NATIONAL HAMBURGER MONTH

April 30, 2024May 2, 2024Jensperspectiveblog 6 Comments

National Hamburger Month in May kicks off some of the busiest grilling and barbecuing season of the year.

Americans love their burgers and restaurants dedicated to making them just right have been in business for generations. Even those who refrain from red meat don’t let hesitate to find a way to enjoy a juicy burger. Whether the burger is charbroiled, grilled or barely kisses the heat, there’s a flavor for you.

If you like a burger that’s saucy and juicy, try an all-beef patty with bleu cheese and grilled yellow onion.

For a creaminess and crunch, add a slice of ripe avocado and bacon.

When it comes to adding some tanginess to a burger, a few ingredients never fail. Goat cheese brightens a burger every time, but if you’re looking for a crispness, too, add some creamy coleslaw instead. Another option in this category is the reliable tartar sauce.

If you like to bring the heat, you can look to your cheeses. Pepper jack is a mild way of adding some spice. However, if you prefer to test the limits, fresh sliced jalapenos or habaneros will also do the trick.

More to Explore…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHamburgerMonth

No matter how you enjoy your burgers, be sure to heat up the grill or frequent your favorite restaurant this month. And use #NationalBurgerMonth to share on social media.

NATIONAL SALSA MONTH

April 30, 2024April 30, 2024Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Salsa Month in May a vibrant way to add flavor and color to any recipe. For extra fun learn to dance a Salsa as well. Or just watch the pros do it. Dancing with the Stars usually features the dance.

Salsa means sauce in Spanish. While we may be most familiar with tomato, pepper and onion salsas, any fresh fruit or vegetable can be made into salsa.

We can make fresh salsa all year long with produce that is in season. When our gardens produce a bounty, canned salsa preserves the flavor for the winter months. We can also purchase in bulk when the timing is right to save money.

In some parts of Indiana, if someone asks you for a mango, they might be asking you for a bell pepper!

Salsas don’t have to be spicy, but even when they are the heat can be a subtle flavor that only lingers for a moment on the tongue. These sauces burst with aromatic spices and go well with a variety of meats, dips, and desserts. They pair well with wine and cheese, too.

Don’t hesitate to experiment, but be cautious when using hot peppers. The capsaicin can be harmful depending on where the pepper ranks on the Scoville scale.

After making your salsa, keep the colors bright by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime to the recipe. The acid prevents the fruits from turning brown.

Relevant Observances

HOW TO OBSERVE

Make several different salsas in May. Try some popular flavors like mango, peach, or pineapple. Throughout the month, try new or exotic fruits and flavors. Tell us what salsas inspire you! Use #NationalSalsaMonth to share on social media. Salsa is a great food to watch the dance too.

AMERICAN CHEESE MONTH

April 30, 2024May 2, 2024Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

Melt it, toast it, or add it to a salad. May is American Cheese Month!

In the United States, we enjoy quite a list of American cheeses. While you may recognize Swiss and Colby, bleu and cheddar, it’s the artisan cheeses that add that extra flair. American cheesemakers across the country provide an abundance of flavor and choice and American Cheese Month sets out to let you know what’s available.

No matter what you’re looking for, there is an American cheese that will fit the necessary taste profile. Philadelphia created a soft cheese perfect for baking and dips. Our cheesemongers recommend the ideal cheese to pair with your wine to start a romantic meal. The roots of cheesemaking run deep in the United States and show no signs of stopping.

According to the USDA, Americans consumed 34 pounds of cheese per capita in 2015, and they have steadily increased that amount over the last 20 years. We love our cheese. There are so many ways we enjoy it. We add it to soups, salads, pizza and so much more. By itself, it’s a go-to snack. We. Love. Cheese. Even better than that, we love American cheeses!

Celebrate cheese days nearly every month of the year! If you eat cheese, there’s a day for you. National Goat Cheese Month in August gives you another entire month to celebrate. Some of us wonder about the fuzzy stuff on cheese. There’s a day for that, too. National Moldy Cheese Day is October 9. Visit a cheesemonger and discover an American cheese you haven’t tried before.

HISTORY

The American Cheese Society celebrated the first American Cheese Month in October 2011 to spread awareness concerning the growing variety of American cheese available.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Explore the wide variety of American cheeses made in the United States. Use #AmericanCheeseMonth to post on social media.

National Salad Month

April 30, 2024May 2, 2024Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

It’s time for the freshness of National Salad Month. Greens pop this time of year, and it’s easy to grow garden lettuce even in a small space. They fill the grocery with a variety of color, too.

Beyond the leafy part of the salad, the crisp vegetables, proteins, flavorful cheeses, herbs, berries, grains, and nuts make salads exciting and healthy. If we don’t over indulge in the cheese and fatty meats, it’s usually the dressing that causes our salad downfall.

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More to Explore

HOW TO OBSERVE

Salads are an excellent way help get your 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. We’ve provided tips to get the maximum salad-eating in this month!

Mix up the lettuce variety. Iceberg is what we’re most familiar with in the United States. Try spinach for a change of pace. Romaine makes excellent lettuce wraps. Butterhead comes in loose, crisp, rosettes.
Prepare salads for the work week. Fill the bottom of a Mason jar the salad dressing. Add the more solid fruits or veggies to next layer followed by any proteins and cheeses. Next, add the leafy greens. The items crunchy croutons, nuts or soft fruits and veggies should be added the day you eat the salad.
Serve salad with every meal, even breakfast. Fruit salad is a bright way to start the morning.
Substitute salad for one meal a day.
Try a different type a salad every week.

Use #NationalSaladMonth to share on social media.

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NATIONAL BARBEQUE MONTH

April 30, 2024May 2, 2024Jensperspectiveblog 5 Comments

National Barbecue Month in May encourages us to break out our special recipes and get some mouthwatering deliciousness started.

Whether you prefer charcoal, wood, or gas, barbecuing is fundamentally a slow cooking method over indirect heat. While the type of protein and seasonings vary, each part of the country specializes in their own flavors and sauces. From sweet to spicy, techniques range from region to region and state to state. Even the way a place smokes their barbecue can be considered unique!

Pork is the original barbecue meat, but beef, chicken, lamb, and other proteins find their way into barbecue. Some of the best side dishes associated with this time-honored cuisine are coleslaw, macaroni & cheese, and baked beans.

In America there are lots of great occasions that our family uses to have a barbeque. Patriotic days, birthdays, and of course, summer time. We live in Florida…so learning to barbeque is practically like getting a drivers license. No matter when, barbeques are a great time to put down the phone, reconnect with family and friends. The fantastic food is just a bonus to these memories you create.

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HISTORY

The Barbecue Council founded National Barbecue Month in 1963 to encourage outdoor cooking. Since then, grilling and barbecuing have increased in popularity.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

You can either put on an apron or a bib because whether your making barbecue or eating it, it can get messy. Then dig in! Try different flavors and recipes all month long. And, if you’ve heard about a good barbecue restaurant, get there early. The good ones sell until it’s all gone then close up shop. That’s the sign of real barbecue! Use #NationalBarbecueMonth to share on social media.

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