National Raspberry Bombe Day on August 11th recognizes this tantalizing frozen dessert. A raspberry bombe creates a beautiful finale to any summer meal, and it’s delicious, too!
Throughout August, raspberries are ripening. That’s why this is the third raspberry holiday in the month. Who doesn’t love the sweet, juicy berry? And they’re even better frozen into a delicious dessert.
A typical bombe contains sherbet, heavy cream, sugar, chopped nuts, candied fruit and a dash of rum. The dessert is layered using a spherical mold and frozen overnight. With raspberries as the main ingredient, the result creates a terrific centerpiece.
Numerous recipes for these frozen treats can be found in cookbooks and on the internet. They’ve been served in a variety of flavors since at least 1882. Create your own after picking some fresh raspberries. Share the treat with your helpers.
Enjoy fresh berries in cream on August 7th during National Raspberries N’ Cream Day. With the raspberry season in full swing, what better way to celebrate than with this simple and delicious treat.
There are several days on the calendar celebrating raspberries. We just finished National Raspberry Cake Day last week.
At one time, raspberries were a midsummer crop. However, new technology, cultivars, and transportation make it possible to enjoy these sweet berries all year long. Because of these new technologies, raspberry growers now have an extended selling season.
While enjoying raspberries at the height of their season, explore recipes. There are so many ways to enjoy raspberries. Preserving them in jams and jellies is just one way. Another delicious treat this time of year is ice cream. Baked goods are always a family favorite, too.
However, eating berries fresh off the shrub is one of the greatest pleasures around! Visit a pick-your-own farm and experience warm, juicy berries popping in your mouth on a summer day.
Use #RaspberriesNCreamDay to post on social media and spread the word.
Purple Heart Day, on August 7th, commemorates the creation of the oldest American military decoration for military merit. The Purple Heart honors the men and women who are of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. During the American Revolutionary War, the Badge for Military Merit decorated six known soldiers.
General George Washington created the Badge of Merit in 1782. Washington intended the honor to be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” Its design included a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk bound with a thin edge of silver. Across the face, the word Merit was embroidered in silver. While the badge symbolized the courage and devotion of an American Patriot, no one knows who designed the award.
Until Washington’s 200th birthday, the Purple Heart persisted as a Revolutionary War footnote. Through the efforts of General Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. War Department created the Order of the Purple Heart. Today the medal bears a bust of George Washington and his coat of arms.
While an accurate and complete list of names no longer exists, National Geographic recently estimated that nearly 1.9 million service members have earned Purple Hearts since its creation. It is the oldest U.S. military honor still bestowed upon service members today. Until 1944, the Purple Heart recognized service members’ commendable actions as well. Then in 1944, the requirements limited the award to only those wounded or killed in combat.
Purple Heart Firsts
William Brown and Elijah Churchill received the Badge of Military Merit during the Revolutionary War when the award first replaced the Fidelity Medallion.
Army General Douglas MacArthur received the first modern-day Purple Heart.
Army Lt. Annie G. Fox received the Purple Heart during World War II for her actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
PURPLE HEART DAY HISTORY
Since 1932, Americans have celebrated Purple Heart Day on both Washington’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. Some states and cities observed the day in their own way at different times throughout the year. Each declaration encouraged citizens to support wounded veterans with the purchase of a purple viola.
No matter when the observance occurred, it recognized the men and women killed and wounded in combat and their heroic actions. As the day evolved, it more commonly was observed on the day of the Purple Heart’s creation, August 7, 1782.
On August 1st, National Raspberry Cream Pie Day takes advantage of the ripe berries available this time of year. If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy some fresh-baked raspberry cream pie, it’s a day to celebrate!
Raspberries are the edible fruit of the raspberry plant. Not only do they grow on woody stemmed perennials, but they’re a very commercial crop, too. If their thorny stems remind you of a rose bush, that’s because they are in the rose family. Their genus name is Rubus.
Approximately 100 tiny drupelets cling together to make up one raspberry. Raspberry pulp and juice fill the drupelets. The drupelets adhere to a receptacle attached to a stem. Once the receptacle is removed, the raspberry is left with a hollow core.
When you’re eating your pie, keep in mind that raspberries are rich in vitamin C, manganese, and fiber. They also contain vitamins B1, B3, folic acid, magnesium, copper, and iron.
All temperate regions of the world grow raspberries.
At one time, raspberries were a midsummer crop. However, with new technology, cultivars, and transportation, they can now be obtained year-round.
Did you know, an individual raspberry weighs 0.11 – 0.18 oz.
One raspberry bush can yield several hundred berries a year.
No matter how you slice it, pie is always a good idea. What better way to enjoy fruits!
HOW TO OBSERVE #RaspberryCreamPieDay
Invite some friends to go picking raspberries. Afterward, bake up a raspberry cream pie. Then be sure to enjoy a slice with everyone. We even have some recipes for you to try:
Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day on the third Saturday in July celebrates the strawberry sweetness of summer with a relaxing sip of wine. The day offers an excellent opportunity for a wine tasting featuring a strawberry rhubarb wine, too.
In July of 2010, Maple River Winery in historic downtown Casselton, North Dakota, proudly accepted the Double Gold Award at the Indy International Wine Competition for its Strawberry Rhubarb Wine. What a delicious way to celebrate! But what is rhubarb?
It may be difficult for the common person to classify rhubarb. Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? While technically rhubarb may be known as a tart perennial vegetable, combining it with strawberries creates a unique flavor. Some even consider it the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Rhubarb even went to court over the matter. In 1947 in a customs court in Buffalo, New York, the court ruled that since rhubarb is used as a fruit in the United States, for the purposes of regulations and duties, it was to be counted as a fruit.
And from the wine perspective, that’s a good thing. Fruit wines sound so much better than vegetable wine. Of course, strawberry rhubarb wine celebrates the day with a flavor that tastes like summer.
While enjoying the summer day, savor some chilled strawberry rhubarb wine. Uncork a bottle and pour a glass. Actually, pour a few glasses and share it with a friend or two. Strawberry rhubarb wine goes well with a picnic, so take a bottle or two! A bottle makes a great gift, too. Strawberry rhubarb wine also complements many dishes and you just can’t go wrong! Share your celebration by posting on social media using #StrawberryRhubarbWineDay.
