March 14, 2011

Pi Day!

See last year's post for info on this most important holiday!

Also, it is White Day in Japan


Note: I wrote this entry before the huge, devastating earthquake hit. My sympathies go out to the Japanese citizens and to everyone else affected by this tragedy.

In Japan, Valentine's Day (February 14) is a day when women give chocolates to men. Today is the day that men “reply” to women, giving them gifts such as white chocolate, white clothing, cookies or jewelry or even marshmallows!

Quick Quiz

How many white foods can you name?

How about white animals?

See some suggested answers below...

WHITE FOODS: mashed potatoes, popcorn, milk, plain yogurt, vanilla ice cream, egg whites, angel food cake, marshmallows, cauliflower, white chocolate, flour tortillas, some bread, rice, insides of onions and apples and bananas, cottage cheese, some cheese (cream cheese, mozzarella, feta, white cheddar, etc.), jicama, some fish, New England clam chowder, whipped cream

SOME FOODS THAT ARE CALLED WHITE BUT AREN'T: white wine, white meat

WHITE ANIMALS: ermine, polar bears, arctic hare, ptarmigan, dove, albatross, albinos, snowy owl, mountain goat, some cats and dogs, beluga whale, geese, arctic fox, some bunnies, lambs, snowy egrets, white tigers, snow leopards

SOME ANIMALS THAT ARE CALLED WHITE BUT AREN'T: white rhino

Explore Some More

• Can you make a pretty darn white meal that is tasty? I'm thinking chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and roasted cauliflower...or bagels and cream cheese with peeled apples...or how about tortilla wraps with chicken breasts, mozzarella cheese, and rice, drizzled with a bit of bechamel (white sauce)?

• What would you put on a white pizza? A little olive oil, plus mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and chopped onions? Mmm...

• How about an all-white dessert? This one is easy....

• Listen to the Beatles' “White Album.”

• Here are some jigsaw puzzles: a white water lily,  a so-called “white rhino,”  and white dog.