Food Holidays: October 26th, 2022

Welcome to our feature sharing Food Holidays: October 26th, 2022. I know my mother in law Sherry is going to be so excited tomorrow because it’s National Pumpkin Day which David and my sister will also like. Which Charlie and I will sit out as we don’t care for Pumpkin. How about you?

National Mincemeat Day

October 26th is National Mincemeat Day. Did you know the original Mincemeat recipe is more than 500 years old. Mincemeat is a mixture of diced Fruit, Meat, and distilled Alcohol. Mincemeat sounds nasty to me. What about you? Did you know Mincemeat was used as a Pie filling. Mincemeat contains an interesting mix of Spices that are not usually used for Meat, including Nutmeg and Cinnamon. The Fruits used are the same as those in traditional Fruit Cakes. Mincemeat is widely known in Australia, the U.S., and South Africa, Mincemeat is a strange taste combination for many people. National Mincemeat Day is dedicated to this interesting dish.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL MINCEMEAT DAY

In the 15th Century, bakers used to preserve Meat with Fruits and Spices. Mincemeat Pies were made using this filling. Initially, Vinegar and Wines were used for the fermentation of the preserve. Nuts, Clove, Mace, and Cinnamon were widely used in Medieval times.

Later, people started using distilled Alcohol and Brandy to make minced Meat. In Europe, Mincemeat came to be known as a wholesome food found in old-fashioned, rural homes. England saw this dish as a traditional Yuletide treat.

In the 19th Century, the way that Minced Meat was prepared changed slightly. Raisins, Apples, and candied Lemon Peel were added to the recipe. Apple Mincemeat, which was made without Meat, was regarded as a healthier and more hygienic alternative. In the Twentieth Century, any similar recipe, even the ones made without Meat, came to be referred to as Mincemeat. Similar to Spirits, Mincemeat was aged so that the flavors would deepen. It was also done to change the texture of the mixture by breaking down the proteins present in the Meat. It is said that properly preserved Mincemeat can be stored for about 2 to 3 years.

Though the origins of National Mincemeat Day are not known, National Mincemeat Day is widely celebrated in the United States and around the world. Mincemeat is a favorite during the holiday season, especially during Thanksgiving, where Mincemeat is served with Cheese or Apple Pie.

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL MINCEMEAT DAY

1. What better way to celebrate National Mincemeat Day than to make Mincemeat. If you don’t know the recipe, you can search online for a recipe. There are videos online that will help you make Mincemeat.
2. If you want to take the celebrations to the next level, you could organize a competition for the best Mincemeat dish. Which would create fun recipes, give cooks and eaters alike a new experience and broaden your taste horizon.
3. Not many people know about National Mincemeat Day. If you make National Mincemeat Day an ice-breaker dish at work or a community gathering, more people will love it, and definitely talk about National Mincemeat Day.

5 FACTS ABOUT MINCE PIE

1. It was believed that stirring Mince Pies anti-clockwise would bring bad luck.
2. It was believed that if each member of the family took turns to stir the Mince Pies, this would bring joy and happiness to their home.
3. It was believed that eating Mince Pies every day for the 12 days of Christmas would bring good health.
4. It is said that Spices used in Mince Pies, including Cloves and Cinnamon, were among the gifts presented to baby Jesus by the Wise Men.
5. The earliest known Mince Pies were oval, symbolic of the shape of baby Jesus’s crib.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL MINCEMEAT DAY

1. Mincemeat Pie is eaten warm, with gently melting Ice Cream or Butter/Buttered Rum, which is a winning combination.
2. In the 1650s, it was illegal to eat Mincemeat Pies in England, since Oliver Cromwell tried to stop gluttony in the Country.
3. National Mincemeat Day is the perfect opportunity to learn more about this dish and expand your knowledge of interesting combinations of food in general. Dig deeper into the history of this age-old recipe and discover new recipes and facts along the way.

National Pumpkin Day

National Pumpkin Day falls on October 26th. Pumpkins are so much more than just a fun holiday accessory. Not only are Pumpkins one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene (an antioxidant converted to vitamin A in the body), Pumpkins are loaded with fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C. Try some on National Pumpkin Day.

WHAT ARE SOME NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY RELATED HOLIDAYS?
Pumpkin Pie or no Pumpkin Pie if it weren’t for Halloween, people wouldn’t think twice about Pumpkins. Halloween’s the best thing that ever happened to Pumpkins besides, quite possibly, the Smashing Pumpkins.

Pumpkins can thank Thanksgiving for their other slice of yearly publicity. Everything turns, well, Pumpkin-ish in late November especially when Pumpkin Pies appear as the definitive Thanksgiving dessert.

Supermarkets suddenly sprout Pumpkins once the calendar turns to fall. Pumpkin Patches appear. Everyone begins watching  It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Pumpkins are the ultimate symbol that Autumn has arrived.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY

Pumpkins are a member of the Gourd family, which includes Cucumbers, Honeydew Melons, Cantaloupe, Watermelons and Zucchini. Most people don’t realize Pumpkins are Fruits not Vegetables. Pumpkins are Native to Central America and Mexico, but now grow on six continents. Pumpkins history in North America goes back 5,000 years.  

Pumpkins are indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. As Frenchman Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America in the 1500s, St. Lawrence reported finding what the French called “gros melons.” The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “Pumpkin.”

We use Pumpkins for both food and recreation especially during Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkin Pie has become a traditional part of Thanksgiving in both the U.S. and Canada. We also carve Jack-o’-lanterns around Halloween, Did you know Pumpkins we eat and the ones we carve generally come from two different types of Winter Squash. A Gourd is generally considered inedible Sqaush. Gourds get funny faces. Squash winds up on the dinner table.

The Halloween connection dates back to the 1800s and the term “Jack-o’-lantern” first appeared in 1837, while the idea of a carved Pumpkin, specifically, originated in 1866.

Farmers generally plant Pumpkins in early July. The Fruit requires soil that holds Water well. Crops suffer if there’s either a lack of Water or unusually chilly temperatures. Pumpkins are rather durable and can regrow damaged Vines if necessary.

Pumpkin Seeds are a popular snack. Grocery stores often sell Pumpkin Seeds both hulled and semi-hulled. Pumpkins are a good source of  protein, magnesium, copper, and zinc.

NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY ACTIVITIES

1. Try a new way of preparing Pumpkin today! Including a roasted Spicy Pumpkin Soup? Or a Pumpkin Smoothie?
2. Most of the time Pumpkin Pies are baked around the holidays, but don’t let that limit you: there are no rules as to when you can enjoy a delicious slice of Pumpkin Pie. If you do think that Pie belongs to Thanksgiving or Christmas only, try another Pumpkin-baked treat including Pumpkin Bread, or Pumpkin Scones?
3. Enjoy traditional October Pumpkin fun. Think of your favorite cartoon character, slogan, or image and have fun carving it into a Pumpkin. Or you could print out your design and use a toothpick to poke small dots into your Pumpkin to transfer the design and get carving!

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY

1. Did you know that the potassium in Pumpkins can have a positive effect on blood pressure? Eating a diet high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C which Pumpkins have which is also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density, and reduction in the formation of Kidney Stones. In addition, the antioxidants and vitamins in Pumpkins could prevent degenerative damage to the eyes.
2. Pumpkins are an amazingly versatile Fruit, which can be used in sweet, savory, spicy, or salty dishes! You can bake Pumpkins, boil Pumpkins, steam Pumpkins, puree Pumpkins, even fry Pumpkins. With so many ways to prepare Pumpkins, and so many flavors you can add to Pumpkins and there is guaranteed to be a way that appeals to everyone.
3. Pumpkins are fun to carve which everyone loves carving Pumpkins, and to top it off, it’s a great way to have fun with the kids. Invite your neighbors over, or your friends and have a Pumpkin-carving party.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates