, your heart will open to the good memories, to the moments of laughter and silliness, of gospel truths taught. The future will be more joyous.
This morning, if you’re a mother living in a beautiful little house in a quiet little neighborhood, and your spring flowers are in full bloom and your children are healthy, and you have a loving supporting husband - then thank God for your blessings. Today is a happy day for you. But if you’re not one of those women, then it is important for you to know that our God has not forgotten you. He wants this to be your day, too. He wants to bring the healing power of His love into your life and into your home and into your family. He wants this to be a happy Mother’s day for all.
*~*
My mother loved bread pudding. I loved her, and wish I could make her some bread pudding today. I'd even put raisins in it(I HATE cooked raisins!) I hope it’s on the Celestial Menu for the Angel Arms Apartments in Heaven today.
Bread Pudding with sauce
2 cups half & half
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups bread, torn into small pieces (dried cake cubes work well too)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
In medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk (or half & half) just until film forms over top. Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk mixture. Place bread or cake cubes in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Pour batter on top of bread. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Serve warm.
Sauce
1 cup whole milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. flour
dash of salt
Mix everything together and bring to a boil for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside for 5 minutes, then pour on warm bread pudding.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cinco de Mayo
It all started yesterday when a friend asked me if I knew when the Cinco de Mayo celebration would be. She wanted to take her children to it to learn more about the Latin culture. I told her that I didn’t know what time the festivities began, but 7:00 would probably be safe. Then she told me that she wanted to know what day it was–all she knew was that it was in May! ???????
This morning in my inbox was the following article (I get it EVERY year from someone or other. All my friends know that I love puns)
Hellmann's Mayo
Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery on May 5th in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.
The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko De Mayo. And now you know where the name originated!
(Groans permitted)
For anyone out there who speaks NO Spanish at all, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th .
Now as for the pun -- It’s time for some SERIOUS debunking (lol)! The final destination for the Titanic was New York, not Mexico. There was no listing for mayonnaise on the cargo list. Lastly, Hellman’s Mayo was not produced in England until the 1960s. That’s the facts, folks.
Here’s a few more:
In 1861, Benito Juarez became president of Mexico. The country was in financial ruin, and Juarez defaulted on debts to European governments. France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand their money. Britain and Spain negotiated with Juarez and then withdrew, but France stayed. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force. President Juarez and his government fled.
The French were convinced that they would beat the Mexican army easily. Juarez learned that the French planned to attack Puebla de Los Angeles. 2,000 Mexicans fortified the town and prepared for the French attack. Early in the morning of May 5th, 6,000 French soldiers began their assault on the city. When they finally retreated that evening, they had lost 500 soldiers to fewer than 100 Mexicans killed.
Although not a major strategic victory in the overall war against the French, this victory gave the Mexican people hope that they could eventually win the war and helped encourage them through the difficult losses which followed. Six years later France withdrew.
Today, Mexicans celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla as Cinco de Mayo. It has become a celebration of their cultural heritage.
Here’s a few tidbits:
Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world
Mexicans comprise the largest group of legal immigrants in the United States.
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, as some assume. Mexico officially gained its independence from Spain some four decades before the conflict with France . Mexico celebrates September 16 -- the anniversary of the start of its War for Independence from Spain -- as its Independence Day (called "Grito de Dolores").
**A significant reward is being offered for anyone who can find my sense of humor today. I appear to have misplaced it. The finder of my sense of humor will be sent a package of long red balloons to use as chili peppers. These balloons can be used for such activities as “Steal the Peppers,” “Whack-a-Chili” and “Chili Pepper Relay.”
Traditional Recipes:
Mexican Rice
1 1/3 cups uncooked rice
3 Tbsp. bacon drippings or cooking oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 Tbsp. minced fresh garlic
2 cups chicken broth
1 (8-ounce) can tomato paste
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
Fry rice in oil in large skillet over medium heat until it turns yellow. (Do not let it turn brown!) Add onion and garlic. Continue frying until onion is transparent. Add chicken broth. Stir in tomato paste, parsley, and cumin. Reduce heat to simmering. Cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed (about twenty minutes).
Fresh Salsa
5-6 ripe roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onions
chopped jalapenos to taste (may be omitted if serving to young children)
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. cumin (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)
juice from one medium fresh lime
Combine all ingredients and stir well. Chill and serve.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
5 Tbsp. chili powder
6 Tbsp. minced onion (dried)
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
4 tsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. salt
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. To prepare one pound of ground beef, mix 1/2 cup water and 3 Tbsp. seasoning mix into beef. (Prepared mixture seasons five pounds of ground beef.)
This morning in my inbox was the following article (I get it EVERY year from someone or other. All my friends know that I love puns)
Hellmann's Mayo
Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery on May 5th in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.
The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko De Mayo. And now you know where the name originated!
(Groans permitted)
For anyone out there who speaks NO Spanish at all, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th .
Now as for the pun -- It’s time for some SERIOUS debunking (lol)! The final destination for the Titanic was New York, not Mexico. There was no listing for mayonnaise on the cargo list. Lastly, Hellman’s Mayo was not produced in England until the 1960s. That’s the facts, folks.
Here’s a few more:
In 1861, Benito Juarez became president of Mexico. The country was in financial ruin, and Juarez defaulted on debts to European governments. France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand their money. Britain and Spain negotiated with Juarez and then withdrew, but France stayed. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force. President Juarez and his government fled.
The French were convinced that they would beat the Mexican army easily. Juarez learned that the French planned to attack Puebla de Los Angeles. 2,000 Mexicans fortified the town and prepared for the French attack. Early in the morning of May 5th, 6,000 French soldiers began their assault on the city. When they finally retreated that evening, they had lost 500 soldiers to fewer than 100 Mexicans killed.
Although not a major strategic victory in the overall war against the French, this victory gave the Mexican people hope that they could eventually win the war and helped encourage them through the difficult losses which followed. Six years later France withdrew.
Today, Mexicans celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla as Cinco de Mayo. It has become a celebration of their cultural heritage.
Here’s a few tidbits:
Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world
Mexicans comprise the largest group of legal immigrants in the United States.
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, as some assume. Mexico officially gained its independence from Spain some four decades before the conflict with France . Mexico celebrates September 16 -- the anniversary of the start of its War for Independence from Spain -- as its Independence Day (called "Grito de Dolores").
**A significant reward is being offered for anyone who can find my sense of humor today. I appear to have misplaced it. The finder of my sense of humor will be sent a package of long red balloons to use as chili peppers. These balloons can be used for such activities as “Steal the Peppers,” “Whack-a-Chili” and “Chili Pepper Relay.”
Traditional Recipes:
Mexican Rice
1 1/3 cups uncooked rice
3 Tbsp. bacon drippings or cooking oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 Tbsp. minced fresh garlic
2 cups chicken broth
1 (8-ounce) can tomato paste
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
Fry rice in oil in large skillet over medium heat until it turns yellow. (Do not let it turn brown!) Add onion and garlic. Continue frying until onion is transparent. Add chicken broth. Stir in tomato paste, parsley, and cumin. Reduce heat to simmering. Cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed (about twenty minutes).
Fresh Salsa
5-6 ripe roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onions
chopped jalapenos to taste (may be omitted if serving to young children)
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. cumin (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)
juice from one medium fresh lime
Combine all ingredients and stir well. Chill and serve.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
5 Tbsp. chili powder
6 Tbsp. minced onion (dried)
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
4 tsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. salt
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. To prepare one pound of ground beef, mix 1/2 cup water and 3 Tbsp. seasoning mix into beef. (Prepared mixture seasons five pounds of ground beef.)
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