National Ice Cream Sandwhich Day

August 2, 2026August 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 6 Comments

On August 2nd, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day encourages us to cool off with one of our favorite frozen treats. Whether it’s vanilla, strawberry or Neopolitan between two chocolate wafers, the dessert sure will hit the spot on a hot summer day.

The original ice cream sandwich sold for a penny in 1900 from a pushcart in the Bowery neighborhood of New York. Newspapers never identified the name of the vendor in articles that appeared across the country. However, the ice cream sandwiched between milk biscuits became a hit. Soon, pushcarts popped up around the city and country during the summer months selling the portable treats. Early pictures show beachgoers at Atlantic City getting their ice cream sandwichs for 1¢ each.

Once ice cream sandwiches became popular, recipes for home cooks filled the papers. The sandwich layers included everything from angel food and sponge cake to shortbread cookies. Restaurants offered the ice cream sandwich as a decadent dessert for travelers. By 1940, grocers sold sandwiches made with crispy wafers.

One account claims the modern ice cream sandwich with the chocolate wafer was invented in 1945 by Jerry Newberg. The ice cream maker sold his creation at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, PA. At the time, the storied location was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers.

If the chocolate brownie wafer doesn’t appeal to you, don’t hesitate to mix it up. All variety of cookies make excellent sandwich parts. Change up the ice cream, too. Around the world, ice cream sandwiches go by a variety of names including the Monaco Bar, Giant Sandwich, Maxibon, Cream Between, Vanilla Slice, and many more.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #IceCreamSandwichDay

Enjoy an ice cream sandwich today! Make your own, or listen for your local ice cream truck. Post on social media using #IceCreamSandwichDay.

Chef'n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Sandwich Maker, Large, Black — Chef’n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Sandwich Maker, Large, Black

Ice Cream Sandwich Wafers & Cookies (Chocolate Wafer, 1 Lb) — Chef’n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Sandwich Maker, Large, Black

NATIONAL FORTUNE COOKIE DAY

July 19, 2026July 18, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 10 Comments

We see a time when you will enjoy a crunchy, sweet treat on National Fortune Cookie Day! Each year on July 20th, Americans celebrate the cookie that is a traditional part of Chinese take-out.

These crisp, folded cookies have a hint of buttery sweetness. Break them open, and you will find a slip of paper tucked inside with a message on it. The phrase will range from profound words of wisdom or tricky riddles to simple bits of common sense. Some fortunes include quotes from famous philosophers.

While these nuggets of enjoyment are most often found at the end of a Chinese meal, they didn’t originate in China. The distinctively folded cookie began in Japan, where elegant desserts and folding techniques are quintessentially Japanese. However, in Japan, the fortune was tucked in the fold on the outside of the cookie. Sometime in the late 1800s, the fortune cookie migrated to the United States and made its transition. During World War II, it exploded in popularity, and Americans have never stopped enjoying them.

HOW TO OBSERVE #FortuneCookieDay

Order some Chinese takeout and indulge in some fortune cookie therapy. But that’s not the only way to celebrate. Of course not!

Try making your own fortune cookies. Here’s a tasty homemade fortune cookie recipe for you to try.
We know you save your favorite fortunes. Please share them with us.
While you’re sharing, take a turn at writing a fortune. If you’re making fortune cookies, you’re going to need to practice this.
Try this neat fortune generator for your fortune cookies.

Want more cookies???

Share your celebration with us. Use #FortuneCookieDay to post on social media.

WORLD BAKING DAY

May 16, 2026May 6, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

Every third Sunday in May, World Baking Day inspires people to bake for their loved ones, friends, and neighbors. These bakers are also encouraged to give their baked goods away as a token of gratitude and appreciation.

People have been baking for thousands of years. In fact, the world’s oldest oven is over 6,500 years old! Bread baking goes all the way back to 600 BC in Ancient Greece. The Egyptians were the first to use yeast when baking bread. Besides bread, cakes were also a popular food to bake. The word “cake” dates back to the 13th century. The earliest cakes were more bread-like. Bakers added sugar or honey to add sweetness.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, baking was transformed by globalization. There was an abundance of syrups, spices, and currants, which made baked goods taste even more delicious. Bready dough with butter, cream, and raisins were especially popular. By the late 17th century, sugar was less expensive. As a result, people began making mince pies with sugar and spices. Eventually, other ingredients like eggs, flour, and baking powder were used more and more.

Today baked goods are popular all over the world. Some favorites include apple pie, black forest cake, baklava, cannoli, Yorkshire pudding, rye bread, brownies, and pretzels.

WORLD BAKING DAY HISTORY

Since 2012, World Baking Day has been observed on the third Sunday in May. The original intent of the day was to make and give away a homemade cake. The day has since evolved into baking and giving away all kinds of baked goods. Our team is still researching who came up with this special food day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldBakingDay

The best way to observe this day is to bake some goodies for a friend, neighbor or loved one. They will be surprised and delighted to receive such a wonderful and delicious gift. This day is also a great day to teach your kids to bake. Go ahead and try to bake something you’ve never made before. Or host a cake decorating contest. No matter what you choose to bake, be sure to share your goodies with others. Take a photo of your creation and post it on social media with #WorldBakingDay.

NATIONAL PASTRY DAY

December 8, 2025November 14, 2025Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

National Pastry Day celebrates one of the world’s most favored baked goods. On December 9th, visit your local bakery and pick up one or two of your favorite kinds.

The pastry is a name given to a large variety of baked goods which are made with ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs. Pastry dough is rolled out thinly and then used as a base for different baked products. A few of the more common bakery items include pies, tarts, quiches, and pasties. Bakers create both savory and sweet dishes from the doughs they create. Additionally, they continue to develop new and delicious creations all the time!

Pastries can be traced as far back as the ancient Mediterranean where they had almost paper-thin, multilayered baklava and Phyllo dough.
Pastry making began in Northern Europe after the Crusaders brought it back from the Mediterranean.
French and Italian Renaissance chefs eventually perfected the puff and choux pastries while 17th and 18th-century chefs brought new recipes to the table. Included in the innovative recipes were Napoleons, cream puffs and eclairs.

Culinary historians often consider French pastry chef Antonin Careme (1784 – 1833) to have been the original great master of pastry making in modern times.

Pastry for Beginners Cookbook: Step-by-Step Recipes for Sweet and Savory Treats
#NationalPastryDay — Pastry for Beginners Cookbook: Step-by-Step Recipes for Sweet and Savory Treats

Pastry Love: A Baker's Journal of Favorite Recipes
#NationalPastryDay — Pastry for Beginners Cookbook: Step-by-Step Recipes for Sweet and Savory Treats

Many different types of pastry deliver baked goods that make our mouths water. Most of them fall into one of the following categories:

Shortcrust pastry – simplest and most common.
Sweetcrust pastry – similar to the shortcrust but sweeter.
Flaky pastry – simple pastry that expands when cooked.
Puff pastry – has many layers that cause it to puff when baked.
Choux pastry – very light pastry that is often filled with cream or other fillings.
Phyllo pastry – paper-thin pastry dough that is used in many layers.

Make sure to explore these great pastries too. Raspberry Popover Day, Cream Puff Day, National Chocolate Eclair Day, Yorkshire Pudding Day, Blueberry Popover Day, Strawberry Shortcake Day, Blueberry Muffin Day, National Oatmeal Muffin Day, and National Muffin Day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPastryDay

Get baking! While you’re baking, be sure to invite someone over to help you enjoy the delicious results. Another way to celebrate is by visiting your local bakery and giving them a shout out. Be sure to use #NationalPastryDay and share it on social media when you do.