Well, Christmas is past and New Year's Day is upon us. That's a whole lot of partying going on. However, if (unlike me) you find yourself still longing for a reason to have yet another party, I have found a solution to your problem. Have a food party! Did you know that there is a food honored just about every day of the year? Seriously. The answer to your dilemma is to celebrate the day based on the National Food Holiday.
Here are some examples of what I am talking about: Jan. 15 is Strawberry Ice Cream Day; Jan. 19 is National Popcorn Day, so have a popcorn party; May 13 is National Apple Pie Day – have everyone bring their favorite apple dessert; and Oct. 18 is National Chocolate Cupcake Day. On National Cupcake Day, you could visit one of the newest raves in town, the Cupcake Store, and purchase several different kinds of cupcakes. This idea is getting yummier as I write!
I’m not sure who is responsible for naming these particular days as a specific food day. If you search the Internet for National Food Holidays, there are plenty of Web site hits, but some of them are contradictory. I found one Web site that listed National Cupcake Day on Oct. 18, but then another listed it on Dec. 15. I’ll go with the one in October. Although I might eat a few cupcakes between now and then.
National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day is coming up soon. Hubby and I love hot pastrami sandwiches. In fact, we may have those for dinner tonight. Just as a “pre-celebration” type thing.
Anyway, here is a list of some of the other January Food Holidays you might enjoy:
Jan. 10: Bittersweet Chocolate Day
Jan. 11: Milk Day
Jan. 12: Curried Chicken Day
Jan. 13: National Peach Melba Day
Jan. 14: National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day
Jan. 15: Strawberry Ice Cream Day
Jan. 16: National Fig Newton Day
Jan. 16: International Hot & Spicy Food Day
Jan. 17: Hot-Buttered Rum Day
Jan. 18: Peking Duck Day
Jan. 19: National Popcorn Day
Jan. 20: National Buttercrunch Day
Jan. 20: National Cheese Lover’s Day
Jan. 20: National Granola Bar Day
Jan. 20: National Coffee Break Day
Jan. 21: New England Clam Chowder Day
Jan. 22: National Blonde Brownie Day
Jan. 23: National Pie Day
Jan. 24: National Peanut Butter Day
Jan. 25: National Irish Coffee Day
Jan. 25: Burns Night
Jan. 26: National Pistachio Day
Jan. 27: Chocolate Cake Day (Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate Chocolate!)
Jan. 28: National Blueberry Pancake Day
Jan. 29: National Corn Chip Day
Jan. 30: National Croissant Day
Jan. 31: Brandy Alexander Day
So, see? There are several reasons listed above to party on! Especially Jan. 27 – National Chocolate Day. I have a great recipe I’ll share with you when that day gets closer. You can also use it in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Or better yet – you don’t even have to wait. Celebrate chocolate tonight!
National Soup Day happens to be Jan. 15, and even though I have posted this soup recipe before, it is a favorite of our family, so in honor of the soup holiday, I decided to use it again.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Lasagna Soup
2-3 roasted sweet red peppers, chopped, or 1 small jar roasted peppers
1 lb. pkg. Italian sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 carrots, sliced into 1” chunks
2 cups sliced mushrooms
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
5-6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 large can stewed Italian tomatoes, chopped
1 small can tomato sauce
1 cup curly pasta (I used Campenelle)
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup skim milk mozzarella cheese, diced
Parmesan cheese, shredded
Fresh basil, sliced thin
Roast peppers by placing them on an oiled cookie sheet under the oven broiler for about 5 minutes, or until skin is black. Remove and allow to cool. Peel skin off peppers, and chop. Brown sausage, add carrots, garlic and onions; sauté 3 minutes. Drain well. Add mushrooms and sauté 4-5 minutes longer. Add roasted peppers, broth, tomatoes, and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Add pasta. Simmer until cooked; stir in spinach. Add pepper to taste. Place some of the cubed mozzarella cheese on the bottom of each bowl. Ladle in soup. Garnish with Parmesan and basil.