NATIONAL APPLE PIE DAY

National Apple Pie Day, America’s favorite dessert, is observed annually on May 13th.

The first apple pie recipe printed was in England in 1381. The list of ingredients included  good apples,  good spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron, and cofyn (a type of pastry crust).

While the apple pie existed well before the Pilgrims landed on the eastern shores of what is now The United States, Americans wax poetic about how American apple pie is. The phrase “as American as apple pie” has been around for more than 100 years.

Pyrex Easy Grab Glass 9.5 Inch Pie Plate (2-Pack)  by Pyrex
Pyrex Easy Grab Glass 9.5 Inch Pie Plate (2-Pack)

by Pyrex

During the turn of the 20th century when whole toasted cereals were becoming the ‘health food’ fad, pie gained a bad reputation.  Apple pie saved the day of sorts, being more nutritious than other pies according to some.

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pie & Pizza Server  by OXO

Teddy Roosevelt was impressed to have a taste of home when he was served an American apple pie while traveling in Africa.

Soldiers during World War II were often quoted they were fighting “for Mom and apple pie.”   In 1970, advertisers used the patriotic connection with a commercial jingle “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.”

More Pie to love!

More Apple Days

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalApplePieDay

Share your favorite apple pie recipes. Another way to celebrate is by giving a shout out to your favorite apple pie baker.

Use #NationalApplePieDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIE DAY

National Butterscotch Brownie Day on May 9th each year recognizes a delicious treat. Butterscotch Brownies, also known as Blondies or Brookies (brownie + cookie) made their debut before chocolate brownies. Recipes date back to the 19th century and are made up of flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, baking powder, and vanilla. Walnuts, pecans, or butterscotch chips are sometimes added to the brownies.

These brownies taste delicious with a dollop of ice cream on top. They also make terrific trifles when cut up into chunks and layered with puddings or mousse, and whipped cream. Make them for bake sales or tasty little gifts. No matter what excuse you use to make them, be sure to share them!

More Brownies….

HOW TO OBSERVE #ButterscotchBrownieDay

Want to keep it simple?  Enjoy this recipe from Taste of Home. Share your favorite recipes and combinations, too! Use #ButterscotchBrownieDay to post on social media. Don’t forget to serve your butterscotch brownie topped with ice cream and butterscotch or caramel sauce.  YUM!!!

Use #NationalButterscotchBrownieDay to share on social media. 

NATIONAL CHERRY CHEESECAKE DAY

April 23rd recognizes the food holiday National Cherry Cheesecake Day. Cookbooks and bakers offer a large variety of recipes for cherry cheesecake. Some cherry cheesecake recipes call for the cherries to be mixed into the batter and others place the cherries on top.

This smooth dessert hits the spot when the end of the meal rolls around. While most cakes have a crumb, cheesecake’s texture is nothing like cake. Indeed, its creamy, thick pudding-like character comes from the soft cheese used as the main ingredient. Depending on the recipe, either cream cheese or cottage cheese is used. When the cheese is mixed with sugar, eggs, and other ingredients, the batter is added to a crust.

When making cheesecake, one of the most common crusts used is a graham cracker crust. Other options include a cookie crust, pastry or sponge cake. However, some cheesecakes are crustless. Depending on the recipe, cheesecakes may be prepared baked or unbaked.

Cherries on their own offer a bounty of nutrients. For example, the antioxidants in this red fruit protect cells from damage. Because cherries pack an anti-inflammatory punch, they may help reduce the risk of heart disease, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE #CherryCheesecakeDay

With so many recipes to choose from, serving a cheesecake for dessert will be easy. Make your favorite recipe or try the one we found. Get the family involved and share your results, too!

Cherry Cheesecake recipe.  

Share your cherry cheesecake photos on social media using #CherryCheesecakeDay.

NATIONAL PEACH COBBLER DAY

National Peach Cobbler Day on April 13th each year recognizes a delicious dessert that originated during the 19th century.

Unable to make traditional suet puddings due to lack of suitable ingredients and cooking equipment, the settlers instead covered a stewed filling with a layer of uncooked plain biscuits or dumplings, fitted together. When the dish is fully cooked, the surface has the appearance of a cobbled street. The name may also derive from the fact that the ingredients are “cobbled” together. Some cobbler recipes resemble a thick-crusted, deep-dish pie with both top and bottom crust.

In 2007, the world’s largest peach cobbler was made at the Georgia Peach Festival.  It consisted of:

  • 90 lbs of butter
  • 150 lbs of sugar
  • 150 lbs of flour
  • 32 gallons of milk
  • 75 gallons of peaches

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPeachCobblerDay

Make some homemade peach cobbler. What’s nice is it can be made from fresh, frozen, or canned peaches and still taste amazing!

Use #NationalPeachCobblerDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL LACY OATMEAL COOKIE DAY

There are cookie holidays and then there is National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day. Each year on March 18th, this holiday celebrates a delicate cookie made from oats.

Some people may refer to this day as National Oatmeal Cookie Day (which is celebrated on April 30th). The difference between the two is that lacy oatmeal cookies are wafer-thin and typically accompany a scoop of ice cream or sorbet.

In the early 1900s, oatmeal became a major ingredient in the American diet. Before that, Americans relied on other grains. Originating in England, oatmeal cookies have been around since the 1800s.  However, it is believed that they were created after the oatcake. Soldiers used to carry oatcakes with them for a quick boost of energy during battle. Most research found that the first recorded oatmeal raisin cookie recipe was written by Fannie Merritt Farmer in 1896.Considered a health food, the cookies quickly became popular. By the early 1900s, a recipe for the delicious treats appeared on containers of Quaker Oats.

Oatmeal cookies are an excellent source of iron and fiber

Bakers use many different recipes for the lacy oatmeal cookies. Additionally, home bakers bake with a variety of oats including old fashioned oats, quick-cooking oats, oat bran or oat flour.  For a healthier cookie, add finely chopped or ground fruits (such as raisins) or nuts and use a sugar substitute. You can also decorate your lacy oatmeal cookies with icing drizzled on top of the cookie.

More Cookies..

HOW TO OBSERVE #LacyOatmealCookieDay

Lacy oatmeal cookies make pretty decorations on top of cakes and other baked goods, too. They also make excellent gifts. Make some for a friend or neighbor. 

Use #LacyOatmealCookieDay to post on social media.