NATIONAL CROUTON DAY

May 12, 2026May 6, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Crouton Day on May 13th each year recognizes a tasty topping that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Many of our words for bread-related foods come from the French and for good reason. The French love bread. Croutons are no different. The French word croûte means crust. Croutons are often made from day-old bread which has been cut into cubes and seasoned with herbs, oil, or butter. The bread is then either toasted in the oven or tossed in a hot pan until crunchy.

We’re probably most familiar with croutons on our salads. And when we add croutons to our salads, it’s a bit of celebration – a crunch celebration. Each flavorful, crunchy bite adds to our crispy, enjoyment.

Homemade Croutons : Bread, Seasonings, Cook Time, Etc.#NationalCroutonDay — Homemade Croutons : Bread, Seasonings, Cook Time, Etc.

NATIONAL CROUTON DAY HISTORY

Rothbury Farms® founded National Crouton Day in February 2015. Established in 1923, Rothbury Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned business where consumer value means using the highest quality goods to produce the very best products. At Rothbury Farms croutons are their passion. Rothbury Farms Croutons are made from fresh bread toasted to just the right crispness and then seasoned with a select blend of herbs, spices, and cheeses. Rothbury Farms Croutons are a versatile food and complement any time of the day from breakfast to lunch, to dinner, to snack time and are perfect for breakfast casseroles, bread puddings, salads, soups, stuffing, dinner casseroles, appetizers and also as snacks.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCroutonDay

Celebrate the day by topping your dish with seasoned croutons. Be sure to also share your crouton creations by using #NationalCroutonDay on Social Media.

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Caesar Croutons, 4.5 Ounce#NationalCroutonDay — 365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Caesar Croutons, 4.5 Ounce

The Original Texas Toast Seasoned Croutons 5 Oz (Pack of 2)#NationalCroutonDay — 365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Caesar Croutons, 4.5 Ounce

NATIONAL HOAGIE DAY

May 4, 2026April 24, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

It may go by many names, but on May 5th, National Hoagie Day celebrates a hero of a sandwich!

Besides a hero, the hoagie goes by several other aliases. The sub, grinder, Italian, torpedo, or baguette are just a few of its many names. Some of those names give a hint as to how we make a hoagie, too. We cut a long Italian roll or French bread lengthwise and fill it with various meats, cheeses, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. Pile it high with your own combination of fillings and enjoy it either hot or cold.

About the Word “Hoagie”

In 1953, Italians working at the World War I-era shipyard in Philadelphia known as Hog Island packed their lunch to work every day. They introduced the sandwich by putting different meats, cheeses, and lettuce between two slices of bread. It was referred to as the “Hog Island” sandwich, which they later shortened to the “hoagie.”

A different explanation is offered by the Philadelphia Almanac and Citizen’s Manual. They believe early 20th-century street vendors called “hokey-pokey-men” created the sandwich.

Yet another theory is that the word “hoagie” arose in the late 19th to early 20th century among the Italian community in South Philadelphia. The phrase “on the hoke” was used as slang to describe a destitute person. Deli owners gave away scraps of meat and cheese on an Italian roll known as a “hokie.” However, Italian immigrants pronounced it “hoagie.”

In 1992, former Philadelphia mayor (and later Pennsylvania governor) Ed Rendell declared the hoagie the Official Sandwich of Philadelphia.

Happy National Hoagy Day: Delicious Recipes for National Hoagy Day: How to Build the Perfect Hoagie#NationalHoagieDay — Happy National Hoagy Day: Delicious Recipes for National Hoagy Day: How to Build the Perfect Hoagie

Sub Sandwich Cookbook: Hoagie, Grinders, Submarines and Other Sub Sandwich Recipes (Lunch Menu Cookbook Book 10)
#NationalHoagieDay — Happy National Hoagy Day: Delicious Recipes for National Hoagy Day: How to Build the Perfect Hoagie

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHoagieDay

Oh, you can celebrate this day in so many ways!

Pick up a party-size hoagie for the office.
Experiment with your stack. Mix and match your fixings for the perfect hoagie.
Mayo, mustard, sriracha, avocado, BBQ, aioli, hummus. What’s your spread?
Swap out your hoagie bun for a pretzle bun.
Host a hoagie challenge. Who made it best?

No matter how you celebrate, share your creations using #NationalHoagieDay to post on social media.

Cento Diced Hot Cherry Pepper (Hot) Hoagie Spread - 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 2)#NationalHoagieDay — Cento Diced Hot Cherry Pepper (Hot) Hoagie Spread – 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 2)

Hellmann's Drizzle Sauce for an exciting Condiment, Dip, Drizzle and Dress Mixed, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, No Artificial Flavors, No High-Fructose Corn Syrup 9 oz, Variety Pack of 3#NationalHoagieDay — Cento Diced Hot Cherry Pepper (Hot) Hoagie Spread – 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 2)

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE-COVERED ANYTHING DAY

December 15, 2024December 13, 2024Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

Chocolate lovers rejoice on National Chocolate Covered Anything Day! December 16th offers the chocolate day you’ve been waiting for. On this day, dip and drizzle your favorite foods in every kind of chocolate imaginable.

If you could cover anything in chocolate, what would it be? So many foods improve when we dip them in chocolate. Many businesses build their foundation on the practice of dipping food into chocolate. Whether you pick up a chocolate fountain or order a bouquet of a beautiful arrangement of chocolate-dipped fruit, celebrate!

But fruit isn’t the only food meant for dipping in chocolate. Oh no. Other foods cry out for chocolate, too. Have you tried chocolate-covered peanuts, cashews, or walnuts? Pretzels undergo a divine transformation when dipped in chocolate, and they even have a national day of their own. Pound cake and gummy candies taste delicious with chocolate, too. If you love coffee, how can you pass up chocolate-covered coffee beans?

The list goes on. What’s your favorite covered chocolate covered anything?

Tempering is a process that improves the quality of a substance. In the case of chocolate, it improves its resiliency and shine. It’s recommended to use tempered chocolate when dipping or making candy.

There are a few different methods for tempering chocolate. One is to heat chocolate slowly in a microwave in 30-second intervals. When the chocolate starts to melt you are getting close. Stop heating the chocolate when it is soft but is still holding some of its shape. When you stir the chocolate, it should become smooth and lose its shape. Seeding chocolate is another method for tempering chocolate. Separate 1/3 of the chocolate and chop it into pea-sized bits. This is the seed chocolate. Melt the remaining 2/3 of the chocolate in a double boiler. The temperature you bring the chocolate to will depend on the type of chocolate.

Dark Chocolate – 120°F
Milk Chocolate – 115°F
White Chocolate- 110°F

Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the seed chocolate. Keep stirring until the chocolate reaches a temperature of:

Dark Chocolate – 82°F
Milk Chocolate – 80°F
White Chocolate- 78°F

Return the chocolate to the double boiler and bring it to the following temperature:

Dark Chocolate – 90°F
Milk Chocolate – 86°F
White Chocolate- 82°F

Remove from the heat and begin dipping!

HOW TO OBSERVE CHOCOLATE COVERED ANYTHING DAY

Pick up some chocolate-covered anything, or try your hand at dipping your favorite food in chocolate. Invite friends to join you and share in the experiment. Chocolate-covered treats make great gifts during the holiday season, too.

Try these suggestions:

Bananas and peanut butter
Cookies
Potato chips
Orange wedges
Ritz crackers
Biscotti
Peanut brittle
Marshmallows
Fudge
Shortbread
Ice cream

Use #ChocolateCoveredAnythingDay to post on social media.

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