Thanksgiving . Arbor Day is reportedly still mad about it .
It was the first federal bank holiday to celebrate the life of an individual American . We put “ American ” in the qualifier so we can quietly walk away from Columbus Day in future mentions .
Martin Luther King , Jr . Day was the second day to celebrate the life of an individual , signed into law in 1983 .
In 1971 , Presidents Day moved to the third Monday in February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act . That name proves that the government can come up with a name for anything and ruin it .
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was created to make more three-day weekends for the nation ’ s workers . Wait , that actually makes sense ! How did THAT happen ?
One of the driving theories behind the Act was to
increase retail sales . Mattress salesmen rejoiced !
Thereafter , the third Monday in February was and is known as Presidents Day . William Henry Harrison be like , “… or , you know , my birthday is in February too if we ’ re renaming things . Just sayin ’.”
Although four different Presidents have birthdays in February , ( George Washington , William Henry Harrison , Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan ) their actual birthdays are far enough away from the third Monday Presidents Day date that they never coincide . As a realistic consequence , most people think of it as being Abraham Lincoln ’ s and George Washington ’ s day . Right ? I mean , of course . Oh , stop crying William Henry ….
President ’ s Day is now viewed as a day to celebrate all U . S . Presidents , past and present . In order to acknowledge the perceived importance of the President ’ s right hand person , they are contemplating designating every third leap year February 29th as “ Vice Presidents Day .”
Seared Beef Sirloin & Grilled Peaches with Feta Cheese and Basil ( 4 Servings )
This recipe can also easily be accomplished using the oven . Sauté the steak over medium-high heat about 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness . Add the peaches cut-side-up to a foil-lined baking sheet ; cook in the broiler until tender , about 6 minutes .
4 peaches ( halved , pit removed ) 1 Tbsp canola oil 1 ( 1 pound ) top sirloin ( about 1 1 / 2 inch thick ) 1 / 4 teaspoon salt 1 / 4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 Tbsp honey 2 cups arugula or spring mix greens 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp fat-free feta cheese 3 Tbsp sliced basil leaves
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat . Halve each peach ; remove and discard the pits .
Using a brush , lightly brush the oil on both the steak and each peach half . Season the steak with salt and pepper . Drizzle the honey over the peaches .
Add steak to the grill . Cook about 8 to 10 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness . Meanwhile , add peaches to grill cut-side-down ; cook peaches until fork-tender , about 3 to 4 minutes per side .
When done , remove steak and let rest 10 minutes before slicing it . On a large platter , make a layer with the greens . Top with the grilled peach halves . Drizzle the peaches with vinegar and top with feta cheese and basil . Serve with steak .
FEBRUARY 2017 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | 29