So, the Groundhog sees his shadow and retreats into his burrow for 6 more weeks until spring emerges. I think that tradition is just crazy. This winter has been mild here in Texas. Yesterday and today, the high temperature was 75 with lots of sunshine, and tomorrow it will be 70 and mostly cloudy. A year ago, during the Superbowl, we were in the middle of an ice/snow storm. The old adage-If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait about five minutes, it'll change-is true. You never know from hour to hour just what you are gonna get around here. If memory serves me, it has been cloudy here on Groundhog day the last 5 years. According to folklore, spring should be immediate every year. Last year, we had 2 very long weeks of temps in the teens and lots of ice and snow dumped on us after Groundhog Day. The groundhog is busted! We usually have very mild winters, and spring and winter tend to meld into Sprinter or Wing, but by March we are sticking to the 60's most of the time. So, I guess the groundhog is correct in that most winters can be chilly until the end of March, when spring actually shows up. Nevertheless, Groundhog Day is tomorrow, and like I said, the critter is cute. The idea of an entire day devoted to a groundhog is kind of cute, too. So, to acknowledge the groundhog, we are having a special dinner and watching the Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day tomorrow night.
The most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phill of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Most people never give much thought the groundhog, but there are other notable groundhogs: Murray the Groundhog of New Jersey, General Beauregard Lee of Snellville, Georgia, Staten Island Chuck of New York City, and Sir Walter Wally of Norh Carolina. The famous Canadian version is Wiarton Willie of Wiarton, Ontario. Groundhog Day stems from a pegan/Christianity holiday of Candlemas Day with the Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year." I always find it interesting to find the roots of a holiday or minor celebration tracable back to the growth of the Christian church.
My dinner menu for tomrorow night is very kid friendly. I will have Groundhog Pecans to much on before dinner. I am taking pecan halves and tossing them in maple syrup, butter, mace, cardamom, and nutmeg, and backed for 20 minutes at 350. We will have Whistle Dogs in honor of Wiarton Willie. These are hot dogs with bacon and american cheese, pickle relish and onions, and whatever condiment you prefer. We will have three sides to accompany the dogs. We will macaroni and cheese in honor of General Beauregard Lee. I would have Dutch Baked Beans in honor of Punxsutawney Phil, but no one in my family likes sweet beans. So, we will southwest pinto beans instead. Last, we will have Palisades Park French Fries in honor of Murray the Groundhog. Palisades Fries are soaked in vinegar water for a little while and then fried in very hot oil. They are served with Malt Vinegar, if desired.
For dessert, I am making Groundhog Cupcakes in honor of Sir Walter Wally. They looked too cute not to try making them. I haven't decided whether I will make carrot cake cupcakes or red velvet, mainly because I already have those cake mixes. Whatever I decide, I will decorate them with candy bars, jelly beans, and brown M&M's to make a groundhog sitting in the middle of the cupcake.
