National Mediterranean Diet Month

April 30, 2026April 24, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 9 Comments

When it comes to flavor and health in one package, National Mediterranean Diet Month in May has us covered. From fresh herbs and vegetables to succulent seafood and wine, this cuisine satisfies.

One way to get the best out of a Mediterranean diet is to indulge in the whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables along with the healthy oils our bodies need. Olive and canola oils are rich in good cholesterol. Add fish and chicken to the menu and limit red meat to only a couple times a month and we’re well on our way to enjoying a Mediterranean lifestyle. Finish it off with a glass of red wine occasionally and plenty of exercise.

Oldways founded National Mediterranean Diet Month in 2008.

We actually combine Keto, Mediterranean and Carb Counted to get a healthy diet of flavors, and a lot of the dishes can be altered to this style of eating. It keeps things so flavorful you probably won’t even realize you’re on a diet….

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Are you looking for a flavorful, easy to follow diet? The Mediterranean diet meets the guidelines for the food pyramid. Give it a try during May and you might find it a lifestyle changer. Use #MediterraneanDietMonth to share on social media.

Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 2000+ Days of Yummy 5 Ingredients Recipes, Tailored for Two, Ready in 10 Minutes. Meal Plan & Shopping List Included#MediterraneanDietMonth — Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 2000+ Days of Yummy 5 Ingredients Recipes, Tailored for Two, Ready in 10 Minutes. Meal Plan & Shopping List Included

The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook: 500 Vibrant, Kitchen-Tested Recipes for Living and Eating Well Every Day (The Complete ATK Cookbook Series)#MediterraneanDietMonth — Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 2000+ Days of Yummy 5 Ingredients Recipes, Tailored for Two, Ready in 10 Minutes. Meal Plan & Shopping List Included

NATIONAL LOBSTER NEWBURG DAY

March 24, 2026March 5, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Lobster Newburg day on March 25th ushers in a celebration worthy of a sea captain. An American seafood dish, Lobster Newburg includes lobster, butter, cream, cognac, sherry, eggs, and cayenne pepper.

Delmonico’s of New York debut Lobster Newburg in 1876. A sea captain by the name of Ben Wenburg developed the elegant and rich dish. After he demonstrated the recipe to restaurant manager Charles Delmonico, Chef Charles Ranhofer made refinements and they added the creation to the restaurant’s menu as Lobster a la Wenburg. It wasn’t long before the dish grew in popularity.

However, an argument between Wenburg and manager Charles Delmonico caused the dish to be removed from the menu. After many requests from patrons, Delmonico’s returned the dish with a new name. The entree came to be known as Lobster Newburg.

When Delmonico’s first opened in 1930, Brothers Giovanni and Peter transformed a small café into New York’s first customary restaurant with cloth-covered tables and printed menus. Similar to the café’s transformation, Lobster Newburg came about right around the time lobster was transforming from a poor man’s food to a delicacy. See before the mid-1800s, people considered lobster to be fish bait or food for prisoners. It was an undesirable food. But right around the time Captian Wenburg invented the dish, tourism by train and ship was taking off. Couple that with improved canning options (including lobster), people were experiencing the seafood for the first time.

As dishes like Lobster Newburg, lobster tails, lobster bisque, and others found their way on to restaurant menus, the nation’s love of the crustacean grew.

Explore More Seafood…

HOW TO OBSERVE #LobsterNewburgDay

There are so many ways to celebrate this day. Of course, enjoy a dish of Lobster Newburg. But you can also do some exploring.

Check out the history of Delmonico’s.
Learn more about the types of lobsters in the sea.
Explore the history of the lobster industry.
Who was Captian Wenburg?

Use #LobsterNewburgDay to post on social media.

Lobster: 75 Recipes Celebrating the World's Favorite Seafood#LobsterNewburgDay — Lobster: 75 Recipes Celebrating the World’s Favorite Seafood

Lobster Cookbook: Lobster Thermidor, Lobster Newberg, New England Lobster Roll and Other Delicious Lobster Recipes (Seafood Cookbook)#LobsterNewburgDay — Lobster: 75 Recipes Celebrating the World’s Favorite Seafood

NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH

January 31, 2026January 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 18 Comments

National Black History Month, also known as National African American History Month, during February is a time for all Americans to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. In addition, the month recognizes the central role of Black Americans in history.

Other countries, including Canada and Great Britain, have also set aside months to honor Black History. February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and noted civil rights advocate Frederick Douglass. A privateer ship named the White Lion records the first Africans brought to the colonies in 1619. Captained by John Colyn Jope, the White Lion landed at Point Comfort, Virginia, now modern-day Hampton, Virginia. There, Jope traded the Africans as slaves in exchange for provisions.

Notable Black Americans

African-Americans impacted our society throughout history and in numerous ways.

Thurgood Marshall – The jurist was the first African-American appointed to the Supreme Court. We recognize Thurgood Marshall every year on National Maryland Day.
George Washington Carver – As a man of science, Carver developed over 300 products from peanuts. Celebrate George Washington Carver and his contributions to the peanut industry on National Peanut Day.
Shirley Chisholm – In 1968, New York’s 12th congressional district elected Chisholm as the first Black woman in Congress. She served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rosa Parks – The Civil Rights advocate helped initiate the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Celebrate Rosa Parks and learn more about her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
Louis Armstrong – As a talented musician and performer, Armstrong became a pioneer in jazz. Satchmo Summerfest honors his contributions to music for a week each year in August.
Colin Powell – The 4-star General became Secretary of State. Colin Powell dedicated the Buffalo Soldier Monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, establishing the first Buffalo Soldiers Day.
Barack Obama – Americans elected Obama as the first Black President of the United States in 2009. He served two terms.

Black History Activators#BlackHistoryMonth — Thurgood

NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH HISTORY

Carter Woodson, the twentieth-century historian, created Black History Month. He believed Black Americans were not adequately represented in the study of American history. Carter Woodson also hoped for the day when Americans would accept Black history as a part of American history. President Gerald Ford declared Black History Month (formerly Negro History Week) in 1976.

More Heritage to explore….

Scottish-American Heritage
Caribbean American Heritage
Asain American and Pacific Islander Heritage
Gathering of Nations
Black History Month
African World Heritage
Juneteenth
Black Business Month
Black Poetry
Hispanic Heritage Month
German American Heritage
Native American Heritage
Irish American Heritage
Italian-American Heritage
Native American Heritage Day
Jewish American Heritage Month

HOW TO OBSERVE #BlackHistoryMonth

Learn more about African-American history. Here are a few books we suggest reading during Black History Month:

Use #BlackHistoryMonth on social media and start a book discussion.

Black History Month
#BlackHistoryMonth — Black History Month

Black Heroes Poster bulletin board set, 9 charts pack Glossy Paper (9"x19") Young N Refined#BlackHistoryMonth — Black History Month

NATIONAL OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER DAY

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Oysters Rockefeller Day on January 10th recognizes a dish so rich there was only one man’s name this dish could bear at the time. At least, that’s the story according to the chef who so masterfully created famous recipes in the French Quarter.

In 1889 in the renowned kitchen of Antoine’s, Jules Alciatore developed a recipe for baked oysters on the half shell with sauce and bread crumbs that would earn the name Oysters Rockefeller. A dish so rich Alciatore himself admitted, “…I know of no other name rich enough for their richness.”

While other restaurants serve similar dishes, only historic Antoine’s (founded by Antoine Alciatore, Jules Alciatore’s father in 1840) serves the original Oysters Rockefeller. Food Network’s Alton Brown even told us on Good Eats that Alciatore took the recipe to his grave. Others have tried to determine the finer ingredients without success. Only Antoine’s and the Alciatore family have the authentic recipe.

Having served over 3.5 million orders of Oysters Rockefeller, and counting, Antoine’s recipe has withstood the test of time and garnered the praises of culinary critics. Since 1889, the restaurant has numbered each order. Even today’s customers receive their privileged number identifying their place in the history of Oysters Rockefeller.

The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York#NationalOystersRockefellerDay — The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York

Gulf Coast Oysters: Classic & Modern Recipes of a Southern Renaissance#NationalOystersRockefellerDay — The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York

NATIONAL OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER DAY HISTORY

In 2017, Antoine’s founded National Oyster Rockefeller Day to celebrate the dish’s history and longevity.

More to explore….

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalOystersRockefellerDay

Have you tasted the flavor of authentic Oysters Rockefeller? Tell us what you think. If you are near Antoine’s, stop in to savor a taste of history and share using #NationalOystersRockefellerDay on social media.

Shucker Paddy Oyster Tools (Tray)#NationalOystersRockefellerDay — Shucker Paddy Oyster Tools (Tray)

Hoypeyfiy 304 Stainless Steel Oyster Shells, 24 pcs Oyster Grilling Shells for Cooking Oysters, Shrimp, Scallops, Clams#NationalOystersRockefellerDay — Shucker Paddy Oyster Tools (Tray)

NATIONAL SARDINES DAY

November 24, 2025October 24, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 20 Comments

November 24th recognizes these silver little fishes on National Sardines Day. They may not swim right up to your plate, but they sure do pack in the flavor.

While some people are afraid to taste these small, silverfish, others consider sardines a delicious snack enjoyed on their own or with crackers.

Sardines are several types of small, oily fish, related to herrings. While we might be most familiar with sardines packed in cans, some enjoy fresh sardines grilled. This small fish can also be pickled and smoked, too. When canned, they can be packed in water, olive, sunflower or soybean oil or tomato, chili or mustard sauce.

The term sardine was first used in English during the beginning of the 15th century, possibly coming from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia where there was an abundance of sardines.

Sardines are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
From one’s daily vitamin allowance containing:

13 % B2
.25 % niacin
150% vitamin B12
phosphorus
calcium
potassium
iron
selenium
omega-3fatty acids
vitamin D
protein

– B vitamins are important in helping to support proper nervous system function and are used for energy metabolism.
– Omega 3 fatty acids reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and regular consumption may reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease and can even boost brain function as well as help lower blood sugar levels.

Relative to other fish commonly eaten by humans, sardines are very low in contaminants, such as mercury.

Sardine oil is used in the manufacturing of paint, varnish and linoleum.

The sardine canning industry peaked in the United States in the 1950s. The Stinson Seafood plant in Prospect Harbor, Maine, which was the last large sardine cannery in the United States, closed its doors on April 15, 2010, after 135 years in operation.

More Seafood….

Look, most years, this is the only holiday on this date. So we’ll offer some extra special tips to help you celebrate.

Try sardines on a salad. Mash them up and mix them with some Caesar dressing for a start. Add some extra croutons if that improves the experience.
Toss them with pasta and a spicy marinara sauce.
Grill them with olive oil. Add lemon, garlic, and tarragon.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSardinesDay

Share a can or two of canned sardines with a friend. See if you prefer the mustard, chili or the tomato packed ones better!Use #NationalSardinesDay to post on social media.

Jen's Perspective Blog

Love, laugh, live! Life to the fullest.

Tag nile

National Mediterranean Diet Month

Explore More…

Like this:

NATIONAL LOBSTER NEWBURG DAY