Good evening, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: November 21st, 2021. I would like to ask you to take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which Holiday you want to celebrate and why. For me and David we wouldn’t mind having Cranberry Sauce. Would you like to have some with us?
National Cranberry Day– #NationalCranberryDay
National Eat A Cranberry Day is celebrated on November 23rd every year. The Cranberry is a delicious fruit that creates even more delicious food and beverages. The Cranberry has a sweet set of benefits. Legend has it that Cranberries were served as part of the feast during the very first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. Eat A Cranberry Day celebrates all that the red berry offers and is, of course, a day dedicated to eating a Cranberry.
Five facts to know about Cranberries:
- Did you know there is another name for Cranberries which is “bounceberries” because they bounce when ripe.
2. Some Native Americans called the Cranberry “ibimi” which means “bitter berry.”
3. Native Americans and Pilgrims used Cranberries as a red dye.
4. Cranberry is one of only a handful of major fruits native to North America. Others include the Blueberry and Concord Grape.
5. During the days of wooden ships and iron men, American vessels carried Cranberries and it was the Cranberry’s generous supply of Vitamin C that prevented Scurvy.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CRANBERRY RELISH DAY
Originating in the streets of New England, Cranberry Relish has been a Seasonal dish since the 20th Century, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that Cranberry Relish gained national prominence. “The Splendid Table,” a nationally syndicated radio show programmed by the American Public Media, is the reason many in the Country have come to know and love Cranberry Relish. The show’s original host, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, would bring in guests from around the country to share unique local recipes with the audience.
One fall morning, Kasper invited NPR special correspondent Susan Stamberg to share her take on Holiday recipes in a quest to “make something tasty out of the ordinary.” In a back and forth about Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Stamberg shared her mother-in-law’s Cranberry Relish Recipe. “Add a dollop of Sour Cream, and make sure you chop them Radishes extra-fine,” she said, and the rest is history. That was the day the Cranberry-loving community added another great recipe to their staples, and the U.S. got the National Cranberry Relish Day. On further digging, we found that a Craig Claiborne dish inspired the recipe Stamberg shared. Walk into any household in the U.S. utter the words ‘Mama Stamberg’s Relish,’ and get ready to be served with the tangy scoop of Cranberry Relish.
A day that brings forth Cranberries must be celebrated. If you are daydreaming about the tangy drippings of this red fruit and the meaty bite of Turkey that follows, you should gear up for Thanksgiving.
NATIONAL CRANBERRY RELISH DAY ACTIVITIES
- Although the original recipe calls for the addition of Horseradish and Onions, we have to admit it isn’t a match for everyone. No worries, though! You can replace those ingredients with Orange Slices. Then this simple switch keeps up with the zest and adds another layer of tangy flavor.
- November is a great month for Harvest. Top-tier fruits like Apples, Bananas, Kiwi, and Grapes become primed for picking. National Cranberry Relish Day, pay a visit to a nearby Orchard with your friends and family.
- There is a lot that goes into a simple batch of Cranberry Sauce. From cleaning the Berries to sorting out the toppings and picking the perfect Wine, it sounds like a fun family activity for November 22nd.
5 FACTS ABOUT CRANBERRIES
- Cranberries are native to America and have been in cultivation since the 1550s.
- ‘Cranberry’ comes from the German word ‘Kraanbere,’ which translates to ‘Craneberry.’
- Unlike every other Berry, Cranberries are so low in Sugar that sweeteners are added to the juice to make Cranberries appetizing.
- Cranberries are 90% Water, eat a bunch and meet your Water goals for the day.
- Native Americans have been using Cranberries for medicinal purposes way before modern Science pointed out their health benefits.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CRANBERRY RELISH DAY
- From the Narragansett people of the Algonquian Nation in the 1550s all the way to present-day New England, Cranberry has come a long way and is one of the only three surviving Native American Fruits.
- Think of Thanksgiving, and you will see Cranberry Relish/ Sauce sitting right across the Turkey. A Fruit that can make such an impact on a day when you get away with drinking at 4 P.M. deserves recognition.
- Cranberry Relish is incredibly delicious and really nutritious — a combination of Cranberries, Onions, and Horseradish packs Vitamins, Antioxidants, and so much more. Don’t mind us storing a batch that lasts the entire month of November.
National Gingerbread Cookie Day
Celebrated on the 21st of November annually, this is one among the many Gingerbread festivities that proclaim the goodness of the Gingerbread Cookie. Gingerbread is an essential part of any Holiday Celebration and is presented in every creative way you could imagine.
The “Gingerbread House” became popular in Germany after the Brothers Grimm published Hansel and Gretel in the 19th Century.
The term Gingerbread is from the Latin term zingiber via old French gingebras, meaning preserved Ginger.
Did you know Catholic Monks used to make Gingerbread in the shape of Angels and Saints.
A doctor once wrote a prescription for Gingerbread to the Swedish King Hans to cure his depression.
Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the first Gingerbread Men.
Why National Gingerbread Cookie Day?
“What are little Gingerbread Cookies made of? Sugar and spice, and all that’s nice; And that’s what little Gingerbread cookies are made of, made of.”
Mr. Walter Crane’s composition, “What are little girls made of ?” would have been re-written as such if he had a bite of these crispy-edged pieces of Cookies before he decided to write about girls and boys. And it’s an understatement if the question arises, why Gingerbread Cookies?
Their Spice, Molasses flavor, smiles, and their charm are irresistible. Gingerbread Cookies capture your heart in every way!
Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with Ginger, Cloves, Nutmeg, or Cinnamon and sweetened with Honey, Sugar, or Molasses.
There are numerous cookie day celebrations throughout the year like Peanut Butter Cookie Day, Sugar Cookie Day, Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. So, what makes Gingerbread Cookie Day so special?
One cannot help but notice the healthy ingredients used in the Gingerbread Cookie Recipes!
Ginger, the dominant protagonist of this sweet story provides more than just the Spice component. Its known for its numerous health benefits such as Anti-inflammatory properties, reducing Nausea, and so on. The other ingredients used are:-
- Flour
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
- Baking soda, salt, egg and vanilla extract
- Molasses
- Brown sugar
- Butter
The process usually involves whisking of dry ingredients, beating the dough, chilling the dough, rolling and cutting the dough, baking, and decoration.
Gingerbread Cookies make sturdy walls for Gingerbread Houses just like in the Fable Hansel and Gretel. Gingerbread is also used as embellishments for festive moments. Why stick to just one day of celebration for Gingerbread?
How Can We Observe National Gingerbread Cookie Day:
-Invite friends to help you bake and decorate Gingerbread Cookies.
After your done baking your Gingerbread Cookies have fun decorating the Cookies and eating them. But before you do post on Social Media using #NationalGingerBreadDay and #GingerBreadDay to encourage everyone to celebrate today.
-Get the children involved in the making and baking of Gingerbread Cookies and enjoy good family time!
Children love getting their hands dirty! involve them as you make cookies. Try teaching them how to make Gingerbread Cookies then share those Cookies with family and friends. Use #GingerbreadCookieDay to share on Social Media.
You can also decorate the Gingerbread House using the Gingerbread cookies and have some fun.
-The Gingerbread Man and Hansel and Gretel stories could be read along with a plate of your favorite Ginger Bread Cookies.
Another fun way to observe day is by reading The Gingerbread Man to your children while serving Milk and
Prepare and wrap Gingerbread Cookies to Gift today!
Share the joy of giving a friend Gingerbread cookies!
Interesting Facts About National Gingerbread Cookie Day:
-Gingerbread originates from ancient Greeks and Egyptians who used Gingerbread as a ceremonial offering.
-The term Gingerbread is from the Latin term zingiber via old French gingebras, meaning preserved Ginger.
-In Nuremberg, Ulm and Pulsnitz in Germany, Torun in Poland, Tula in Russia, the making of Gingerbread is considered a Fine Art.
-After the Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel” story published, Gingerbread House making became popular throughout Europe.
-In 992, Gingerbread was first brought to Europe by am Armenian Monk named Gregory of Nicopolis.
-A doctor once prescribed Gingerbread to the Swedish King Hans to cure his depression.
-Queen Elizabeth I is believed to be responsible for the first Gingerbread Man as she had them made to resemble visiting Dignitaries and then presented them as a gift.
History Of National Gingerbread Cookie Day:
Gingerbread is claimed to have been brought to Europe in 992 CE by the Armenian Monk Gregory of Nicopolis (also called Gregory Makar and Grégoire de Nicopolis). He left Nicopolis (in modern-day western Greece) to live in Bondaroy (north-central France), near the town of Pithiviers. He stayed there for seven years and taught Gingerbread baking to French Christians. The origin and the creator of this day remain unknown.
Twitter Hashtags: #NationalGingerbirdCookieDay #GingerbirdCookieDay
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
