Good evening welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: November 13th, 2021. I would like to ask you to check out the Holidays being shared today and let me know which Holiday you most want to celebrate and why? If David was home and Charlie and I could get to the Grocery Store he could make Guac in hos Homeschool Cooking Class for his grandmother which I pass on.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL SPICY GUACAMOLE DAY
- If you’re familiar with ‘Avocados from Mexico’ jingle, you know Mexico is one of the Fruit’s most viable producers. However, Avocados can also be found growing in California, Peru, New Zealand, and South Africa.
- If you’re unsure of Guacamole because of high concentrations of fat in Avocados, fear not. Avocados are an excellent source of Monounsaturated Fat (the good kind!). Avocados are also rich in Vitamins C, E, and K. The Peppers that make Spicy Guac, are rich in Vitamins A and C, as well as Potassium and Antioxidants.
- You don’t need a Tortilla Chip to enjoy Spicy Guacamole. Grab Carrots, Cucumber, or even a Crudité Platter to dip in the Guac. Better yet, throw Guac on a Hamburger for a South-of-the-border spin.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL SPICY GUACAMOLE DAY
- Sure, it’s easier to grab Guac from your neighborhood Grocery Store but rather than doing that, grab a couple of Avocados, Spicy Peppers, and a Mortar and Pestle and make your own Guac.
- Grab your friends, a few pounds of Avocados and Serranos, and hit the kitchen! Making Guacamole is fun, and sharing it is even better. But a friendly competition to see who really has the best kickin’ Guac recipe?
- Put your throwing arm to the test with this spin on the classic Pie in the face. Instead of Sugar and Whipped Cream, indulge in a Zesty Guac!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SPICY GUACAMOLE DAY
On National Guacamole Day, we celebrate Guac. On National Spicy Guacamole Day, we’re here for the extra kick that goes with adding Chile Peppers to that same green stuff Guac.
Global Civilizations have been upping the ante in regards to the kick that comes from Spicy Peppers for Centuries. Chile Peppers are Native to the Middle Americas and Mexico. All the way to the middle of South America and have been a staple in Aztec, Mayan, and Andean Cuisine for Centuries before the Europeans came and shipped those Peppers worldwide. In Asia, the Sichuan Pepper, creates a numbing sensation rather than a spicy one, and has been an integral part of Sichuan cooking for even longer.
Guacamole, as we know it today, could not have even been possible until at least the 1490s after Columbus made his second journey to the America. Dropping off Asian Spices such as Cumin and the Persian Lime in the land of Avocados. The dish actually developed out of an Aztec staple that translates to Avocado Sauce. It was pretty much just mashed Avocados and Salt. Over time, the dish spread throughout the America, and even to Europe, and variations on Avocado Sauces with add-ins including Spicy spices that eventually led to classic Guac as we know it today.
National Spicy Guacamole Day falls during prime Football Season, where Guac is consumed by the pounds on Tortilla-Chip vessels as a critical game-time snack.
Five facts to know about Guacamole
- Avocados are Native to Central and South America.
2. Avocados have been cultivated for over 10,000 years.
3. Another name for Avocado is the “Alligator Pear.”
4. The Aztec word for Avocado was Ahuacatl, which means “testicle tree”.
5. Spanish explorers could not pronounce Ahuacatl, so they called Aocado, “Aguacate.” The origin of the word Guacamole.
National Pickle ‘Appreciation’ Day
National Pickle Day is November 14th and the Holiday was created to celebrate the Pickle as one of the worlds favorite fermented foods. Pickles prove to be popular with people across the country; the number of Pickle-eaters is projected to earn more than 250 million by 2023. That gives plenty of pretext to position November 14th as prime Pickle time!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
The practice of Pickling has existed for thousands of years. The process ensured a degree of preservation otherwise impossible in pre-modern conditions and was essential in providing a mobile supply of provisions for travelers as well as a dependable source of nutrition for those living through barren winters. While a diverse set of foods can be pickled, the Cucumber emerges as the dominant food that most associate with the idea of both pickling and the word “pickle”. Archaeologists believe that the first evidence of pickled Cucumbers originates from Tigris River Valley Civilizations, and the nutritional benefits of the food would go on to be lauded by such historical figures as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.
With all their popularity in the Old World, Pickles would not make their appearance in North America until 1492. As you may have guessed by the year, the one responsible for their introduction was none other than Christopher Columbus. Pickles were included in Sailors’ rations on his expeditions as a means by which to prevent the onset of Scurvy. By the mid-17th Century, Cucumbers bought from Dutch settlers farming in the New York area were pickled and distributed throughout the region. This would lay the foundations for the territory to be the perfect site for the introduction of the Kosher Dill Pickle.
In the period of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, a large number of Eastern European Jews immigrated to the United States and settled in the New York City area. They brought with them the unique methods that produce Kosher Dill Pickles. These early Pickles would develop into the now-famous and ever-familiar food available in grocery stores throughout the United States.
FUN STATS ABOUT PICKLES
A pickle in every home– More than 67% of all households eat Pickles. and American households in particular purchase Pickles every 53 days!
America’s pickled angel- Americans consume more than 9 pounds of pickles per person annually. To give context, the average cucumber weighs about 0.8 pounds.
A whole lotta acres-100,000 to 125,000 American acres are specifically devoted to growing pickling Cucumbers and grown in more than 30 States.
NATIONAL PICKLE DAY ACTIVITIES
- Test your limits and see if you can break the world record for Pickle consumption. The current holder of the throne gobbled up more than five-and-a-half pounds of Pickles … GULP!! in six minutes.
- Just because the technique has been around for thousands of years doesn’t mean that it’s been perfected… right? There are limitless possibilities as to how you can make pickles. isn’t it time for you to prepare your own recipe and show the world what your pickles are made of?
- If you don’t want to stuff yourself silly with a Pickles, and you’re not inclined to brine your own Cucumbers, consider sampling different kinds of Pickles to discover which is your favorite. From Bread and Butter my mom’s favorite, Sweet, to Classic Kosher Dill, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Pickles.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
- Although many choose to eat Pickles on their own, Pickles can be enjoyed Fried, in a Sandwich, Dips, or in a Salad, among other ways.
- Some may pucker at the idea of it, but drinking Pickle Juice can help athletes reduce the likelihood of experiencing cramps after intense exercise.
- Pickles fermented in non-Vinegar brine solutions carry with them Probiotic Microorganisms that provide a whole host of health benefits.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
