National Guacamole Day on September 16 brings fresh flavors together for the perfect celebration. What a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month!
Avocados shine as the star of this dip! Lime juice, tomatoes, onion, and seasonings make guacamole a guilt-free addition to any snack or meal.
Since avocados fall under the superfood category, feel free to indulge. Packed full of good fats and nutrients, along with the fresh taste of lime and hint of spice, the dip is flavorful. It’s easy to make, too. Take it to work or use it for a party dish.
Guacamole is versatile, too. For example, add it as a topping on a quesadilla or even add it to a salad. Of course, the simplest way to enjoy is by dipping your favorite tortilla chip.
Originating with the Aztecs in Mexico, guacamole is an avocado-based sauce that has become popular in American cuisine as a dip, condiment, and salad ingredient.
Using a mortar and pestle, mash ripe avocados and then mixing in sea salt. Beyond the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and lemon juice, hot sauce, yogurt or other seasonings can be added. If a celebration calls for spicier guacamole, add jalapenos, chilis, cumin, or red pepper.
Mix up your favorite recipe for guacamole. Go to your favorite restaurant and order some fresh guacamole. While there, give a shout out to the restaurants with the best guacamole around. Be sure to invite friends. As we say around here, why #CelebrateEveryDay if you don’t do it with friends? Share your recipes and find the best combination. Use #NationalGuacamoleDay to share on social media.
We celebrate National Passion Fruit Day each year on August 9. Join us today as we celebrate the delightful sweet and tangy flavor of the tropical fruit known as passion fruit. We also want to promote and honor the hard working farmers and growers that provide passion fruit to consumers in the United States.
Passion fruit is a tropical fruit belonging to the Passifloraceae family, which is a combination of flowering plants that has over 750 species. Passion fruit is native to South America, specifically in regions of Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The fruit grows abundantly in South America because of the tropical climate, where warm temperatures and rainfall attribute to the abundant growth of the fruit. South America has extremely fertile soil, which provides essential nutrients that promote healthy growth. Interestingly, pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds also contribute to the successful growth of passionfruit in the region. However, passion fruit does grow in other parts of the world, including central America, Africa, Australia, and even Hawaii.
A Story About Passion Fruit
There is a legend in Hawaiian mythology about the goddess Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire, and the passion fruit vine. According to the legend, Pele had a sister named Hi’iaka, who was a hula dancer and a healer. One day, Hi’iaka went on a journey to fetch Pele’s lover, Lohi’au, from a distant island. On her journey, Hi’iaka encountered many obstacles and temptations. During her travels, she came across a beautiful passion fruit vine laden with ripe, delicious fruits. She was drawn to the vine’s enchanting aroma and decided to take a short break to enjoy the fruits. However, this delay caused her mission to be prolonged, which angered Pele when she finally returned. To this day, it is said that Pele, in her jealousy and rage, turned the passion fruit vine into lava rocks and scattered them across the Hawaiian islands. The legend serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and staying focused on one’s goals, as even a brief distraction can lead to undesirable consequences. These legends add depth and cultural significance to the humble passion fruit, making it more than just a delightful tropical fruit. The stories tie the fruit to themes of sacrifice, love, and perseverance, adding a touch of mystique and wonder to its allure.
What is Passion Fruit? Passion fruit is a small, round or oval-shaped tropical fruit with big flavor. The outer portion of the fruit is either purple or yellow and has a wrinkly skin. Inside, you will find a jelly-like pulp with tons of little black seeds. Don’t worry, the black seeds are very edible! Purple passion fruit is more common and has a tarter flavor. Yellow passion fruit is larger than the purple fruit and is also sweeter.
Eating passion fruit provides high amounts of nutrients. For example, passion fruit contains vitamins C and A, calcium, and iron. All of which promote a healthy immune system, heart health, and assist with digestion.
The pulp of passion fruit can be used in juices, smoothies, salads, and even desserts. In fact, passion fruit is often used as a sauce and topping for a variety of dishes.
When Spanish missionaries named the passion fruit flower. When they first saw a passion fruit plant, they were amazed by the beautiful flowers and the way they appeared. To them, the flower structure was a symbolic element of the crucifixion of Christ, which included the crown of the thorn and the nails.
Passion fruit tastes best when it’s skin is slightly wrinkled. This means the inside is ripe and juicy. Eating passion fruit before the skin is wrinkly will result in the fruit tasting a bit tart or sour.
A passion fruit plant is a climbing vine that grows upwards extremely fast to get full sunlight. An average passion fruit plant can grow up to 20 feet high.
A PASSION FRUIT CELEBRATION
Passion fruit adds delicious flavor to a variety of food and drinks. You can add passion fruit and a little sweetener to a glass of ice water to create a refreshing summertime drink. If you enjoy homemade ice cream or sorbet, consider adding it to your recipe. Our favorite is passion fruit salad dressing. Simply add the pulp to your vinaigrette recipe and turn your salad into a tropical paradise for your taste buds.
Trying new food is always exciting. If you have never tried passion fruit, it’s time to visit your local fruit market or grocery store and pick a few up to sample.
Make National Passion Fruit Day a family celebration by hosting a tropical-themed party. Have platters of passion fruit and other various tropical fruits to eat, along with other foods native to tropical islands. Label each different platter so your guests know what you are eating.
We love to hear stories and see photos of people celebrating National Passion Fruit Day. Tag #NatinalPassionFruitDay on social media to share your photos, videos, and recipes with the world!
On July 7th, it is time to indulge on National Strawberry Sundae Day. Each year on this day, Americans combine vanilla or strawberry ice cream, strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Make several strawberry sundaes, and enjoy this delicious treat with friends and family.
While the oldest known record of an ice cream sundae is an Ithaca, NY advertisement, the originator of the dessert is cooly debated. The October 5, 1892 ad in the Ithaca Daily Journal spelled the ice cream treat with the conventional day of the week spelling – Sunday.
However, Two Rivers, Wisconsin claims that Druggist Edward Berners served the first ice cream sundae in 1881. According to the story, customer George Hallauer ordered an ice cream soda on a Sunday. Since ordinances at the time prohibited the sale of ice cream sodas on the Sabbath, Berners came up with a compromise and served the ice cream in a dish minus the soda. He topped it with chocolate syrup and called it a Sundae. One interesting catch – Berners was 18 at the time the story takes place.
Ithaca’s claim to the ice cream sundae takes place at Platt & Colt Pharmacy in 1892 where Reverend John M. Scott stops to order a bowl of ice cream. When Chester Platt, proprietor, began preparing the ice cream for his customer, he didn’t stop at just a couple of scoops of vanilla. Platt drizzled cherry syrup over the ice cream and topped them with a bright red, candied cherry. The dessert looked and tasted so delightful it required its own name. Since the day was Sunday, it was named for the day it was created. Ithaca also has historical evidence supporting the story, including an advertisement for a Cherry Sunday.
While an origin story for the strawberry sundae hasn’t surfaced, it isn’t a stretch to imagine a strawberry replacing a cherry. Or strawberries topping chocolate. Celebrating sundaes with strawberries and whipped cream just seems worthy of a holiday no matter who created it.
It’s summer! Strawberries and ice cream just go together. What better way to celebrate than with a sundae? Set up a strawberry sundae bar and invite the neighbors to make their own. Maybe they would like to try this sundae recipe. Post on social media using #StrawberrySundaeDay.
National Strawberry Parfait Day on June 25th comes around each year during the perfect time – peak strawberry season.
In fact, parfait is French for perfect. The traditional parfait is a dessert of ice cream or frozen custard layered with fruit and whipped cream in a tall stemmed glass. An additional topping of whipped cream garnishes the dessert. Today, we often replace the ice cream with yogurt or pudding and layers of granola.
Strawberries are not only in season during June, but they are also an excellent source of Vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and fiber. At 55 calories and zero fat per 1 cup, these sweet things hit the spot when snack time is calling! When making parfaits, don’t just reserve them for dessert. If serving them with yogurt and granola, they make a delicious breakfast and snack, too.
This celebration offers a terrific opportunity to explore your farmer’s markets for fresh-picked strawberries. Once you have the bounty home, make a homemade strawberry parfait to enjoy with all the wholesome ingredients you can add. Or indulge a little and make a traditional parfait with ice cream, whipped cream, and maybe a little chocolate syrup, too. We even have a recipe for you to try.
Another way to celebrate is by visiting your favorite ice cream shop and treating the family to strawberry parfaits. Be sure to give them a shout-out.
How will you be celebrating? Let us know by using #NationalStrawberryParfaitDay to share on social media.
National Strawberry Shortcake Day is observed each year on June 14th. Either on a shortcake biscuit or a sponge cake, strawberry shortcake is an easy and refreshing summertime dessert!
Strawberries are sliced, mixed with sugar then allowed to sit for about an hour until they have surrendered plenty of their juices. The shortcakes are then split, and the bottom is covered with a layer of the strawberries, juice and whipped cream. The top is then put back on, and more strawberries, juice and whipped cream are added to finish it off.
Do you remember the cartoon of the same name? I can’t get over the “new cartoon” as my nieces call it. I had the bedding and dolls when i was a little girl.
Make a strawberry shortcake and enjoy. We love the old fashioned version made with Bisquick. Make sure there are plenty to go around! Use #StrawberryShortcakeDay on social media.
![Deborah M. Schneider
Salsas and Moles: Fresh and Authentic Recipes for Pico de Gallo, Mole Poblano, Chimichurri, Guacamole, and More [A Cookbook]](https://i0.wp.com/jensperspectiveblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/91qkezy95vl3104360966143001848.jpg?resize=531%2C654&ssl=1)
