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Good Morning Peeps enjoy the HSN Community on this cold Saturday. 🎈😎

NATIONAL PEKING DUCK DAY

National Peking Duck Day, on January 18th, recognizes the national dish of China.

This dish is considered a delicacy due to its elaborate preparation and intense flavors. Since the Yuan Dynasty, established by Kublai Khan, Peking Duck’s roots are steeped in tradition that chefs have perfected over thousands of years.

The crispy, flavorful skin is the signature element of Peking Duck.

Chefs prefer the White Beijing duck for preparing this dish. However, in the United States, the preference is for the Pekin duck. They are raised for 65 days before being brought to slaughter. First, chefs pluck the duck and pump it full of air between the skin and the meat. The meat is then covered with boiling water, skewered, and hung to dry. While drying, the duck is glazed with a sugar coating and left for 24 hours. This whole process adds to the crispness of the skin.

The duck is then roasted hanging from the center of the oven to allow the fat to drip, basting the skin as it does. When presented, the Peking duck is often sliced artfully by the chef before the diners. Traditionally served in three portions, a Peking duck meal begins with the crispy skin, which diners dip into sugar. Following the skin, the next course is composed of thin pancakes stuffed with tender duck meat, hoisin and bean sauces, and cucumbers, onions, and garlic. The final serving is a duck soup or broth.

NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY

National Use Your Gift Card Day reminds Americans to use the $1 billion in unused gift cards each year. On the third Saturday in January, take stock of the gift cards you received over the holidays. Then, make the most of each one of them before they’re forgotten for good!

NATIONAL WINNIE THE POOH DAY

National Winnie the Pooh Day on January 18th commemorates author A.A. Milne’s birthday in 1882. He brought the adorable, honey-loving bear to life in his stories, which also featured his son, Christopher Robin.

NATIONAL MICHIGAN DAY

On January 18, National Michigan Day recognizes the Great Lake State.

NATIONAL THESAURUS DAY

National Thesaurus Day, on January 18th, honors Peter Mark Roget, the author of Roget’s Thesaurus, who was born on this day in 1779.

In 1840, Roget retired from a successful career in medicine and spent the rest of his life working on Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. The work was the result of decades of collecting lists of words and categorizing them, much like a scientist would collect specimens. In Roget’s case, he collected words. He first published his thesaurus in 1852. And it was more than a book of synonyms – it was a complete categorization and organization of each word by meaning.

Since then, poets and writers have used the thesaurus to help make their writing come to life. However, the thesaurus also has its detractors. Some say the thesaurus weakens language and destroys it.

Whether you are looking for a more accurate word or trying to improve your writing, the thesaurus can be your best friend. Expanding your vocabulary increases both written and spoken communication skills, creative writing abilities, and can be helpful in advancing your career.