Just Enjoy June

Celebrating the Joys of Summer’s Kickoff

June bursts onto the scene as a month brimming with sunshine, longer days, and endless opportunities to celebrate.

As the official gateway to summer, June brings longer days, blooming gardens, and the perfect excuse to trade our busy schedules for a little bit of fun. While we often think of June for weddings and school letting out.  This month is packed with quirky holidays and heartfelt observances designed to help us savor the season. So, grab a glass of iced tea, put your feet up, and let’s dive into why this month deserves to be celebrated.

Wedding Season

Fun facts abound: June beetles make their appearance, and no other month starts on the same weekday as June in quite the same way. Flag Day honors patriotism in the U.S., while outdoor activities beckon everyone to get moving.

National Months in June encourage meaningful awareness alongside the fun.

National Give a Bunch of Balloons Month
National DJ Month                        
National Portuguese Heritage Month
African-American Music Appreciation Month
National Zoo and Aquarium Month
LGBTQIA Pride Month
Men’s Health Month
National Accordion Month
National Adopt a Cat Month
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
National Candy Month
National Camping Month
National Caribbean American Month
National Country Cooking Month
National Dairy Month
National Great Outdoors Month
National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month
National Homeownership Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Papaya Month
National Pollinators Month
National PTSD Awareness Month
National Safety Month
National Soul Food Month
Rose Month
Turkey Lovers Month                
June’s Birthstone;Why the Pearl is the Ultimate Gem of Romance and Grace                                                         Hurricane Readiness

With something for everyone turn ordinary dates into mini-festivals. Try National Say Something Nice Day, National Go Barefoot Day. Don’t forget to include National Hug Your Cat Day, National Cheese Day, Flag Day on the 14th, and National Go Fishing Day on the 18th. From National Game Show Day to celebrations honoring ice cream, donuts, and more, there’s truly something for every interest and personality.

June shines for sports enthusiasts too, with NBA Finals, Stanley Cup playoffs, baseball in full swing, and the NBA Draft.

Famous June birthdays—from Marilyn Monroe and Paul McCartney to Michael Phelps and Elon Musk—add star power.

Zodiac signs Gemini and Cancer add a touch of curiosity and emotional depth, while birth flowers like the rose and honeysuckle, along with stones such as pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone, celebrate love, devotion, and generosity.

This June, embrace the spirit of “Just Enjoy.” Whether you’re marking personal milestones, joining community events, or simply taking time to appreciate longer evenings and blooming gardens, the month offers countless ways to create memories. Gather with friends, try new recipes tied to food-themed days, explore nature, or reflect on what brings you joy. Here’s to making June unforgettable—happy celebrating!

NATIONAL TURKEY LOVERS MONTH

National Turkey Lovers Month in June proves that turkey is enjoyed many more times throughout the year than Thanksgiving!

Smoked and grilled turkey are some of the many reasons we slice up this flavorful bird all year long. But we eat more than just the roast turkey. Ground turkey makes a white meat chili that keeps us coming back for more; Renaissance faires live on turkey legs; Grilled turkey breasts make excellent meals, too.

When it comes to nutrition, the bird gets great numbers, too! White meat takes the win over dark meat when comparing fat and calories – 125 to 147 calories and 2 grams to 5 grams respectively for 3 ounces of roasted turkey. Of course, that depends on how the bird is prepared. If the turkey is dunked in a deep fryer, those numbers go up.

Try turkey with pasta.  Turkey Bacon Wraps make a great lunch or dinner.  Brighten a turkey salad with grapes and nuts, a tangy cheese and layer it with crisp lettuce on a crusty bun; serve with iced tea on the back porch on a sunny day with a friend. 

HISTORY

The National Turkey Federation founded National Turkey Lovers Month.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Mix up a few different turkey recipes throughout the month. Share them with friends and family. Use #TurkeyLoversMonth to share on social media.

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Turkey Tips and Tricks

I have a short cut I’ve used for years. I worked in retail for almost 20 years. Due to health issues, I can now ignore Black Friday hours. As much as I love the deals, having worked retail all those years, I want Amazon to deliver it!

While having to get up for work at 1am…no that’s not a typo. Get up at 1am, be at my store by 3am. While I do not miss those schedules, I learned some tricks that I still use when cooking Thanksgiving dinner. The biggest complaint I hear is how much work it takes, and spending all day in the kitchen. So with that in mind here are my turkey tricks…

Make sure to observe Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day! This is the perfect day get the fridge Thankgiving dinner ready. Even if your not hosting this will come in handy if you’re taking something along too.

If doing a whole turkey, even for just a few do the bigger one. The work to cook a big or small bird is about the same. 10lbs or 22lbs, you still have to defrost, clean, baste, roast, etc. So do the bigger bird and make it worth your time. Turkey’s go on great sales you have leftovers for 3 or more meals is a great investment of your time and money.

Circulon Nonstick Roasting Pan / Roaster with Rack - 17 Inch x 13 Inch, Gray

#Thanksgiving
Circulon Nonstick Roasting Pan / Roaster with Rack – 17 Inch x 13 Inch, Gray

Just you 2? If your staying in and still want that traditional turkey? Try a turkey breast. Bone in or a Butterball Turkey breast roast are great alternatives. We like the roasts with both white and dark meat. You can cook traditionally in the oven, but a great time saver is your crockpot. You can add broth and water to keep it moist. Put it in the night before and you’re done. You can even toss potatoes and veggies to make a 1 (crock)pot dinner.

Crock-Pot Large 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Auto Warm Setting and Cookbook, Black Stainless Steel
#Thanksgiving
Crock-Pot Large 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Auto Warm Setting and Cookbook, Black Stainless Steel
We do this other times of the year too.

Set it and forget the basting, constant lifting, turning it over… On low with plenty of broth it’s almost fool proof.

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Use your extra time to cuddle up together. Enjoy a holiday movie, the football game, or something new. Read a book, or plot your shopping trip if you are doing ‘Black Friday.” However you spend it enjoy the memories you make big or small, they last far beyond the leftovers.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

— William Arthur Ward

NATIONAL ROASTING MONTH

National Roasting Month is an annual designation observed in November. As you plan your big holiday meals, making a roast is something that should undoubtedly be near the top of the list.

Roasting is a method of cooking that uses dry heat with hot air covering the food from all sides to cook evenly. This type of cooking can enhance flavor, and is a healthy alternative to frying food (depending on the seasonings you’re using).

Some old fan-favorite foods to roast are steak, chicken, turkey, ham, beef, potatoes, and other vegetables. A classic pot roast contains some sort of meat, with potatoes, carrots, and onions roasted with it. All the flavors of meat, veggies, and spices simmering together for several hours makes for a mouth-watering supper for the family.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Use #NationalRoastingMonth to post on social media. Chances are that at LEAST one of the holiday parties you attend this year will have some sort of roast for everyone to enjoy. If not, be the host or hostess that provides this glorious meal for your guests! All you have to do for a simple, classic roast is:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Arrange the meat, veggies, and spices of your choise in a 13×9 inch baking dish.
  3. Pour enough water in so your baking dish is around half full, and your food is slightly submerged.
  4. Cover with foil.
  5. Bake for around 2-3 hours until meat and veggies are tender.
  6. Serve with the juice in the pan!

NATIONAL CORNED BEEF HASH DAY

On September 27th, National Corned Beef Hash Day adds flavor to every meal while cleaning out the fridge, too.

Making corned beef hash is a great way to use up leftovers. Corned beef hash became popular during and after World War II. Since rationing limited the availability of fresh meat, corned beef filled the gap. Cooks became creative with herbs, spices, and leftovers. Nothing was wasted. In lean times, stretching a meal became a priority. 

The Hormel Company claims it introduced corned beef hash and roast beef hash to the United States as early as 1950. However, World War II reporter, Betty Wason, lists a corned beef hash recipe in her Cooking Without Cans cookbook printed in 1943. Other forms of hash existed as part of the American diet since at least the 19th century.  The numerous recipes available before that time also attest to the country’s love of the dish as does the existence of many “hash houses” named after the dish.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #CornedBeefHashDay

Serve up some corned beef hash for breakfast or supper. Either way, you’ll be adding flavor to your meal. So, make a lot and invite a crowd. Use #CornedBeefHashDay to post on social media.