NATIONAL TOASTED MARSHMALLOW DAY

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!

TripWorthy 15469 Marshmallow Roasting Sticks & Bonus 10 Bamboo Skewers (Kid Friendly) - Set of 8, 32 Inches, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Black

Brand: Tripworthy
TripWorthy 15469 Marshmallow Roasting Sticks & Bonus 10 Bamboo Skewers (Kid Friendly) – Set of 8, 32 Inches, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Black

Brand: Tripworthy

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 LEMON MERINGUE PIE DAY

National Lemon Meringue Pie Day on August 15th gives pie lovers and lemon lovers a chance to celebrate. Tart lemon curd and delicate meringue sing together in this deliciously bright pie. 

When making a lemon meringue pie, the crust is usually made with shortbread pastry. The filling for the pie is lemon curd. Of course, the topping is a fluffy and crisp meringue.

KOOV Ceramic Pie Pan, 9 Inches Pie Plate, Pie Dish for Dessert Kitchen, Round Baking Dish for Dinner, Wrapping Upgrade, Reactive Glaze (Nebula Blue)

by KOOV
KOOV Ceramic Pie Pan, 9 Inches Pie Plate, Pie Dish for Dessert Kitchen, Round Baking Dish for Dinner, Wrapping Upgrade, Reactive Glaze (Nebula Blue)

by KOOV

Whip egg whites to stiff peaks to make a meringue. Add sugar to make it sweet. Meringues are baked in a slow oven so when they’re finished, they come out crisp and golden. 

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When life throws you lemons, make lemon meringue pie!

Since meringue is versatile, it can be baked into individual servings with fruit fillings. Pastry chefs also like to make meringue cookies, too. By adding cocoa, coffee or any number of flavorings, the light, airy cookies melt in your mouth. The same applies to meringue pies. 

Original Meringue Cookies (Lemon) • 80 calories per serving, Gluten Free, Fat Free, Nut Free, Low Calorie Snack, Kosher, Parve • by Krunchy Melts

by Krunchy Melts
Original Meringue Cookies (Lemon) • 80 calories per serving, Gluten Free, Fat Free, Nut Free, Low Calorie Snack, Kosher, Parve • by Krunchy Melts

by Krunchy Melts

The meringue was perfected in the 17th century. Meanwhile, lemon meringue pie as we know it today was developed in the 19th century.

HOW TO OBSERVE #LemonMeringuePieDay

As the first pie day in August, be sure to get in on this celebration! Whether you make a pie yourself or go out for a pie, invite someone to join you. Pie is so much better when there is someone to share it with you. Have a cup of tea or coffee with it and some good conversation. Try this Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.  Be sure to share your favorite recipes with us and use #LemonMeringuePieDay to post on social media.

Quest Nutrition Lemon Cake Bar, High Protein, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Low Sugar - 12 Count

by Quest Nutrition
Quest Nutrition Lemon Cake Bar, High Protein, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Low Sugar – 12 Count

by Quest Nutrition

More pie days to celebrate!

NATIONAL RASPBERRY CREAM PIE DAY

On August 1st, National Raspberry Cream Pie Day takes advantage of the ripe berries available this time of year. If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy some fresh-baked raspberry cream pie, it’s a day to celebrate!  

Raspberries are the edible fruit of the raspberry plant. Not only do they grow on woody stemmed perennials, but they’re a very commercial crop, too. If their thorny stems remind you of a rose bush, that’s because they are in the rose family. Their genus name is Rubus.   

Approximately 100 tiny drupelets cling together to make up one raspberry. Raspberry pulp and juice fill the drupelets. The drupelets adhere to a receptacle attached to a stem. Once the receptacle is removed, the raspberry is left with a hollow core.

When you’re eating your pie, keep in mind that raspberries are rich in vitamin C, manganese, and fiber. They also contain vitamins B1, B3, folic acid, magnesium, copper, and iron. 

  • All temperate regions of the world grow raspberries.
  • At one time, raspberries were a midsummer crop. However, with new technology, cultivars, and transportation,
    they can now be obtained year-round.
  • Did you know, an individual raspberry weighs 0.11 – 0.18 oz.
  • One raspberry bush can yield several hundred berries a year.

Want more pie?

Need More Rasperries?

No matter how you slice it, pie is always a good idea. What better way to enjoy fruits!

HOW TO OBSERVE #RaspberryCreamPieDay

Invite some friends to go picking raspberries. Afterward, bake up a raspberry cream pie. Then be sure to enjoy a slice with everyone. We even have some recipes for you to try:

Also, don’t forget to share your results by using #RaspberryCreamPieDay to share on social media. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to Jen’s Perspective Magazine for more special times..

NATIONAL GRAHAM CRACKER DAY

July 5th recognizes 1/3rd of the s’more. It’s National Graham Cracker Day! Hopefully, you saved a few crackers if you were busy making s’mores over the Independence Day holiday. 

When Sylvester Graham first invented the slightly sweetened cracker, he intended it as a health food. In the early 1800s, the Presbyterian minister developed the cracker as part of his “Graham Diet” program. They were made from whole wheat graham flour with added bran and wheat germs. He believed his snack would curb sinful cravings. 

Today, makers use bleached white flour and blend a variety of flavors including honey, cinnamon, and chocolate. They also come in smaller bite-size snacks and fun shapes. 

While a delicious snack on their own, they also make terrific ingredients for desserts. Crushed graham crackers blended with butter and pressed into pie tins, or springform pans make excellent crusts when lightly toasted. Graham crackers layered between yogurt and fruit taste delicious in a parfait. When it comes to crumb toppings, oats, brown sugar, butter, and crushed graham crackers blended together and lightly toasted will always satisfy.

Graham Cracker Sandwiches

Some of the easiest ways of using graham crackers are making a type of sandwich. Of course, one of the most popular treats made with graham crackers is the S’more. However, that’s not the only type of sandwich we can make with these sturdy crackers.

  • Ice cream sandwiches – It’s summer, so head to the freezer. Just one scoop of ice cream between two crackers is all it takes. Wrap the sandwich in wax paper and place it back in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. 
  • Nut butter sandwiches – Whether it’s peanut butter, hazelnut, or sun butter, spread your favorite between two crackers and enjoy. 
  • Fruit sandwiches – Layer banana or strawberry slices between two crackers. Add nut butter. 
  • Frozen fruit sandwiches – Puree your favorite fruit and then freeze slightly. Spread the pulp on the crackers and refreeze just like you did the ice cream. These sweet treats are delightfully refreshing!

During Christmastime, graham crackers go into overtime. They join forces with gingerbread and create magical houses with frosting. The edible delights may not last very long, but they make memories that last a lifetime. 

HOW TO OBSERVE #GrahamCrackerDay

Pick up some graham crackers and start making some memories. No matter how you celebrate, there are numerous, delicious ways to share.  Post on social media using #GrahamCrackerDay to encourage others to join in paying it forward.

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY PARFAIT DAY

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.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalStrawberryParfaitDay

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.