NATIONAL SPICE BLEND DAY

If an alluring aroma of spices is tempting your senses on September 4th, that is because it is National Spice Blend Day. Home cooks and professional chefs alike know herbs and spices bring our favorite foods alive on our palates. That is why every recipe, every food blog, and every cook stresses the importance of quality herbs and spices for everything you cook.

National Spice Blend Day celebrates the unique combinations of flavors found in handpicked spice blends worldwide. Does a little smoky paprika, cumin, and rosemary tantalize your senses? Did you know there are four main types of cinnamon, each with different flavor profiles? Depending on where the cinnamon grows, the warmth, sweetness, and color change. When you blend it with nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, and other spices, it brings an extra special touch to your baking and other recipes.

Herbs are also vital to every kitchen, and just like spices, the Earth has created a bountiful variety! Worldwide, so many kinds of Basil grows it would be impossible to list them all, but each one imbues unique characteristics worth exploring. When this herb is combined with curry or Mediterranean blends, you know you’re cooking for a celebration.

With only a few examples, we know we have your creative and gastric juices flowing for National Spice Blend Day!

NATIONAL SPICE BLEND DAY HISTORY

Angel Gregorio Spice Blend SpiceSuite

Angel Gregorio, owner and founder of The SpiceSuite, founded National Spice Blend Day in 2021 to commemorate The SpiceSuite’s 6th anniversary on September 4th. The celebration also recognizes all the world’s spices and how they contribute to a neverending creative food experience.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSpiceBlendDay

Demonstrate how you use spice blends to enhance your creativity in the kitchen. We know you bring diverse flavors to your tables every day, and that’s one of the number one reasons to celebrate. Otherways to celebrate National Spice Blend Day include:

One excellent way to encounter all these spicy possibilities is by visiting The SpiceSuite. When you celebrate, be to share your experience on social media by using #NationalSpiceBlendDay.

  • Dabble in a creative cooking experience by taking a cooking class.
  • Learn more about the best spices to use with your favorite foods.
  • Become a culinary adventurer by exploring new spice blends from around the world.
Big Cock Ranch Big 6 Sampler (Pack of 6 Seasonings with 1 each of Bull, Special, Good, Aw, Chicken, and No)#NationalSpiceBlendDay
Big Cock Ranch Big 6 Sampler (Pack of 6 Seasonings with 1 each of Bull, Special, Good, Aw, Chicken, and No)

NATIONAL FRIED CHICKEN DAY

In the United States, July 6th chicken lovers across the country recognize National Fried Chicken Day by feasting at a nearby restaurant, home, or an outdoor picnic.

Scottish immigrants brought their tradition of deep-frying chicken in fat to the southern United States. After its introduction to the American South, fried chicken soon became a staple. Over time, cooks added seasonings and spices to enrich the flavor of the chicken.

Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces floured or battered, then pan-fried, deep-fried or pressure-fried. The breading adds a crisp coating to the exterior of the chicken. Knowing how to get a good crisp on the chicken may seem elusive to some. However, some of the best cooks will tell you the keys to achieving the crispiest fried chicken involves seasoning well and early in the process, adding starch to your flour and frying your chicken at the right temperature. The oil should be 300°F. Finally, let the chicken rest before serving to allow the juices to be absorbed back into the meat. Just like beef and pork, the chicken will be more tender when we allow it to rest. 

Try this great Keto, low carb friendly version to. Use it on salads, as an entrée or even things like homemade Cordon Blue. The flavor is worth the work.

Traditionally the chicken is fried in lard. However, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil are also frequently used.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFriedChickenDay

Use this batter mix as you try this fried chicken recipe. Serve it with your favorite side dishes, too. Potato salad, cornbread, greens, or watermelon. And be sure to share! Invite some friends over, make some fried chicken, and share photos on social media using #NationalFriedChickenDay.

NATIONAL ONION DAY

Through all the years — and sometimes tears — National Onion Day on June 27 recognizes the flavor and aroma the bulb of the allium family brings to numerous recipes.

Whether we choose a sweet, white, red, or the ever-favorite yellow, we count on the onion to enhance the flavor of our savory recipes. They pair well with meats and salads, making the ever-versatile onion a cooking powerhouse. Added to eggs or pickled, it’s the required seasoning next to our salt and pepper.

While the onion packs in the flavor with very few calories, it’s also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Add onions to every meal to increase your dietary fiber and vitamin B6. As a bonus, you won’t be adding any cholesterol. With so many varieties to choose from, onions provide plenty of opportunities for us to relish the benefits.

As an industry, onions add $6 billion to U.S. markets. From farm to distribution to grocers and restaurants, onions generate economic growth throughout the year.

HISTORY

The National Onion Association founded National Onion Day on June 27, 2019, to honor the anniversary of the association. They represent almost 500 onion growers, shippers, packers and associated members across the country and officially incorporated on June 27, 1913, in Ohio. The association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Be sure to add fresh onion for a punch of flavor to your favorite dish. No matter how you slice it, the onion brings some of the best flavors together! Whether you like to caramelize it or pickle it, tell us how you love to cook with onions!

Try these mouth-watering recipes from the National Onion Association:
High Protein Quinoa, Onion and Kale Salad
Spicy Onion Panini with Basil and Roasted Red Pepper
Oniony Meatloaf
Pan Fried Onion Slices

Use #NationalOnionDay to share your best recipes and tips on social media.

NATIONAL HERBS AND SPICES DAY

National Herbs and Spices Day is observed annually on June 10.

It is the season for fresh herbs and spices. They are an essential part of flavorful cooking as well as fun and easy to grow.

Raising your own herbs can be a form of relaxing therapy. Herbs and spices have been used for many hundreds of years, and besides making our food delicious, each has its specific health benefits. Growing your own herbs and spices is a great way to add fresh variety to your food.  Herbs raised in your home add an aromatic and natural fragrance to the air.

Basil, Rosemary, Nutmeg, Garlic, Sage, Tyme, Oregano, Italian, Greek, Cajun, Blackening, Fennel, Chili Powder, Dill, Red Pepper Flakes, Ginger, Paprika, Cinnamon, are among my most used almost every meal. Lavender, Vanilla, Anise, Bay Leaf and Tumeric on occasion as well. It’s a good bet in combination with onions, you’ll find on our table daily. A good mix make Beef Stew, Taco’s and Tex Mex, My Greek Turkey bake, Asian Pork Chops, and don’t forget Spaghetti and My Easy Chili.

I find myself adding to or finessing flavors even if I use a pre-packaged spice mix. Having a hood sense of these help me not only make up my own delicious creations, but help judge recipes to try. I’m happy to be surprised of course although things calling for heavy amounts of Parsley, Cilantro, or heavy amounts of cayenne are things we try to avoid.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

 Use #HerbsAndSpicesDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL ROTISSERIE CHICKEN DAY

On June 2nd each year, chicken lovers celebrate National Rotisserie Chicken Day. While there a numerous ways to cook a whole chicken, rotisserie chicken offers a slow cooking method that seals in flavor.

When cooking chicken using a rotisserie chicken, the whole chicken is cooked on a rotisserie or spit that turns continuously over a heat source. This process slowly roasts and sears the skin to seal in the flavor. The result is a tender and juicy chicken. Some cooks inject rotisserie chicken with a blend of seasonings to give increase the flavor. The popularity of rotisserie chicken continues to grow as the health benefits of it become more widely known.

Rotisserie chicken goes well with a variety of side dishes, too. Whether you like traditional salads, potatoes, rice, and steamed vegetables, or more elaborate dishes, you will not go wrong. You can even use the leftovers in many ways, including salads, sandwiches, and casseroles. It is just as delicious cold as it is hot, too.

NATIONAL ROTISSERIE CHICKEN DAY HISTORY

Boston Market Restaurants founded National Rotisserie Chicken Day in April of 2015 to celebrate the delicious and tender flavor achieved through slow-cooked rotisserie chicken.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #RotisserieChickenDay

Pick up some rotisserie chicken to celebrate! It is perfect for lunch or dinner. You can also share your favorite recipes. Share photos of your friends and family on social media enjoying rotisserie chicken and include #RotisserieChickenDay in the post.