NATIONAL TOASTED MARSHMALLOW DAY

August 29, 2026August 24, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

On August 30th, National Toasted Marshmallow Day celebrates one of America’s favorite fire-roasted treats. Be sure to stock up on marshmallows so you can celebrate! Get your friends together and gather up some firewood. Grab a few long sticks and a bag of marshmallows. Then, make plans for a great night!

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Toasted marshmallows are a special part of summer evenings around a bonfire. Also, what better way to kick off a long weekend than to enjoy a delicious, warm, gooey, toasted marshmallow?

Add a pair of graham crackers and a chocolate bar – and ask for s’more! Depending upon personal preference, heat marshmallows to various degrees from gently toasted to a charred outer layer. To char the outer layer, ignite the marshmallow then quickly blow it out.

Marshmallows now come in a variety of flavors as well as sizes for maximum toasting opportunities. For a fun alternative, try roasting Marshmallow Peeps. Watch them closely as the granular sugar coating will burn more quickly.

Believe it or not, marshmallows date back to Ancient Egypt. The mallow plant provided a sap that the Egyptians used to create a candy with nuts and honey.

Ligonier, Indiana holds an annual Marshmallow Festival and is the marshmallow capital of the world.

Homemade marshmallows use sugar, unflavored gelatin, corn syrup, and flavoring. Try this recipe.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #ToastedMarshmallowDay

Toast up some marshmallows and enjoy. Have a marshmallow toasting competition. Who makes the best-toasted marshmallows in your circle of friends? Share recipes for homemade marshmallows or s’mores combinations, too. Share your best marshmallow toasting techniques and use #ToastedMarshmallowDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL WAFFLE DAY

August 23, 2026August 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Waffle Day on August 24th commemorates the anniversary of the first waffle iron patent issued. Celebrate by savoring your favorite kind of waffle!

On August 24, 1869, Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York received his patent for the waffle iron. While waffles existed long before then, the invention made waffles more readily available.

Eaten throughout the world, a waffle is a leavened batter or dough. When cooked between two patterned plates, the dough bakes in the waffle’s characteristic uniform impressed surface. Waffles also come in many forms. Depending on the type of batter or iron used, the resulting waffle varies by consistency, size, shape, and flavor.

Waffle irons and waffles originated around the 14th century. An anonymous husband penned the first known waffle recipe as a set of instructions for his wife. According to the manuscript, Le Ménagier de Paris, each of the four recipes began:

Beat some eggs in a bowl, season with salt and add wine. Toss in some flour, and mix. Then fill, little by little, two irons at a time with as much of the paste as a slice of cheese is large. Then close the iron and cook both sides. If the dough does not detach easily from the iron, coat it first with a piece of cloth that has been soaked in oil or grease.

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1911 – First electric waffle iron introduced by General Electric.
1953 – Frank Dorsa’s Eggo Frozen Waffles are sold in Supermarkets for the first time.
1964 – Belgian Waffles debut at New York’s World’s Fair.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalWaffleDay

Enjoy your favorite waffle recipes. Or visit a local restaurant for some fresh served waffles. Restaurants across the country specialize in waffles, crafting delicious combinations for every meal of the day. No matter your preference, there’s a waffle for you!

Invite friends over for a waffle making party. Set up a buffet with fresh fruit, syrups, and nuts. Ask them to bring their best ingredients and get tasting! You never know what you’ll discover. Make it breakfast, brunch, snack or dessert, waffles are very versitile.

True Belgian Waffles Classic Buttermilk Waffles Apple Cinnamon Waffles Banana Oatmeal Buttermilk Waffles Best Chocolate Chip Waffles

Use #NationalWaffleDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL TATER TOT DAY

February 1, 2026February 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

On February 2nd, National Tater Tot Day recognizes a kitchen staple. In the United States, we consume approximately 3.5 billion of these nuggets of potato goodness per year.

These bite-sized bits of golden deliciousness created from the scraps from making French fries once were used to feed cattle. But how do the cast-offs from making French fries become the bite-sized, kitchen-friendly morsels we love to devour today? Through persistence and ingenuity, of course!

Two brothers, Nephi and Golden Grigg, along with their brother-in-law started dabbling in frozen food when they rented a plant on the Oregon and Idaho borders in 1934. The focused on making French fries, but the waste fed to cattle seemed excessive. Was there a way to reduce the excess? Maybe, but instead they chose to create a product from the excess. Not only did the scrapped and shredded bits form into tasty bites when blanched and fried, but they also fit into their product line, too. They froze well, could be baked and were delicious! By 1952, they purchased the plant, forming the Oregon Frozen Foods Company that would later become Ore-Ida.

Seasoned with spices or baked into a casserole, tater tots make a meal, side dish, or a snack celebration. We dip them, pop them, or just savor them.

NATIONAL TATER TOT DAY HISTORY

John-Bryan Hopkins created the observance in 2009.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTaterTotDay

What’s your favorite way to enjoy tater tots? We offer a variety of ideas to celebrate the day.

Add them to a burrito
Make a potato version of nachos by adding your favorite toppings to partially cooked tots and then heating through.
Create a tater tot buffet with a variety of dips and seasonings.
Add tater tots to your burger.
Top a homemade pizza with tater tots.
Tater tots and eggs go well together.
Build a kabab using vegetables and marinated meat.

Share your recipes and pictures by using #NationalTaterTotDay on social media.