Today's special edition of Celebrate This recognizes the International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, a holiday founded by the United Nations in the early 80s and continues to be observed throughout the world by many nations and political and military groups. The holiday emphasizes the importance of coming together as a global community to resolve differences, and often a mutual ceasefire is established during wartime. On this day the UN urges nations to give peace a chance, while I encourage you as individuals to do the same. Today break bread with the woman across the street that constantly criticizes the way you trim your lawn or call up that estranged relative of yours or old friend that you may have left off with on not-so-good terms. Here are some recipes to help you extend the olive branch, both figuratively and quite literally.
The olive branch has for millennia symbolized peace and reconciliation, so the next few recipes list olives as one of their main ingredients as way of baking, boiling, roasting, tossing peace into the food we eat and serve to others. This first recipe comes from Fig & Cherry and will not only help you extend that olive branch, but may win you new friends. These Savory Fetta and Olive Muffins are full of flavor and exoticism and would look absolutely lovely left on the front step of a certain persnickety neighbor's home.
Peace, unlike this next recipe, is easier said than done. Pip & Ebby bring us this recipe for Minty Green Olive-Celery Salsa that looks and tastes complex, but is actually a cinch to make. Spread this zesty mix over fresh tilapia fillets or your favorite crackers for a quick and satisfying meal worthy of sharing with others.
This recipe from the Family Kitchen is best shared with loved ones, neighbors, friends or any group of people really. A provincial dish, Olive Tapenade offers a rustic wholesomeness that won't interrupt the good conversation you're bound to have as you and your dearest gather round the table.
This final recipe doesn't contain olives of any sort, but with a name like World Peace Cookies, I couldn't resist. The Beantown Baker whipped up a batch of these peace-promoting cookies, and if we could all just sit down and enjoy a few together maybe our problems would just melt away like chocolate in a hot oven...maybe.
