October 24th is National Bologna Day #NationalBolognaDay. Would you like to have a OSCAR BOLOGNA Sandwich with me? If so I prefer Mayo, Bologna and Bread. Once in a while its okay with Mustard. No, Veggies Please. What would you like on your Bologna Sandwich and why?
if you don’t want a Sandwich I can fry Bologna for us and make Eggs to go with it. Or is there another way you prefer Bologna to be prepared and if it’s something new and unique please leave me a comment and let me know how you eat your Bologna and why?
This October 24th, make sure to bring your brown bag lunches to work because it’s National Bologna Day! Everyone’s favorite processed luncheon Meat has its own holiday. Did you know Bologna is named after the Italian City of the same name?
Down there they call Bologna Mortadella, which is a Sausage with bits of Lard and Peppercorns in it. I believe I would pass on this Bologna. How about you? American Bologna, as you may have noticed, is distinctly different, but no less loved the world over.
While the history of National Bologna Day may be short, the history of Bologna is long and lasting. For example, in 1661, Mortadella (Bologna’s European cousin) was so protected, the Papacy decided to create a clear definition to distinguish Mortadella from other, lesser versions of finely ground Pork with chunks of Fat.
Bologna, as known in America, is Mortadella without the fat chunks. It’s sold at baseball stadiums, lunch counters, Delis, inside tin cans, and in the glass cases of Butchers. Bologna can be fried and thrown on toasted Bread with Pickles, Onions, Tomatoes, and Lettuce.
Bologna can be served cold with thick slices of Cheddar Cheese and White Bread. Bologna can be chopped up and mixed with crumbled, hard boiled Eggs, Mayo, and Veggies for a Bologna Salad. I’ve never had Bologna Salad and I don’t think I want to try it. How about you?
Regardless of how you enjoy Bologna, Bologna came to America (most likely) with the large German immigration at the turn of the twentieth century, establishing Bologna as a De Facto Cuisine in the areas they settled in Midwest, Appalachia, Pennsylvania, and parts of the South. From there, Bologna quickly took firm footing as one of the most popular American foods.
National Bologna Day Activities
- How else should you celebrate National Bologna Day than by enjoying Bologna the way it was meant to be savored- between two slices of Bread! But on National Bologna Day, why not try something new? Why not fry Bologna up and top it with an Egg? Or how about you pull out that Panini Press you never use and cook Bologna up topped with a slice of Cheddar Cheese!
- Did you know you can make your own Bologna and you don’t need a giant assembly line to make Bologna. Bologna doesn’t even require that many ingredients. All you need is ground Beef, a Sugar-based curing mixture, Garlic and Onion Powder, and finally, Liquid Smoke for that distinct taste. Mix it all up, mold it, and throw it in the oven. In an hour you’ll have your very own Bologna to celebrate with.
- Make a Bologna Cake which is actually not a joke, a Bologna Cake is the real thing. Bologna Cake is exactly what it sounds like. You take slices of Bologna, layer them, and use Cream Cheese for Frosting. Spray some Canned Cheese for decoration and serve with Crackers. Bologna Cake may seem crazy, but you’re sure to have the most impressive party platter- that is until someone brings the Hot Dog sculpture.
Why People Love National Bologna Day
- Bologna, Mustard, and White Bread, those three ingredients make for the cornerstone of a classic school-time lunch. There’s just something about Bologna that kids love. Pair Bolonga up with String Cheese and Fruit Snacks and you can guarantee your kids will have plenty of energy to get through the day.
- Bologna is more than just Oscar Meyer Bologna. Bologna actually comes in all kinds of styles and flavors. We’ve already talked a bit about Mortadella, but there’s also German Bologna and Lebanon Bologna which are distinctly different. There’s even something called Polony, which is popular in South Africa.
- Of course it’s important to eat healthily, but sometimes you just have to indulge in a guilty pleasure, and that’s where Bologna unapologetically comes to the rescue. In a world where everything is either cholesterol-free or fat-free, Bologna isn’t afraid to be itself. That being said, Bologna is gluten-free if that’s your thing.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
