World Turle Day

The World Turtle Day began in the year 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive

Image via tumblr

Turtle Day encourages you to discover the world of turtles and tortoises, and to learn how you can help to protect and help them to thrive. Some ideas include dressing up as turtles, saving turtles on roads, or getting involved in turtle research.

With five out of seven marine turtles listed as endangered and 43% of the world's freshwater turtles listed as threatened it is important pitch in this World Turtle Day. Here are five tips from American Tortoise Rescue (ATR differentiates between turtles and tortoises, but for simplicity they're all called turtles here.) Check out the group's website for more ways to get involved.

• Never buy a turtle from a pet shop, as it increases demand from the wild.
• Never remove turtles from the wild unless they are sick or injured. 
• If a turtle is crossing a busy street, pick it up and send it in the same direction it was going — if you try to make it go back, it will turn right around again. 
• Report cruelty or illegal sales of turtles to your local animal control shelter. 
• Report the sale of any turtle of any kind less than four inches. This is illegal everywhere in the U.S.

Image via Photography Blogger "baby snapper" by Clay Junell

Image via Photography Blogger "Baby turtle" by きうこ

Image via Photography Blogger "Hatching out! An African Spur-Thigh Tortoise" by Cheryl

Image via Photography Blogger "Synchronized Swimming" by Bill Hails

National Vanilla Pudding Day

Today is National Vanilla Pudding Day! This yummy, creamy pudding existed since the 19th century, and most culinary historians say that the modern recipe we use today evolvolved from custards, which date back to Ancient Rome. The first instant pudding was introduced in the 1950s by Jell-O which was advertised and promoted as a "busy-day dessert." Here is one of the original commercial from the 1950s introducing Jell-O instant pudding. To celebrate National Vanilla Pudding Day, make some delicious homemade vanilla pudding from scratch, or from an instant mix!

Image via Chow

Even though its National VANILLA Pudding Day, we want to share with you guys our favorite pudding and their recipes. These two favorites of each of ours are very similar but we will still show you guys both of them despite that, so HAPPY NATIONAL VANILLA PUDDING DAY & ENJOY :)

Natalie's favorite is a milk pudding called Hitaliye (هيطلية)

Image via Donna Hay

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 heaped tablespoon of corn starch 
• 1/2 teaspoon ma'ez zahr (orange blossom essence) and/or rosewater
• Sugar (optional)
• Honey/ caramelized sugar

Directions:
- Boil the milk
- Mix cornstarch in a cup with a little bit of milk and you can also add sugar to make it sweet which is optional (add desired amount)
- Add the mixture (cornstarch,milk, and sugar) to the boiling milk.
- Make sure to keep stirring the pudding constantly
- Add the orange blossoms essence/rosewater or you can put a bit of both.
- Keep cooking the pudding under low fire until it gets thick around 15 minutes or until you get the desire consistency
- After pour the mixture in small bowls and place in fridge
- Once they have cooled, which probably will take a few hours, you can add honey/caramelized sugar to top it off.
-ENJOY :)

Amanda's favorite pudding is a rice pudding 

Image via Eat The Right Stuff

 Ingredients:

• 1 qt. milk
• 1/4 cup pounded rice
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange blossom essence
• 1/4 cup chopped blanched almonds and skinned pistachio nuts (optional)

Preparation:

- Mix rice with water and add to milk which has been brought to a boil.
- Stir and cook until thickened and then add sugar.
- Continue cooking and stirring until mixture coats the spoon.
- Add flavorings and boil a few minutes longer.
- Pour into individual serving dishes and decorate with chopped nuts.

HAVE A GREAT VANILLA PUDDING DAY!