Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and it goes so much further than just the presents and the food. The sounds of the season and the trickling snow flakes falling on the grass makes for a perfect holiday season. Of course, being in Florida and not seeing snow for the past nine years has been a challenge. It’s hard to get into the holiday spirit when your staring a palm tree in the face all year round.

Side Dishes

Holiday Scalloped Sweet Potato Dauphinois

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs sweet potato peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 garlic clove sliced in half
•  1 1/4 cups heavy cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 ounce butter
• salt and white pepper

Method

1. Butter a shallow baking dish and rub the garlic clove all over the bottom.
2. Whisk the cream and the milk together.
3. Place one layer of sweet potato slices on the bottom of the dish.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Pour a a layer of the cream mixture over the potato’s.
6. Continue this method until there is no more potato or cream mixture remaining.
7. Bake at 325 for 1  hour and 15 minutes.

Note: If you’d like to speed up the process, precook the sweet potatoes to cut about 20 minutes off your cooking time.

Creamy Corn Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 can condensed chicken soup
• 3 cups fresh or frozen drained corn
• 3 tbsp butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
•  1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1/3 cup slivered almond (optional)
• 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

Method

1. In a medium skillet, saute celery, onion and red pepper in 2 tbsp butter until tender.
2. Remove from the heat and add the soup, corn, chestnuts, and almonds.
3. Transfer to a casserole dish.
4. Melt remaining butter and toss with the bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Entrees

Champagne Cream Roasted Chicken(Serves 4)

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 cup champagne or chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp flour
• Garlic Salt
• Lemon pepper seasoning

Method

1. Season chicken with garlic salt and lemon pepper and place in saute pan with butter.
2. Saute chicken for 2 minutes on each side.
3. Add broth or champagne. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer for 10 minutes until chicken is fully cooked.
4. Remove chicken from pan and place on a platter.
5. Stir heavy cream and flour together before adding to pan.
6. Add cream mixture to pan and cook until thick.
7. Season to taste.
8. Spoon sauce over chicken.

Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Mustard Sauce (Serves 4-6)

Ingredients

• 2 Pork tenderloins
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 Tbsp sage leaves
• 1 Tbsp thyme leaves
• 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• ½ Tsp kosher salt
• ½ Tsp White Pepper

Blackberry Mustard Sauce

Ingredients

• ½ cup blackberry preserves
• ½ cup Dijon mustard

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375 Degrees.
2. Rub pork with sage, thyme, garlic, salt, and sugar.
3. Place in a glass baking dish and pour can of chicken broth around the edges of the pork.
4. Bake until desired internal temperature. Note: Pork tenderloin can be consumed at Medium temperatures but, that’s up to you.
5. Remove Pork from glass dish and place to the side.
6. Pour remaining sauce from the glass dish into a sauce pan.
7. Bring to a slight boil and add preserves and mustard.
8. Whisk until smooth.
9. Remove from heat and pour over Pork Tenderloin on serving dish.
10. Garnish with whole blackberries.

Desserts

 Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Filling recipe

• 1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 5 eggs
• 1 pint raspberries
• 1 cup melted chocolate

Method

1) Cream the cheese’s  and sugar together with your kitchen aid mixer or an electric hand held mixer.

2) Slowly add one egg at a time. Let them incorporate fully.

3) Add the chocolate sauce in a steady stream to the mixture while blending.

4) Add the raspberries into the batter and fold mixture until blended.

5) Pour batter into a spring-form pan over your crust of choice.

6) Bake this cheesecake at 325 degrees for 2 hours in a water bath.

Almond Graham Cracker Crust

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3/4 cup chopped toasted almond

Method

Blend all of the ingredients together is a mixing bowl and press into a oiled spring-form pan. Pre-bake the crust for at least 5-8 minutes on 350 to set the crust.

Graham Cracker Crust

If you need recipes for a simple graham cracker crust for your cheesecake here is the simplest way to produce the perfect outcome.

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp butter

Method

Blend all of the ingredients together is a mixing bowl and press into a oiled spring-form pan. Pre-bake the crust for at least 5-8 minutes on 350 to set the crust.

Granola Crust

• 2 cups granola
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp butter

Method

Blend all of the ingredients together in a food processor and press into an oiled spring-form pan. Pre-bake the crust for at least 5-8 minutes on 350 to set the crust.

For more amazing Holiday Recipes, check out Friends Revolution 

This story has been told all over parts of Europe during the 1970’s. A person is caught stealing a frozen chicken which they have stuffed down their pants or under a hat. The person is caught only when the blood from the chicken starts running down their face or down their legs. Sometimes, they faint when the cold takes over their skin or chills their brain.

Green M and M’s: Sex Sells

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During the 80’s, people believed that green M & M’s would enhance your sex appeal and vigor.  Around 1997 Mars Inc, the maker of M & M’s, made a reference to the legend in their advertising campaign during Super Bowl that year. The rumors and folklore seemed to stick around considering the amount of gag gifts seen in places like Spencer gifts and sex shops around the globe.

The Kentucky Fried Rat

Coming from a person that’s been in the industry for many years, I have heard this legend time and time again. A customer, usually a women, buys a bucket of chicken and brings it home. She sits and eats a piece in a low lite area, and after she has eaten half a piece she notices that it has a tail. Of course, there has never been a documented case of this happening. However, stories like this, especially when we are discussing a huge corporate company, have a way of becoming bigger than they really are because of the medias obsession with contamination in restaurants.

The Red Velvet Cake

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Around the 1960’s, a rumor circulated that a restaurant goer at the Waldorf Astoria in New York asked for the recipe of their famous red velvet cake. They paid close to $100.00 for it. However, their secret ingredient happened to be red food coloring. The person was outraged, so they decided to circulate the recipe to hundreds of people. However, it did seem that the recipe was pleasing to many people so it found it’s way into supermarkets and cake shops. So next time, when you pay extra for that fancy cake at the shop or market, make sure you are actually getting the real thing and not white cake with food coloring.

Collagen from Unborn Babies as a Makeup Ingredient

During the 1970’s and 80’s rumors were floating around that collagen taken from aborted babies were being used for makeup manufacturing. The companies claimed that it was a necessary action so that customers could reap the benefits of youth. The Food and Drug Administration was quick to dispel any rumors, however they did admit that the protein from placentas were sometimes used. The use of fetuses for makeup production has never been documented in the United States. Furthermore, Ann Landers wrote an article in the mid 80’s that claimed the rumors were “garbage-thereby killing the claims for good.”

The McDonalds WormBurger

This is a perfect example of anti-corporate folklore. As many will agree, we love to make out corporate giants as being the enemy and most of the time they are. During the late 1970’s, a legend was circulating that the late Ray Kroc, president of McDonald’s at the time, was a member of the Church of Satan. Although, it wasn’t a legend anymore when he supposedly professed his beliefs on a national talk show. His name, which was foreign sounding and contained a K, always symbolized something sinister to many.

At the same time, rumors were circulating claiming the burgers at McDonald’s were made out of worms, with some alternative ingredients like sawdust and spider eggs. The stories of contamination were said to be the result of big corporations taking out local businesses and destroying the cultural landscape.

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The McDonald’s Big Mac consists of  two 1.6 oz beef patties, special “Mac” sauce ( Thousand Island dressing⁾, iceberg lettuce, American cheese, pickles, and onions, all served on a three part sesame seed bun. Hmmm, I want one right now.

Over the years, the Mac has gone through many stages  and variations. Of course, when it comes down to it you just can’t beat the real thing.

The Mega Mac

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The Mega Mac  has 4 1.6 oz beef patties and an extra slice of cheese.  It’s available in China, Ireland, Serbia, Japan, Turkey, Malaysia and Thailand, however it was discontinued in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with limited availability in the United States and Canada.

 Monster Mac

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Here’s a heart attack waiting to happen.  The Monster Mac consists of 8 1.6 ozbeef patties and extra cheese. Discontinued in Germany.

Mckinley Mac

The Mckinley-Mac is made with two quarter pound patties. The Mckinley Mac was named after Mt. McKinley in Alaska, and also as the Bigger Big Mac, which is sold as an LTO product to celebrate the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

 Maharaja Mac

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Due to the large Hindu population in India, the Maharaja Mac was made with lamb instead of beef. However, it had now changed to chicken.

The Big Mac Wrap

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This new concept of a Big Mac wrapped in a soft flour tortilla in place of a hamburger bun is available in all Canadian McDonald’s locations, although Eat Me Daily reports that the wraps are also being tested in Houston, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Michigan City. 

Mega Tamago

In Japan, there was a version with egg, called the Mega Tamago. This recipes called for the drop of one patty, with the trade up of an egg. It has since been discontinued and I have to say I’m glad.

The earliest cheeses were likely to have been quite sour and salty, similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or feta, a crumbly, flavorful Greek cheese.

It is possible that milk was left in a food storage barrel, made out of the stomach of an animal, and it turned into curd and whey by the rennet. When individuals realized that by adding salt to the curd the result was a more solid texture, they kept the tradition going by adding the rennet deliberately.

By Roman times, cheese was an everyday food and cheese making was an art. However, I don’t think they ever planned for it’s purpose to be purely decorative. This is what has happened now a days. More so than not, we are accustomed to seeing carvings of cheese, as opposed to the simple cubes accompanied by an assortment of crackers.

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Cheese carver Troy Landwehr brushes oil off a rendition of the signing of the Declaration of Independence carved out of 2000 lbs of cheese in New York, July 3, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

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This cheese sculpture of part of Cardiff Castle has been made to highlight its new status as host to the Great British Cheese Festival, on 27-28 September. Cardiff sculptors Ice2Art made it from a 2m x 1.5m block supplied by Carmarthenshire Cheese and Dairy Farmers of Great Britain. A time-lapse film showing its creation can be seen on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/BritishCheeseFest.

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Wow, I am truly touched and very surprised that I won this award. I was sitting at school studying for my history class, and I just happened to check my email. I thought it was a mistake honestly. I thought, did I get someones monthly payment by accident?

Then I checked the blog, and there was a screen-shot of Unorthodox Chef. I am so thankful and I can’t tell how much the award means to me. This has a been a very tough  couple of years for me, and the money is being used #1 for a nice dinner out, and #2 for my electric bill. No joke! lol

I wanted to thank everyone for visiting, Today.com editors for being gracious and always willing to help, and I would like to thank Ueba.com and The Presurfer , who are great supporters of my blog.

I love Today.com

Honorable Mentions:

http://ueba.net/

http://www.mibrujula.com

http://therumpus.net/

http://www.suprmchaos.com

http://oink.elrellano.com/

Lauren

Ok, so maybe I’m the only one that’s ever had this happen to me.

The best part about working in a restaurant, or around food for that matter, is the fact that we just don’t take life so seriously all the time. It’s all about friends, family, and where the entire crew is going tonight to sing Karaoke. Or, it might even be where the nearest food fight/food wrestling is scheduled for the night.

So when your parents told you to never play with your food, it never really included extreme food sports. Did it?

The Matrix Food Fight

For those of you Matrix enthusiasts, this is more wicked than messy. Great moves, classic music, and a ton of creativity.

Banana Pudding Wrestling Mania

Every Thursday for six months in 2003 girls competed at President Sam’s Bar & Grill. Richard Everitt, the owner, chose to have them wrestle in banana pudding because “IT WAS ON THE MENU!”.

The Honey Crew

Bee-Boy dance crew drops dead. It is a fact of nature: When a honey bee returns to the hive after finding a good source of nectar, it will perform a unique dance for its hive mates. helpthehoneybees

The Historical Food Fight

An abridged history of American-centric warfare, from WWII to present day, told through the foods of the countries in conflict. The makers of this video have some amazing and innovative collection, so go check them out.

Sixth Grade Pie Throwing

Nickerson Grade School food drive award. This was too hilarious. What I would have gave to throw a pie at one of my teachers back then. matt3210

The Cocoa Wrestle

Hot girls in bikini’s and hot cocoa never looked so good. Enjoy gentlemen!

Jello Wrestling

Jello wrestling at Arlene’s Grocery NYC Gatlin Guns vs Our Lady of Perpetual PMS

Largest Tabbouleh

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The largest recorded bowl of tabbouleh was made on June 9, 2006 in Ramallah, in the West Bank. It weighed 3,348 lbs.

Largest Chocolate Bar

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The biggest chocolate bar in the world weighed more than 4410 pounds. It was at the International Milka Choc. Festival on 7/11/98.

Largest Stuffed Cabbage

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Chef Lazar Kovacs’ of Hajduboesoerrmen, Hungary’s 2002 Guinness attempt at the largest stuffed cabbage measuring 288 meters long.

Largest Slab of Fudge

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In 2007, the Northwest Fudge Factory prepared this slab of fudge in Ontario, Canada weighing 5,050 pounds.

Largest Hershey Kiss

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Not far from were I was born, the biggest hershey kiss was constructed which took over three miles of foil to cover in Hershey, Pennsylvania, 2007.
The Hershey kiss weighed 30,540 pounds, had a 7-foot-long plume, was 12-feet high, and it measured 12-feet wide.

Largest Pumpkin Pie

The world’s largest pumpkin pie, assembled in Windsor, Calif., in 2005, took six hours to bake and five hours to cool off. It measured 12 feet in diameter and 2,020 pounds.

 Strongest Pasta Bridge

The winning bridge was built by Bala’zs Botka of Hungary’s Budapest Polytechnic, weighed 994.9 grams and held 352.62 kg before faltering.

Largest Chocolate Egg

In 2005, 26 Guylian chocolatiers took eight days and 50,000 chocolate bars to construct this chocolate egg in Sint Niklaas, Belgium. The egg weighed 4,299 pounds and measured 27 feet tall and 21 feet wide.

Largest Gummy Bear

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This massive Gummy Bear was created in 1999 in Hagenow, Germany and weighed in at 1395 pounds.

Largest Pumpkin

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Still holding strong, the great 1689 lb pumpkin was grown by Joe Jutras from North Scituate, Rhode Island at the Topsfield Fair on September 29, 2007.

Largest Potato

The 24.9 pounds potato was dug up by Khalil Semhat in his farm near Tyre, 50 miles south of Beirut.

This sparked my interest, so I started rummaging around the net to find some really interesting and bizarre food festivals. And you thought your meal last night was innovative and special, think again!

BugFest North Carolina

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This sounds like too much fun. The Museum of Natural Sciences in North Carolina hold this festival every year around September. You can enjoy all types of entertainment including displays and presentations about arthropods. You can taste “delectable dishes featuring creepy crawlers as a major ingredient at Café Insecta.” All of these samples of insects are absolutely free. This is a wonderful,kid friendly festival. I only wish I lived closer to savor some of the strange delicacies.

Check out all the Buggy News

Waikiki Spam Jam

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Spam may just be one of the only foods I have never tried, although it seems to be quite popular with the people of Hawaii. They even have a street festival that celebrates the people of Hawaii’s love for SPAM®, a canned meat from Hormel Foods.

“This street festival is great for all ages, as the event includes Hawaii’s top restaurants, two stages with free entertainment,and a variety of Hawaiian crafters. This is also a special event that benefits the Hawaii Food Bank, the largest non-profit in Hawaii that feeds the needy. Please take a look around our website for more information on this annual cultural tradition in Hawaii.”

Check out their website full of recipes and pictures of the festival

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Click on the picture above to their library of photo’s.

The first Salley Chitlin’ Strut was planned for the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26, 1966. The festival featured country music acts including Greasy Medlin, Dixie Four, Snuffy Jenkins and the Strange Sisters.  Thousands upon thousands of people in South Carolina and the surrounding areas flocked to the Chitlin’ Strut where they consumed hundreds of pounds of chitlin’s, and barbecue, among many other food items.

“The Town raised enough money during the festival to purchase new decorations in time for Christmas. The Chitlin’ Strut proved such a success, the Mayor and Town Council decided to make the festival an annual event, to be held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.”

Check out all that the Chitlin Strut of Sally has to offer

Turkey Testicle Festival

Woodruff, Utah

Testicle Festival 2009 Olean Missouri, Producer Shawn Kober

You may this is strange, but there are Turkey testicle festivals all over the United states including one in Illinois, Misssouri and  Montana

In fact, I never really knew that the origin of butter sculpture came from the Tibetans who took  Yak butter and dye to create “temporary symbols for the Tibetan New Year and other religious celebrations.” 

by pwbaker(PA)

Even in the United States, butter sculpture was making it’s debut at state fairs in the 19th century. The first recorded sculpture in the US was created by Carolyn Brooks for the 1876 U.S. Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

by pwbaker

In 1910 the first Butter cow was created by Mr. Daniels at the Iowa State Fair. The exhibit was a way to promote the dairy industry to visitors to the fair. It was so popular that it continued every year. During the 1940’s, following in Daniels footsteps in 1910 and starting a revolution on his own, JE Wallace started making sculptures out of butter to depict life and nature.

“Frank Dutt became the official sculptor. Dutt was trained at the Art Institute of Chicago and had experience sculpting many materials, from plaster and clay to lard. Over the next few years he sculpted cows in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, spreading the love of the Buttercow throughout the Midwest United States. His additions to each year’s exhibit were far more cartoonish than those of J.E. Wallace, depicting such things as a fight between political party mascots or a parade of smiling pigs.”

Butter sculpture by artist Jim Victor in The Great New York State Fair 2007

Interestingly enough, many people assumed that these amazing sculptures were crafted out of a solid block of butter, but they were wrong. Most sculptors won’t admit that the butter is placed on wooden and wire molds in large amounts to achieve the shape, then smaller amounts are used for detail. Several layers of butter are used to build up the large mass that we see in the picture above.

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The Minnesota State Fair  showcases butter sculpture in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way contest. A 90 lb block of butter is taken and carved in their likeness. It’s so bizarre really. I had the opportunity to see this several years ago with my sister. It’s funny that pageant finalists spend their whole lives avoiding fat, and at the fair their faces are full of it.

Butter sculpture also made it’s way to Canada, with the Ontario Cream Producers Marketing Board and the Dairy Producers of Canada campaigning to promote their products after World War II. Butter sculptures were displayed at both the Canadian National Exhibition and Royal Agricultural Winter Fairs in Toronto. Ross Butler (artist) was the first Canadian artist to sculpt in butter at these fairs.

The Butter Wagon

by jmgold (Springfield, MA)

The Great New York State Fair (Cow Jumping Over Moon)

by brauksieck

Harrisburg, PA

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by Robbie1

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