Hail! Hail! The Eating Holidays Are Coming!

All hail Halloween - also known as Candies Unlimited.  Not that there are children in many neighborhoods who actually put down their iPods and so forth, to stir off of the couch and then go in search of candy.   The day some smart PTA president or school superintendent decided that it would be better to hold a party in the school and bring the candy there was a grim one for those of us that 1.  enjoyed the kids' costumes and waving to the hovering mothers at the end of the driveway and 2. the surfeit of candy with which we could legitimately claim we were serving to "the darling little chirren" as we approached - the checkout counter for once, not shamefully, with a cart full of bagged favorites such as Hershey Kisses, and more.   Much more.  Since there are now only about enough kids for one small packet of M&Ms, buy big anyhow!  "Well," you say ruefully, "We'll be all set for next year … it's not going to go bad."  No, it's not, cozily ensconced in your very own stomach!

All Hail Thanksgiving! aka Turkey Day
This is a biggie - unlimited T-Day dinner, blessed by all about the table.  This is the holiday that we all are expected to eat ourselves into comas and are praised for doing so!   A female wrote, "I count my blessings on Thanksgiving Day - and the silverware Thanksgiving evening."

All Hail Christmas Day
Traditionally, Christmas morning leads the parade of day-long goodies with a splendid brunch with mimosas and Eggs Benedict and ornate pastries … and a great deal more.  Let the nibbling begin!  Aunt Rose's homemade fudge?  The neighbors annual pfefferness cookies - Ooo and look at all of the gift bottles of wine!  Check it out - the goody basket from Bristol Farms!  Can you believe he gifted us with an ounce of caviar?

All Hail New Year's Eve
This holiday's eating plan is first cousin to Valentine's Day with it's emphasis on champagne, a veddy, veddy fawncy dinner with lead-off iced oysters, steak au jus (for strength to stay up until midnight)

Ah, yes.  The blessed eating holidays of which America seems to have quite a few - Valentine's, (previously mentioned,)  St. Patrick's corned beef and cabbage, 4th of July's barbecues.  From fruited plains indeed.  God Bless America!