August 31st is International Bacon Day #BaconDay and I don’t know about you but I’m doing a #hapydance because I love love love Bacon. How about you. Do you like Bacon? If so what is your favorite way to prepare Bacon and why?
What is your favorite meal with Bacon? I love a bacon Cheeseburger or Loaded baked Potao and a Loaded Baked Potato would be amazing for dinner this evening. Would you like to join me? Do you like Bacon is desserts because I don’t and neither does Charlie or David but like me they love Bacon.
International Bacon Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on the first Saturday in September of each year. Even though International Bacon Day is an international observance, the dates vary in some cultures, celebrating on February 19th and the first Saturday of January. Bacon is Pork Meat that is cured with Salt, followed by drying or smoking Bacon. The taste of Bacon is unlike anything else and Bacon is a staple in American food.
Did you know Salted Pork was first served on the tables of the Chinese thousands of years ago. From there, the practice of curing Pork spread throughout the Roman Empire. Bacon fat was also used by Anglo-Saxon peasants for cooking. The term Bacon or ‘Bacoun’ stems from Middle English, with French and German dialect elements to it. Bacon was used to refer to all Pork Meat till the 16th Century.
The National Pork Board has labeled Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto as the ‘father of the American Pork Industry.’ Responsible for bringing 13 Pigs with him to the New World in 1539, Soto’s herd grew to 700 in three years. The rest, as they say, is history.
Bacon Day, on the other hand, was founded by a group of Colorado-based CU Boulder graduate students in 2004. Students from Bucknell University have their own Bacon day celebrations, gorging on as much Meat as they can, and calling themselves ‘Meatheads.’ In the U.K., Bacon Day is celebrated some time around January 14th, before the Winter examinations, as a means of procrastination and fueling for revision.
In the U.S., Bacon is the belly of a Pig, whereas Meat from the Pig’s loin is called Canadian Bacon. I didn’t know that. Did you? Bacon is smoked using mesquite, hickory, or maple wood, and extra ingredients may be added to further enhance the flavor. Bacon is mostly enjoyed for breakfast, in B.L.T. Sandwiches, or simply on its own. Which if you ask me isn’t true because I see Bacon in so many other recipes. How about you?
International Bacon Day Activities
- Tahe the opportunity today to pull out your pans and cook Bacon! American-style, Rashers, Irish, Slab, Lardons, and more, and take the opportunity to try as many types of Bacon as you can! You can never had to much Bacon can you?
- Remember you don’t have to try out all the different types of Bacon by yourself. Invite your friends and have a full-on Bacon party.
- For the love of Bacon take the time today to post your favorite Bacon-related meal or photos from your gathering with the hashtag #InternationalBaconDay
Facts About Bacon
- The word ‘Bacon’ means “Meat from the back of an animal.”
- In the U.S., 70% of all Bacon is eaten at breakfast.
- More than two billion pounds of Bacon is produced every year in the U.S.
- Bacon is one of the oldest preserved foods in the world.
- During World War II, citizens donated excess Bacon Fat to the Army so they could make bombs using the extracted glycerin.
Why People Love International Bacon Day
- Bacon is delicious and a staple in American meals and people are so used to eating Bacon, we don’t realize how deprived we’d be without Bacon! Take the opportunity and let’s spread the love for Bacon.
- International Bacon Day is not only for eating Bacon, but to also review our diets and see whether we are having too much of Bacon because too much of a good thing isn’t the best, even if it is Bacon.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
