Lemon juice is a kitchen workhorse. The tart liquid cuts richness, balances sweetness, tenderises meats and keeps fruits from browning. Lemons themselves are thought to be hybrids of citron and bitter orange, first cultivated in India and later spread by Arab traders across the Mediterranean. Christopher Columbus carried lemon seeds to the New World on […]
Salt is one of the oldest seasonings, but in modern diets it can be overused. More Herbs, Less Salt Day, observed each August 29, encourages home cooks to reduce sodium and experiment with herbs and spices instead. The holiday highlights the aromatic possibilities of basil, rosemary, thyme, dill, cilantro, mint and countless others. Each herb carries […]
Bacon sizzles in the pan like applause, releasing a fragrance that can wake a teenager from a dead sleep. The sound and smell are almost as satisfying as the taste: a perfect balance of salt, smoke, fat and crunch. Humans have been curing pork belly since at least 1500 BCE, when the Chinese discovered that salting […]
Long before marshmallows became sweets, the marsh mallow plant (Althaea officinalis) grew in European and African marshes. Ancient Egyptians boiled its sap with honey as a delicacy for pharaohs. In 19th‑century France confectioners whipped the sap with egg whites and sugar to create puffy candies. Eventually gelatin replaced the sticky plant extract, making mass production […]
Eating outdoors connects us to our earliest ancestors, who gathered around communal fires under open skies. In the Middle Ages, European nobles hosted hunting feasts on grassy lawns, while peasants picnicked on bread and cheese in the fields. In the 17th century Bavarians invented beer gardens, serving lagers under chestnut trees to keep cellars cool. […]
Trail mix is the original energy bar—lightweight, nutrient‑dense and infinitely customisable. Hikers have been mixing dried fruit and nuts for centuries; Native Americans made pemmican from dried meat, fat and berries, while Europeans packed raisins and almonds on journeys. The modern version, sometimes called GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts), became popular with backpackers in […]
A Sticky Taste of Childhood Childhood tastes linger long after we’ve grown, and few American sandwiches evoke nostalgia quite like the fluffernutter. National Fluffernutter Day, observed on October 8, pays sweet tribute to this gooey creation of peanut butter and marshmallow creme layered between slices of soft bread. Beloved by children and remembered fondly by […]
A Fish Worth Celebrating Few fish inspire the kind of devotion that salmon does. On October 8, National Salmon Day pays tribute to this remarkable creature and to the culinary, cultural, and economic roles it plays. Salmon’s journey begins in cold, clean rivers and streams of the Northern Hemisphere. Pacific salmon species—chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, […]
Dumplings of October On October 8, dough is rolled, fillings are prepared, and pots of water come to a gentle boil in honor of National Pierogi Day. These half-moon dumplings—known as pierogi in Polish, varenyky in Ukrainian, and pirohy in Slovak—are beloved across Eastern Europe and have become a comforting staple in communities worldwide. While […]
A Perfect Pairing for October Few pairings spark as much joy as an effervescent glass of beer alongside a hot, gooey slice of pizza. On October 9, International Beer and Pizza Day invites people across the globe to raise a pint and savor a slice in celebration of culinary chemistry and camaraderie. Together, these two […]
A Sandwich with Many Names If ever there were a sandwich with an identity crisis, it would be the long, crusty roll stuffed with cold cuts, cheese, and veggies that goes by an array of regional names. On October 9, Submarine Hoagie Hero Grinder Day celebrates this quintessentially American lunch in all its aliases and […]
An Invitation to Embrace the Mold October 9 is Moldy Cheese Day, a chance to celebrate the very molds that transform milk into some of the world’s most beloved cheeses. While the name might inspire jokes about cleaning out the refrigerator, this holiday honors a deliberate and delicious kind of mold. For centuries, cheesemakers have […]