Tag local

NATIONAL SPONGE CAKE DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

On August 23rd, enjoy National Sponge Cake Day with the quintessential classic of the cake world. This airy queen of teas is the guest of honor, but we get the pleasure of tasting! 

One of the trickiest cakes for bakers to master, a perfect sponge stands tall. Another balancing trick for bakers includes maintaining a fine crumb while keeping the cake moist. If you enjoy layering berries and whipped cream, the sponge handles this task beautifully. 

The sponge cake is believed to be one of the first non-yeasted cakes. 

The sponge cake is thought to have originated in the Caribbean. However, the earliest English printed recipe for sponge cake comes from an English poet and author, Gervase Markham. In 1615 he published a sponge cake recipe in the book The English Huswife, Containing the Inward and Outward Virtues Which Ought to Be in a Complete Woman.

I can’t knit or make plum jam, but I can bake a bloody Victoria sponge. ~ Helen Mirren as Chris in Calendar Girls (2003)

In 2003, the sponge cake played a tiny role in the movie Calendar Girls starring Helen Mirren. In the scene, Mirren’s character, Chris, enters a baking competition. However, she forgets she entered, and instead of entering a sponge cake of her own making, she submits a store-bought Victoria sponge cake.

Want More Cake…

HOW TO OBSERVE #SpongeCakeDay

Be sure to find more of your favorite cakes here.

Get some sponge cake and enjoy it. Or, if you are up to the challenge, try this Glorious Sponge Cake recipe. Serve it with berries or a preserve. Use #SpongeCakeDay to post on social media.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB WINE DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

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. 

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #StrawberryRhubarbWineDay

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.  

Red Wine Glasses Iridescent Wine Glass Stemware Crystal Wine Glasses Rainbow Wine Glasses for Wine Tasting , Wedding Gift, Anniversary, Christmas, Birthday (Set of 4)#StrawberryRhubarbWineDay
Red Wine Glasses Iridescent Wine Glass Stemware Crystal Wine Glasses Rainbow Wine Glasses for Wine Tasting , Wedding Gift, Anniversary, Christmas, Birthday (Set of 4)
OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew with Removable Foil Cutter#StrawberryRhubarbWineDay
OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew with Removable Foil Cutter
OKD Farmhouse Wine Bar Cabinet w/Sliding Barn Door, 54" Kitchen Coffee Bar Cabinet w/Wine & Glass Rack, Storage Shelves, 3 Drawers, Rustic Large Buffet Sideboard for Dining Room, Antique White#StrawberryRhubarbWineDay
OKD Farmhouse Wine Bar Cabinet w/Sliding Barn Door, 54″ Kitchen Coffee Bar Cabinet w/Wine & Glass Rack, Storage Shelves, 3 Drawers, Rustic Large Buffet Sideboard for Dining Room, Antique White
Loomie Wine Bar Cabinet with LED Light, Home Coffee Cabinet with Wine Rack and Glass Holder, Kitchen Buffet Sideboard W Storage Shelf, Freestanding Liquor Cabinet for Living Room, Dining Room (Black)#StrawberryRhubarbWineDay
Loomie Wine Bar Cabinet with LED Light, Home Coffee Cabinet with Wine Rack and Glass Holder, Kitchen Buffet Sideboard W Storage Shelf, Freestanding Liquor Cabinet for Living Room, Dining Room (Black)

NATIONAL CELL PHONE COURTESY MONTH

Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

National Cell Phone Courtesy Month during July encourages us to evaluate our cellular habits and consider others before we reach for our phone.

Our phones have become an integral part of our lives. We schedule events, organize shopping lists, order birthday presents and communicate all from this one, small device. Do we even make a phone call any more?

Phone courtesy has always been in fashion, but when they became smart, it seems we lost a few brain cells.  National Cell Phone Courtesy Month strives to bring polite phone usage back in style.

Dos and Don’ts
  • Silent the phone whenever you’re spending time with anyone. That includes work, a meal, meeting or with family. If you are attending a performance of any kind, turn the phone off. There are exceptions to this rule for medical professionals or other expectant emergency situations.
  • Rude Do not expect to be waited on if you are on your phone. There is nothing as rude as being on your phone and pointing at people to come wait on you.
  • Hidden phones are forgotten phones. We pay attention to the people in the room, the performance, or the meeting. It’s also a signal to the people we are with that they are important to us.
  • Step away if you do need to take a call. No one needs to hear your conversation while trying to enjoy a meal for two.
  • Shhh. Monitor the volume of your voice. Even when you step away, voices carry.
  • Pause before sending emails, texts or social media posts. Consider the content, especially if it is posted in haste. Ask yourself the following questions. Sometimes just the need to ask will be all the answer you need before deleting the comment or text.
    • Will I regret sending this later?
    • Am I angry?
    • Will this hurt someone?
    • Is this appropriate?
    • Will this affect my job or relationship?
  • Don’t use your phone and drive. Many states prohibit cellular use or limit it to hands-free only. Any message can wait until you arrive at your destination. If it truly is urgent, pull to a safe stopping area to receive the message or call.
  • Don’t let your mobile device become a social hindrance. We often look to our phone for social engagement when we don’t know what else to do. Meet new people when you are in a new circle of people and begin networking with the people near you. Expand your social circle face to face and broaden the world around you.

HISTORY

In 2002, Jacqueline Whitmore, a Palm Beach, Florida manners expert, created National Cell Phone Courtesy Month with the help of Sprint to increase phone etiquette.

Prime Day

More to Explore…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Our phones are tools. They shouldn’t replace every social context in our lives. Practice a little courtesy and gain improved relationships everywhere you go. Encourage your friends and families to join you throughout the month. Use #CellPhoneCourtesyMonth to share on social media.

NATIONAL ICE CREAM CAKE DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Ice Cream Cake Day is observed annually on June 27. In the height of summer, an ice cream cake is the perfect dessert.

An ice cream cake consists of any flavor of ice cream in the shape of a cake.  It can include many different ingredients such as cake, cookie crumbs, sponge cake, fudge, fruit or caramel between the layers of ice cream.  It is then frosted with either whipped cream or a similar icing.  Ice cream cakes are kept frozen until served.  They are typically decorated and served at a wide variety of parties.

Although the origin of the ice cream cake remains somewhat of a mystery, this popular dessert combines the classic summer treat, ice cream, with the time-honored celebratory cake, which makes it one of the best culinary inventions to date.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Order an ice cream cake from your favorite bakery or make your own to share with friends.  Use #nationalicecreamcakeday to share your photos on social media.

HIWARE 7 Inch Non-stick Springform Pan/Cheesecake Pan/Leakproof Cake Pan#nationalicecreamcakeday
HIWARE 7 Inch Non-stick Springform Pan/Cheesecake Pan/Leakproof Cake Pan
SOUJOY Springform Cake Pan, Non-stick Cheesecake Pan, 14 x 9 Inch Large Rectangle Cake Pan with Removable Bottom, Ice Cream Cake Bakeware#nationalicecreamcakeday
SOUJOY Springform Cake Pan, Non-stick Cheesecake Pan, 14 x 9 Inch Large Rectangle Cake Pan with Removable Bottom, Ice Cream Cake Bakeware

NATIONAL DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

Observed annually on May 19, National Devil’s Food Cake Day is enjoyed by chocolate cake lovers throughout the country and around the world.

Devil’s Food cake is a heavenly chocolate cake.  It differs from a regular chocolate cake by its darker color and tends to be more moist and airy.  Devil’s Food cake recipes use hot or boiling water as the primary liquid. Cocoa is typically utilized in the batter, as opposed to chocolate, and coffee can be added for a distinctive flavor.  A delicious chocolate frosting usually accompanies the cake.

Recipes for Devil’s Food cakes often appeared alongside recipes for Angel Food cakes.  One of the earliest recipes appeared in the August 10, 1898, edition of the Hagerstown Exponent of Hagerstown, Indiana.

The once Queen of France said, “Let them eat cake“, I cant think of a better idea in today’s world.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Mix up this irresistible Devil’s Food Cake I recipe. Use #DevilsFoodCakeDay to post on social media.