Gale Virtual Reference

1.Spring Festivals:
A. United States: Mardi Gras
Food and Recipe:Mardi Gras King Cake
Ingredients
1 package dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
6 teaspoons milk, boiled then cooled
4 to 5 cups flour
1 cup (½ pound or 2 sticks) butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 teaspoons butter, melted
Small ceramic figurine (available at religious stores) or bean (optional)
Light corn syrup, for glazing
Colored sugar crystals (green, yellow, purple), for topping

Directions
1.Dissolve yeast in warm water.
2.Add milk and about ½ cup of flour.
3.In a large bowl, blend butter, sugar, salt, and eggs.
4.Add yeast mixture and mix thoroughly.
5.Gradually add 2½ cups of flour to make a stiff dough.
6.Turn onto a clean, floured countertop and knead for about 8 minutes.
7.Clean mixing bowl and coat it with butter. Place dough in greased bowl and brush with 2 teaspoons melted butter.
8.Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double in size, about 2 hours.
9.Punch dough in the center with a clean fist.
10.Dust a clean counter with flour. Turn dough out onto counter and knead for 2 minutes. Roll into a 4-foot long rope.
11.Form the rope into an oval and transfer it to a 14- × 17-inch greased cookie sheet. Pinch ends of dough together. (Add a few drops of water to seal the seam, if necessary.)
12.Press the figurine (or bean) into the dough from underneath, so that it is hidden.
13.Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double in size, about 1 hour.
14.Preheat oven to 325°F.
15.Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until lightly browned.
16.Brush top of cake with corn syrup and sprinkle with colored sugar.

Games or pastimes
Parades are the most common event in Mardi Gras and the building of the floats is considered a local pastime.
I found this by first typing in Mardi Gras and then narrowing it down by catagory.

B. China: Ching Ming Festival
celebrated April 5 or 6
Food and Recipe: Hta-Ma-Ne

Ingredients
4 cups cooked glutinous rice, kept warm (available at Asian food stores)
1/3 cup peanut butter
11/2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons fresh garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions
1.Heat oil in a medium saucepan and stir together cooked rice, peanut butter, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, and coconut.
2.Cover and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes to heat through, stirring occasionally.

Games or pastimes

During this holiday families make elaborate paper offerings to their ancestors that are burned at ceremonies. They also do Kite flying.



Recently added 2012 titles

After going to advanced search and typing in dates between 2012 and 2012 I chose these two:

Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell Bottoms: Pop Culture of the 20th and 21st Century America. This was a fun look at cultural history. I read about the creation of SPAM to popular tv shows and fashions. I really enjoyed looking around and reading the articles.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods & recipies of the world. This just took a look at different culture food traditions and included recipes. I could really get lost in this just trying different recipes!