Showing posts with label holiday calendar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday calendar. Show all posts

August is National Coffee Month


 August is National Coffee Month!

Coffee, the most popular beverage!
Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. Caffeinated coffee has a stimulating effect in humans. Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.

What does this holiday celebrate?
This holiday celebrates coffee in every way shape and form! 
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Origin of this Holiday

 My research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. I did however find that this holiday has been celebrated for many years. There is plenty of documentation to support that National Coffee Month does indeed exist, but we don't know by who or why.
This holiday is referred to as a "National" day.  However, I did not find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day. Even though I didn't, this is still a holiday that is publicized to celebrate.
So have fun with it and celebrate it!

I found recognition about this holiday from:

Calendar sites, coffee sites and personal Internet sites that blog and share information about this holiday. Many shares great coffee recipes for spirited coffee drinks, hot coffee drinks and cold coffee drinks. Coffee is not just for drinking eitherThe Internet has plenty of coffee cookie recipes, coffee main course recipes and coffee desserts like coffee cake listed in its honor.
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Coffeehouses by wikipedia

Coffee is so popular in the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe that many restaurants specialize in coffee; these are called "coffeehouses" or "cafés". Most cafés also serve tea, sandwiches, pastries, and other light refreshments (some of which may be dunked into the drink). Some shops are miniature cafés that specialize in coffee-to-go for hurried travelers, who may visit these on their way to work as a substitute for breakfast. Some provide other services, such as wired or wireless internet access (thus the name, "internet café" — which has carried over to stores that provide internet service without any coffee) for their customers.

Starbucks, a well-known coffeehouse company, began referring to themselves as “The Third Place,” in which they wished to be recognized as the place to go to relax; the third option between work and home. This inviting idea actually became a type of lifestyle for thousands of consumers. This clever marketing strategy most likely led to the creation of those who refer to themselves as “Starbucks’ addicts,” and formed the subculture of the company’s devoted consumers.

Cafés have historically been an important social gathering point in Paris.

Social aspects

Many social aspects of coffee can be seen in the modern-day lifestyle. The United States is the largest market for coffee, followed by Germany and Japan. The Nordic countries consume the most coffee per capita, with Finland typically occupying the top spot with a per-capita consumption in excess of 10 kg per year, closely followed by Norway, Sweden and Denmark. 

In some countries, notably in northern Europe, coffee parties are a popular form of entertainment. Besides coffee, the host or hostess at the coffee party also serves cake and pastries, sometimes homemade.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from wikipedia /article social aspects of coffee/Photo: inuyaki.com / licensel

July 18 is National Ice Cream Day


📅 Our Calendar tells us that July 18 is National Ice Cream Day. This is the day we honor this creamy dessert by eating ice cream of all different flavors. So today I want to wish everyone a very Happy National Ice Cream Day! May you enjoy all your favorite topping!

"Live everyday like a Holiday" Pam
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🛒 Ice Cream Toppings / https://amzn.to/3AVEAxd
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Happy Orange Chicken Day / July 15


📅 Our Calendar says July 15th is National Orange Chicken Day and that's one meal I'm not going to miss. Orange Chicken is just that.... its chicken baked in orange juice or with orange slices for flavoring. I like it with rosemary baked with the orange flavor too. I know that's not the common orange chicken recipe, but it is what I do sometimes when I'm baking large pieces of chicken. Ha ha ha!

If I'm craving orange chicken for lunch time, then I go with a lighter meal and mix a nice Seasar salad alongside of it. If it's supper time, then I have to have the whole shebang! Yep, I will go with potatoes and bread and butter.

Now let's talk about Chinese Orange Chicken

This orange chicken dish is very small cuts of chicken cooked with orange juice, ginger, soy sauce, chili flakes, garlic, brown sugar and sesame oil.... I'm not sure what else off the top of my head but it's really great tasting. I've made it with honey and I've made it with orange marmalade as the sweet part too. Now I've baked mine in the sauce and I've also stir fried the chicken first then added the sauce on top at the end. I don't think there's a wrong way to do it. It all taste great.

Happy Orange Chicken Day everyone! "Live everyday like a Holiday" Pam

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Let's talk about National Pecan Pie Day

Friends first I'm going to explain what a pecan pie is for those viewers not from the United States then I will talk about the National Pecan Pie Day itself. (July 12)

Pecan pie is a sweet custard pie made primarily of corn syrup and pecan nuts. It is popularly served at holiday meals and is also considered a specialty of Southern U.S. cuisine. Most pecan pie recipes include salt and vanilla as flavorings. Other ingredients such as chocolate and bourbon whiskey are popular additions to the recipe. Some recipes even use an amount of maple syrup instead of corn syrup for flavoring. Pecan pie is often served with whipped cream too. Friends at the end of the post 🠟 I will list a common pecan pie recipe for you if you need one. For fun I'm also going to list a "Pecan Tassie" recipe for you too. Those are small pecan pie bites that you see at parties a lot. 

What are Pecans? Nuts!
The name "pecan" is a Native American word of Algonquin origin that was used to describe "all nuts requiring a stone to crack.” wikipedia definition

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When is National Pecan Pie Day?

July 12 every year is always National Pecan Pie Day. We also have a National Pecan Month but that is celebrated every April. Our calendar also says we have a Pecan Day celebrated every March 25th and a National Pecan Day celebrated every April 14th. Our calendar also tells us that we celebrate National Pie Day on January 23rd.

How is this Holiday Celebrated?

This holiday is for enjoying a delicious sweet and nutty slice of "pecan Pie."  It doesn't matter if you like to bake it with dark corn syrup or light, just know that today is the day to remember that traditional taste of the holidays and eat that pecan pie! Try a new recipe if you like. You can find many different varieties that include chocolate cream cheese or even other types of nuts. Have fun with this holiday and share a slice with all your friends. Many friends get together on this day for coffee and pecan pie. Many pie baking groups get together on this day and bake up several different pecan pies and enjoy a taste off. And remember, don't wait until Christmas or Thanksgiving to enjoy this pie. It has its own day so celebrate it. Don't forget, I'm going to list a common pecan pie recipe at the bottom 🠟 of the post if you need it so keep reading. Wink ~

Origin of this Holiday?

My research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day.
This holiday is referred to as a "National" day.  However, I did not find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day. Even though I didn't, this is still a holiday that is publicized to celebrate, and I found blog posts going way back talking about pecan pie parties in honor of National Pecan Pie Day. So have fun with it and celebrate it!

Interesting information about New Orleans Pecan Pie

Tradition holds that the French created pecan pie soon after settling in New Orleans, after being introduced to the nut by Native Americans. It is sometimes referred to as "New Orleans pecan pie," adding an aura of French cuisine to a home-cooked comfort food. Attempts to trace the origin have, however, not found any recipes earlier than 1925, and well-known cookbooks such as Fannie Farmer and The Joy of Cooking did not include it before 1940.

The process for refining corn sugar was not developed until the 1880s. Thus, the corn syrup which is considered an essential part of the modern recipe was not available to the settlers of New Orleans.

There is no doubt that the makers of Karo syrup popularized the dish, and many recipes—even one ascribed to a well-known New Orleans restaurant—specify Karo syrup by name as an ingredient. This suggests a prosaic 20th-century origin in Karo promotion, and in fact the maker's website currently credits the dish as a 1930s "discovery" of a "new use for corn syrup" by a corporate sales executive's wife. The company asserts that "Down South, today, that same recipe continues to be called Karo Pie" but in fact this name for the dish seems to be rare.

Although the standard recipes call for corn syrup, cookbook author Mark Bittman comments "There are two kinds of pecan pie, one of which contains not only sugar but corn syrup. I don't like this version—not only is it too sweet, if you taste corn syrup by itself, you'll never cook with it again." The version he favors uses white and brown sugar, no corn syrup, and "thickens the sugar with eggs—in other words, it's a custard pie, loaded with pecans."

Jim Turner of Glencoe, Alabama developed a recipe for making pecan pies with sorghum syrup.

Pecan tassies, another Southern specialty, are similar to pecan pie, but are miniature portions. In addition, many recipes for pecan tassies differ in the inclusion of cream cheese in the crust and omission of corn syrup from the filling.

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Pecan Tassies
Small pecan pies...very flaky. Made in small muffin tins...like a cookie."
Melt in your mouth good!

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped pecans
24 pecan halves

1. To Make Crust: Blend softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter and flour. Chill 1 hour.
2. Shape into 24 balls. Press balls into cavity of mini muffin tins, making small cups.
3. To Make Filling: Beat together egg, brown sugar and 1 tablespoon butter. Add vanilla and salt and beat till smooth. In each little crust bottom, sprinkle chopped pecans, add egg mixture to right before top and top with a whole pecan.
4. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 25 minutes or till filling is set. Cool before removing from tins.

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Pecan Pie Recipe
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp molasses
2 Tbsp melted butter
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups pecans, coarsely chopped

1 9-inch pie shell, chilled for an hour if freshly made, defrosted for 10 minutes if frozen. (See pie crust recipes.)
Method

1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread pecans along the bottom of the pie shell. Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over pecans. The pecans will rise to the surface of the pie.

2 Bake at 375°F for 45-50 minutes until the filling has set. About 20 minutes into the cooking you may want to use a pie crust protector, or tent the edges of the pie crust with aluminum foil to prevent the pie crust edges from burning.

3 Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Serves 8.
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 Friends did you enjoy the post?   "Live everyday like a holiday." Pam
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🛒 Pecan Pie / https://amzn.to/3nhV3Uk
🛒 Pecans / https://amzn.to/3HYxfhY
🛒 Pie Pans / https://amzn.to/3Olembc
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resources: wikipedia / gone-ta-pott / encyclopedia

Christmas in July


Hello Friends! I don't know how many of you celebrate Christmas in July but since JULY is here, I thought it would be fun to do a post on it and how it's celebrated.

Christmas in JulyChristmas in Summer or Christmas in Winter is a second Christmas celebration held around the summer season, mainly during July. It is centered around Christmas-themed activities and entertainment, including small gatherings, seasonal music and specials, and shopping, with the goal of getting the public in the "Christmas spirit" during the summer season in the Northern hemisphere. 

Southern Hemisphere

In the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are in reverse to the Northern Hemisphere, with summer falling in December, January, and February and with winter falling in June, July, and August. Therefore, in some southern hemisphere countries, such as Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and New Zealand, Christmas in July or Midwinter Christmas events are undertaken in order to have Christmas with a winter feel in common with the northern hemisphere. These countries still celebrate Christmas on December 25, in their summer, like the northern hemisphere.

Northern Hemisphere

In the Northern Hemisphere, a Christmas in July celebration is deliberately ironic; the July climate is typically hot and either sunny or rainy with thunderstorms, as opposed to the cold and snowy conditions traditionally associated with Christmas celebrations in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Some people throw parties during July that mimic Christmas celebrations, bringing the atmosphere of Christmas but with warmer temperatures. Parties may include Santa Claus, ice cream and other cold foods, and gifts. Nightclubs often host parties open to the public. Christmas in July is usually recognized as July 25 but also sometimes celebrated on July 12.

The Hallmark Channel

The Hallmark Channel and its companion outlets (Hallmark Drama and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) run blocks of their original Christmas television films in July to coincide with the release of the Keepsake Ornaments in stores, thus literally making the event a Hallmark holiday (an accusation that Hallmark Cards officially denies).

Home Shopping

Every July, the television home shopping channel QVC has Christmas in July sales, mostly decor and early gift ideas for children. What was once a 24-hour block of holiday shopping every July 25 (or the closest weekend day to it) has become a month-long event: generally, the sales begin on July 1 and are showcased throughout the day, with various blocks of holiday sale programming sales throughout the month. Generally during the last week of July, QVC will dedicate entire days to holiday sales.

My Closing Thoughts~

Personally, I find it hard to celebrate Christmas with it being hot outside in the United States. But having said that... I do find I look forward to Hallmark Channels Christmas movies every July. Also... July is when I start working on my Christmas crafts too. And I do have to admit I turn on the Christmas music and plug in the twinkle lights to get me in the Christmas crafting mood. 

Happy Christmas in July everyone! "Live everyday like a Holiday" Pam

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Article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from wikipedia / gone-ta-pott

List of Food Observances for July


We all know July is known for Independence Day, Tanabata and Bastille Day but did you know July has some tasty food observances that we celebrate too? Here's a list of food holidays that you can celebrate. 

Here's some facts ~

Berries, baked beans, hot dogs and pickles... that's what July is all about! July is a wonderful month to celebrate Food Holidays. In the United States where most of these holidays first started, July is a popular month for outdoor eating and activities. July 4th kicks off outside activities with a bang followed by picnics, picnics, picnics!

July is summer vacation time for the U.S. so enjoying the hot July month by picnicking and eating cold homemade ice cream is a common thing to do. I think that must be why National Picnic Month and National Ice Cream Month is celebrated the month of July.

Food Holidays for the month
  • National Watermelon Month
  • July Belongs to Berries Month
  • National Grilling Month
  • National Ice Cream Month
  • National Baked Bean Month
  • National Hot Dog Month
  • National Pickle Month
  • National Picnic Month
  • National Bison Month

Day-Long Observances

  • Movable Holiday:  National Ice Cream Day - 3rd Sunday in July
  • July 1 - Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day
  • July 1 - National Gingersnap Day
  • July 2 - National Anisette Day
  • July 3 - National Chocolate Wafer Day / Eat Beans Day
  • July 4 - National Barbecued Spareribs
  • July 4 - Caesar Salad Birthday
  • July 4 - Sidewalk Egg Frying Day
  • July 5 - National Apple Turnover Day
  • July 5 - Graham Cracker Day
  • July 6 - National Fried Chicken Day
  • July 7 - National Strawberry Sunday Day
  • July 7 - National Chocolate Day
  • July 7 - Macaroni Day
  • July 7 - Ice Cream Cone Day
  • July 8 - National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day
  • July 9 - National Sugar Cookie Day
  • July 10 - National Pina Colada Day
  • July 11 - National Blueberry Muffin Day
  • July 11 - Vegetarian Food Day
  • July 12 - National Pecan Pie Day
  • July 12 - Eat Your Jello Day (Bill Cosby's Birthday)
  • July 13 - National French Fries Day
  • July 14 - National Grand Marnier Day
  • July 15 - National Tapioca Pudding Day
  • July 15 - Gummi Worm Day
  • July 16 - National Corn Fritters Day
  • July 16 - Ice Cream Sundae Day
  • July 16 - Fresh Spinach Day
  • July 16 - National Ice Cream Day
  • July 17 - National Peach Ice Cream Day
  • July 18 - National Caviar Day
  • July 19 - National Daiquiri Day
  • July 20 - National Lollipop Day
  • July 20 - National Ice Cream Soda Day
  • July 20 - Fortune Cookie  Day 
  • July 21 - National Junk Food Day
  • July 21 - National Ice Cream Day
  • July 21 - National Creme Brulee Day 
  • July 22 - National Penuche Fudge Day
  • July 22 - Maple Syrup Day
  • July 23 - National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
  • July 23 - National Hot Dog Day
  • July 24 - National Tequila Day
  • July 25 - National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
  • July 26 - National Coffee Milkshake Day
  • July 27 - National Scotch Day
  • July 27 - National Cream Brulee Day 
  • July 28 - National Milk Chocolate Day
  • July 29 - National Lasagna Day
  • July 29 - Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day 
  • July 30 - National Cheesecake Day
  • July 31 - National Raspberry Cake Day
  • July 31 - Jump for Jelly Beans Day

Why is June National Turkey Lovers Month and not November?


 When is National Turkey Lovers Month?                                     June is National Turkey Lovers' Month!


What is this holiday about?
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), it’s the ideal time to celebrate the delicious taste, versatility, high quality nutrition and cooking ease of one of Virginia’s top products.

Why is this holiday observed in June and not November?
Yes, that's the big question most people ask and yes, it's true, more turkeys are served up on the dinner table in November, so why doesn't November represent Turkey Lovers Month? VDACS website couldn't have said it better. " Although the tradition of the Thanksgiving turkey may seem to make November a more appropriate choice for Turkey Lovers’ Month, the June celebration emphasizes turkey’s year-round popularity.

Origin of this holiday:
"LINCOLN - Governor Dave Heineman proclaimed "June Is Turkey Lovers' Month" in Nebraska during a luncheon sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA)."

"The turkey industry has been an important part of Nebraska's economic landscape with cash receipts totaling more than $40 million in 2005 alone," Governor Heineman said. "It is my pleasure to join Nebraska's turkey producers today in celebrating the accomplishments of this important industry."

"Jerry Felber of Seward, President of the Nebraska Turkey Federation, presented Governor Heineman with a Norbest turkey, a Norbest hickory smoked turkey, and two turkey cookbooks in appreciation of the Governor's recognition and support for the turkey industry."

"The state's 17 turkey growers, who are members of the Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative, raised over 3.3 million turkeys in 2005, producing more than 51 million pounds of turkey. The majority of these turkeys are packaged and marketed under the Norbest Nebraska-grown label.

Additional information about Nebraska's turkey industry is available through NDA's Poultry and Egg Division by calling (402) 472-2051. Information is also available on the NDA web site at www.agr.ne.gov or www.nebraskapoultry.org. "
Nebraska Department of Agriculture

How is this holiday celebrated?
This holiday is about the outstanding taste of turkey and is celebrated by serving turkey all through the month of June. Now don't think you have to serve a 12 pound turkey dinner like you do at Thanksgiving- That would be nice but most Americans save the turkey "Feast" for Thanksgiving Day and go with the other turkey choices that's available. Turkey comes in a wide variety of cuts and not just limited to whole birds. You can always find a variety at your local grocery store or deli counter. Examples Below:

  • Quick-cooking cutlets: delicious served with mashed potatoes and corn! Or, pair it with what ever your favorite veggies are!
  • Sausage: perfect for breakfast or used in sausage ball recipes for party food-
  • Tenderloins: perfect cooked any way but popular served with onions and gravy !
  • Ground Turkey: perfect for meatballs & gravy with rice /spaghetti sauce / topping for pizza / cooked in quiche / burgers for the grill / Turkey Meatloaf /
  • Turkey Ham: Turkey ham is a processed food made primarily from cooked or cured turkey meat and water, formed into the shape of a ham and often sold pre-sliced. In the United Kingdom, Bernard Matthews is a major producer of turkey ham.
  • Turkey hot dog franks: perfect for the grill, quick boiled or deep fried -
  • Turkey deli meats: for lunch sandwiches."

Celebrate Turkey Lovers’ Month by trying new turkey recipes.
  • Turkey Sandwich
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Other Meat Holidays To Remember!
• National Meat Week: Last week in January
• Meatloaf Appreciation Day: October 18
• National Hamburger Month: May
• National Sausage Month: October
• International Bacon Day: Saturday before Labor Day
• National Hot Dog Day: July 16
• Flitch Day, The Holiday: July 19
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🛒 ❤ Turkey Gifts / https://amzn.to/3A1IvrX

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from wikipedia