Each year on February 25th people across the nation have a bowl and spoon ready to be filled with clam chowder as they prepare to participate in National Clam Chowder Day.
A clam chowder in its simplest form is a soup or stew containing clams or fish. The most common type of chowder includes milk or cream as well as potatoes, though the Manhattan clam chowder has tomatoes.
The origin of the word “chowder” is up for a little bit of debate. The French word for cauldron is “chaudiere.” The English word “jowter” means fish peddler. Both are on the hook for possible origins.
In chowder, along with the clams, it is common to find diced potatoes, onions (often sautéed with pork or bacon drippings) and celery. Try pan frying diced spam and mushrooms, caramelized onions are a good touch too. I add browned tofu in place of potatoes with extra mushrooms to make it keto friendly.
Following is a list of the basic clam chowder variants:
Make your region’s best clam chowder. Better yet, have a clam chowder taste-off! Invite friends and family to cook up a variety of chowders from all over the country and try them all. Let us know which one you liked best. Maybe you’ll find a new appreciation for chowders.
February 4th heats up with National Homemade Soup Day. In every cuisine, soup provides a rich basis of flavor and history.
Before the era of modern transportation, soup was a product of regionally available foods. For this reason, there are thousands of soup recipes available today.
Many soups also offer medicinal properties. What was once considered a wive’s tale, chicken soup now has the backing of the scientific community. Yes, chicken soup helps relieve the symptoms of the common cold. How? Well, scientists believe that a bowl of the soup may reduce inflammation of the lungs. It is thought that chicken soup slows down the activity of white blood cells that can cause inflammation.
But that’s not all homemade soup does. Every cook knows the most important ingredient that goes into every pot of simmering soup. They keep the ingredient stored where it will do its best work, too. As they work, they season the soup from their heart giving it just the right amount of love each and every time. Whether they add it with the noodles or the vegetable, the broth or the cream, each cook knows there’s enough to go around. That’s why homemade soup heals the best.
Tell us about your favorite homemade soup. Share a recipe or a memory. Gather the family to learn how to make your best recipe and share the love. Need a new recipe to add to your collection? From chowders and broths to creamy bisques, chances are you’ll find a recipe to love too.
Use #NationalHomemadeSoupDay to post on social media.
On February 2nd, National Tater Tot Day recognizes a kitchen staple. In the United States, we consume approximately 3.5 billion of these nuggets of potato goodness per year.
These bite-sized bits of golden deliciousness created from the scraps from making French fries once were used to feed cattle. But how do the cast-offs from making French fries become the bite-sized, kitchen-friendly morsels we love to devour today? Through persistence and ingenuity, of course!
Two brothers, Nephi and Golden Grigg, along with their brother-in-law started dabbling in frozen food when they rented a plant on the Oregon and Idaho borders in 1934. The focused on making French fries, but the waste fed to cattle seemed excessive. Was there a way to reduce the excess? Maybe, but instead they chose to create a product from the excess. Not only did the scrapped and shredded bits form into tasty bites when blanched and fried, but they also fit into their product line, too. They froze well, could be baked and were delicious! By 1952, they purchased the plant, forming the Oregon Frozen Foods Company that would later become Ore-Ida.
Seasoned with spices or baked into a casserole, tater tots make a meal, side dish, or a snack celebration. We dip them, pop them, or just savor them.
NATIONAL TATER TOT DAY HISTORY
John-Bryan Hopkins created the observance in 2009.
National Canned Food Month in February is a time for a second harvest! Your pantry and shelves provide the bounty of canned goods from last fall. Shop your pantry shelves for meals now and make room for the bounty to come.
The story of canned food goes back to the waning years of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte’s offer of 12,000 francs to anyone who could develop a method of preserving food for his army. Frenchman Nicolas Appert claimed the prize by discovering that applying heat to food in sealed glass bottles improved its shelf life. As a result, Appert’s research led to the current canning methods.
Opening tin cans was a chore. Most people opened them using a chisel and hammer. However, the French army took a different approach: they used bayonets. Then, in 1855, an English surgical instrument maker named Rober Yates invented the first tin-opener.
Modern Technology
Modern canning continues to provide benefits. It saves money and reduces waste so gardeners can reap the rewards of their hard work all winter long. It’s also is also Earth-friendly. Properly preserved foods both taste great and are healthful, too. Ball Mason Jars are the most widely used canning jars, and they are recognized on November 30th during National Mason Jar Day!
There are several methods of canning, and each has its advantages. First, water bath canning is a lower temperature process ideal for jams, jellies, salsa, and tomatoes. The second is pressure canning. The process involves a higher temperature and works best when canning meats, poultry, seafood, chili, and veggies. The third and simplest method is open-kettle canning. In this process, hot food is poured into hot jars then sealed. This canning method is the least recommended. It is very important to learn the principles of keeping food fresh and discouraging bacteria growth. Study the various canning techniques carefully and make sure you are properly equipped before you start.
If we’ve learned anything in 40 plus years in Florida it pays to keep these pantry items on hand. From hurricanes and Covid to the snow this January having backups to fresh food on hand can literally save your life. It’s something to keep in mind. We keep a stock year round, it’s Florida after all. Not only is it quick and easy on a busy day, but in disaster situations you can actually heat the can if you have to.
NATIONAL CANNED FOOD MONTH HISTORY
The Canned Food Information Council designated February as National Canned Food Month in 1987 to break down misconceptions surrounding canned food as being less nutritious than fresh. Depending on the variety of fruits and vegetables, what they are packed in and served with will make a difference in their nutritional value.
Learn about the history of canning and how to can your own food. Grandma might be your best teacher! Use #NationalCannedFoodMonth and post your canned goods on social media.
Some of the days in November carry the whole memory of summer as a fire opal carries the color of moonrise. ~Gladys Taber
November is the 11th month of the Gregorian calendar, with 30 days. Its name derives from the Latin word “novem,” meaning nine, as it was originally the ninth month in the ancient Roman calendar before January and February were added. It signals the transition toward winter in the Northern Hemisphere, often associated with harvest preparations, thanksgiving feasts, and a sense of reflection.
Season and Weather
In the Northern Hemisphere, November is the last full month of autumn, with days growing shorter and temperatures cooling significantly. Average weather varies by region: in much of the United States and Europe, expect highs ranging from 40–60°F (4–15°C) in temperate areas, with increasing chances of frost, rain, or early snow, especially later in the month. 16 Folklore warns that heavy November snow may persist until April, while mild conditions could lead to a muddy winter. 16 In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s spring, bringing warmer weather and blooming landscapes.
Sports
November is a peak time for several major sports seasons. American football is in full swing, with the NFL regular season heating up and college football games building toward bowl selections. The NBA basketball and NHL hockey seasons are well underway, featuring intense early matchups. Globally, soccer leagues like the English Premier League continue, and endurance events such as the New York City Marathon (typically the first Sunday) draw massive participation. Other highlights include tennis tournaments and the start of winter sports preparations.
Activities
Common activities in November revolve around autumn’s end and holiday prep. People enjoy leaf-peeping in colorful forests, harvest festivals, and outdoor pursuits like hiking or apple picking before colder weather sets in. Indoor tasks include gardening clean-up, such as using fallen leaves for mulch or marking plant locations for spring. Thanksgiving preparations dominate in the U.S., with cooking feasts, family gatherings, and shopping on Black Friday. Awareness campaigns like No-Shave November encourage beard-growing for cancer awareness. It’s also a time for community events, aviation appreciation, and stamp collecting hobbies.
Birthstones: Topaz (symbolizing friendship, often in yellow or orange hues) and citrine (a more affordable quartz crystal representing joy and success).
Flower: Chrysanthemum, from Greek roots meaning “golden flower,” symbolizing honesty, joy, and optimism.
Symbols: Zodiac signs are Scorpio (October 23–November 21, representing intensity and transformation) and Sagittarius (November 22–December 21, symbolizing adventure and philosophy). November is also linked to themes of preparation and somber reflection in folklore.
Famous Birthdays
November boasts many notable figures across history, science, arts, and entertainment. Some highlights include:
November 7: Marie Curie (1867), pioneering physicist and chemist who discovered radium.
November 10: Martin Luther (1483), founder of the Protestant Reformation.
November 11: Leonardo DiCaprio (1974), acclaimed actor and environmental activist.
November 14: Claude Monet (1840), influential Impressionist painter.
November 19: Indira Gandhi (1917), first female Prime Minister of India.
November 20: Robert F. Kennedy (1925), U.S. Senator and advocate for civil rights.
November 21: Voltaire (1694), Enlightenment philosopher and writer.
November 30: Mark Twain (1835), American author of classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Important Occurrences from History
Two pivotal events stand out in November’s historical timeline:
November 11, 1918: The Armistice of World War I was signed, ending the devastating conflict at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, leading to celebrations worldwide and the basis for modern Veterans/Remembrance Day.
November 22, 1963: U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, a shocking event that reshaped American politics and culture, with Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as president shortly after.
