National Guacamole Day on September 16 brings fresh flavors together for the perfect celebration. What a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month!
Avocados shine as the star of this dip! Lime juice, tomatoes, onion, and seasonings make guacamole a guilt-free addition to any snack or meal.
Since avocados fall under the superfood category, feel free to indulge. Packed full of good fats and nutrients, along with the fresh taste of lime and hint of spice, the dip is flavorful. It’s easy to make, too. Take it to work or use it for a party dish.
Guacamole is versatile, too. For example, add it as a topping on a quesadilla or even add it to a salad. Of course, the simplest way to enjoy is by dipping your favorite tortilla chip.
Originating with the Aztecs in Mexico, guacamole is an avocado-based sauce that has become popular in American cuisine as a dip, condiment, and salad ingredient.
Using a mortar and pestle, mash ripe avocados and then mixing in sea salt. Beyond the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and lemon juice, hot sauce, yogurt or other seasonings can be added. If a celebration calls for spicier guacamole, add jalapenos, chilis, cumin, or red pepper.
Mix up your favorite recipe for guacamole. Go to your favorite restaurant and order some fresh guacamole. While there, give a shout out to the restaurants with the best guacamole around. Be sure to invite friends. As we say around here, why #CelebrateEveryDay if you don’t do it with friends? Share your recipes and find the best combination. Use #NationalGuacamoleDay to share on social media.
Ripe for the picking, add this delicious superfruit to your menu on National Avocado Day on July 31st!
While guacamole is grand, don’t settle for just the chips and dip on this food holiday. Since avocado is so versatile, clear the table for the entire meal. That includes everything from the appetizer and main dish all the way to dessert. On National Avocado Day, this tree grown fruit has them all covered!
Avocados are more than a staple food in the American diet; they are proven to be a key ingredient in recipes for both inside the body and on the body! According to the Hass Avocado Board, as of 2015, avocado consumption in the United States doubled since 2005 and quadrupled since 2000. In fact, a whopping 4.25 billion avocados were sold in the U.S. in 2015. That’s four point two five billion of this amazingly beautiful food.
There are many reasons to celebrate National Avocado Day. For one, avocados target insulin resistance with heart-healthy fats. They also fight Alzheimer’s with its Omega 3 fatty acids. Another avocado superpower is preventing and repairing damage due to its source of Vitamins C, E and K.
One of the secret weapons in an avocado is the high oleic acid content. This moisturizing fatty acid helps keep skin soft and hydrated but also supports the regeneration of damaged skin cells reducing redness and irritation. Eat more of this superfruit or cook with avocado oil if you have this type of skin issue.
Beauty
Ancient Aztecs used the avocado to beautify their skin topically with masks. Then in the early 20th century, the cosmetic industry discovered the benefits of its oil in creams, lotions, facial cleansers and other products that required a smooth application. Interestingly, the practice continues today.
As mentioned before, avocados have found their way into every meal of the day. Of course, avocados celebrate with dessert effortlessly. Additionally, the creamy texture replaces calorie-laden oils with healthful fats. That means we can indulge without the guilt. What better way to celebrate National Avocado Day than to indulge a little?
Model Meals founded National Avocado Day at the peak of California avocado season, on July 31. Model Meals is a meal delivery service established in 2015 by Camille May and professional curve model Danika Brysha. The company works with local organic growers and farmers as much as possible to create whole food-focused menus, encouraging sustainable agriculture and healthy eating.
Whole30 approved, gluten-free and Paleo-friendly, a huge part of the Model Meals lifestyle is avocados, whether that’s in a dish or to have on the go. Danika and Camille famously carry “purse avocados” for a midday dose of healthy fat and vitamins. Obviously passionate about this superfood, Model Meals wanted to celebrate it to the fullest, and the idea to create its own holiday was born. If you’re curious if Model Meals delivers in your area, click here.
National Rainier Cherry Day on July 11th recognizes the cherry variety named after Mount Rainier. In 1952, Harry Fogle of Washington State University developed the Rainier cherry by cross-breeding the Bing and Van cherry varieties.
The sweet Rainier cherries have a thin skin and a thin creamy-yellow flesh. Cherries are a temperamental crop that is sensitive to temperature, wind, and rain. Each season, birds eat almost one-third of the crop. While cherries in general present growing challenges, Rainier cherries are unique. Their delicate skins require the cherries to be hand-picked. However, superior taste keeps producers and consumers coming back for more.
Due to their superior taste, Rainiers are considered a premium cherry.
This popular fruit is in such high demand that growers take extra pains to ensure the fruit does not go to the birds. They cover the trees in nets and plant them between red cherry trees to encourage the bees to pollinate the blossoms. Besides hand-picking the fruit, the harvesters place the cherries into small bags to avoid bruising. Every necessary precaution is taken, so the cherries arrive in the market in perfect and delicious condition.
In honor of the day and as part of the Tree-to-Table program, the Northwest Cherry Growers hand-pick one restaurant in each state to feature at least one Rainier cherry dish on July 11th in their restaurants.
Purchase some Rainier cherries. Either bake with them or eat them fresh. Take some time to shop around. You may even find wine, cordials, or preserves made from Rainier cherries. The makers of the products will proudly display a label indicating the item is made with Rainier cherries. Post on social media using #RainierCherryDay to encourage others to join in as well.
On July 7th, it is time to indulge on National Strawberry Sundae Day. Each year on this day, Americans combine vanilla or strawberry ice cream, strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Make several strawberry sundaes, and enjoy this delicious treat with friends and family.
While the oldest known record of an ice cream sundae is an Ithaca, NY advertisement, the originator of the dessert is cooly debated. The October 5, 1892 ad in the Ithaca Daily Journal spelled the ice cream treat with the conventional day of the week spelling – Sunday.
However, Two Rivers, Wisconsin claims that Druggist Edward Berners served the first ice cream sundae in 1881. According to the story, customer George Hallauer ordered an ice cream soda on a Sunday. Since ordinances at the time prohibited the sale of ice cream sodas on the Sabbath, Berners came up with a compromise and served the ice cream in a dish minus the soda. He topped it with chocolate syrup and called it a Sundae. One interesting catch – Berners was 18 at the time the story takes place.
Ithaca’s claim to the ice cream sundae takes place at Platt & Colt Pharmacy in 1892 where Reverend John M. Scott stops to order a bowl of ice cream. When Chester Platt, proprietor, began preparing the ice cream for his customer, he didn’t stop at just a couple of scoops of vanilla. Platt drizzled cherry syrup over the ice cream and topped them with a bright red, candied cherry. The dessert looked and tasted so delightful it required its own name. Since the day was Sunday, it was named for the day it was created. Ithaca also has historical evidence supporting the story, including an advertisement for a Cherry Sunday.
While an origin story for the strawberry sundae hasn’t surfaced, it isn’t a stretch to imagine a strawberry replacing a cherry. Or strawberries topping chocolate. Celebrating sundaes with strawberries and whipped cream just seems worthy of a holiday no matter who created it.
It’s summer! Strawberries and ice cream just go together. What better way to celebrate than with a sundae? Set up a strawberry sundae bar and invite the neighbors to make their own. Maybe they would like to try this sundae recipe. Post on social media using #StrawberrySundaeDay.
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.
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.
![Deborah M. Schneider
Salsas and Moles: Fresh and Authentic Recipes for Pico de Gallo, Mole Poblano, Chimichurri, Guacamole, and More [A Cookbook]](https://i0.wp.com/jensperspectiveblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/91qkezy95vl3104360966143001848.jpg?resize=531%2C654&ssl=1)
