The Krewe of Oshun kicks off the two biggest weekends of parades for Mardi Gras 2015 -- 15 roll Friday (Feb. 6) through Sunday. Oshun, which is named for the Yoruba goddess of love, runs along the Uptown route, starting at 6 p.m. The Krewe of Cleopatra follows. Watch both live right here on the NOLA.com Parade Cam. The 18-float Oshun procession will include a band contest and marching Baby Dolls. Throws include peacock figures, mugs and medallion necklaces.
Sweetest Day. Date When Celebrated: Third Saturday in October. Now here is a day dedicated just for your sweetie. It exists as an opportunity for you to recognize that sweet and special someone. It doesnât matter who that person is, or what their relation to you. They just have to be sweet in order to get a little recognition.
Saccharin (or benzoic sulfimide), the oldest of the artificial sweeteners, was accidentally discovered by a chemist working on coal tar derivatives more than 100 years ago. Depending on its use, it can be 200 to 700 times sweeter than sugar. Brand names: Sweet'N Low, Sweet Twin, and Necta Sweet. Used for baking: Yes. Although the cake I baked was dense and lumpy, it was surprisingly tender and very sweet, with that unmistakable metallic Sweet'N Low aftertaste. Sucralose (or chlorinated sugar) was accidentally discovered in 1976 by a researcher and was approved for use in the U.S. in 1998.