Good evening, I thought I would share tomorrows post this evening as David is off in the morning and we have a lot of errands to run. Take a look at the Unique Holidays: May 26t, 2021 and let me know which Holiday you most would like to share and why.
If you’ve ever been to Chicago you know, then you know there’s nothing like an Italian Beef Sandwich to round out a perfectly good day at the Stadium.
If you’re a real aficionado you know that wet isn’t the appropriate way to order it at all, instead, you order it ‘dipped,’ and get ready for one of the most delicious meals of your entire life.
Italian Beef Week is a tribute to this incredible sandwich and its history, as well as the important role it plays in the life of the Windy City.
This sounds like a sandwich David orders from a restaurant here not that I have ever had one. Before you ask neither has Charlie and if you were to ask Charlie and I we don’t want to try a Italian Beef Sandwich.
History of Italian Beef Week
The Italian Beef Sandwich has a history that stretches back through Chicago’s past and has become one of the iconic pieces of Chicago cuisine making the city’s culture what it is.
It all started with Beef that is lean, tender, and low in fat and mixed with an array of Spices and Seasonings that are nearly as closely a guarded secret as the right way to eat it. This delicious concoction is then slathered between two slices of Italian Bread and served up as the customer wants it.
The right way, as we mentioned above, is to have the Sandwich dipped. If you’ve never had a dipped Italian Beef Sandwich, you’re in for a bit of a treat, but take warning. Proper consumption of an Italian Beef Sandwich requires you to take that freshly dipped treat and grasp it firmly in both hands.
Now place your elbows on the table in front of you, and start leaning over to eat the sandwich. Any other method is going to result in your sandwich baptizing your front with rich Au jus. Just keep eating until you’re done, don’t try to stop or the whole thing will fall apart.
How to celebrate Italian Beef Week
The only way to celebrate Italian Beef Week is to get yourself a fresh and tasty Italian Beef Sandwich. Not in the Chicago area? Not a problem! You can find hundreds of recipes online to show you how to prepare your Italian Beef in a way that will take you on a taste bud fueled trip to the Windy City.
First created as ‘National Italian Beef Day’ by Buona, Chicago’s largest family-owned restaurant chain. One of the originators of the ‘Italian Beef Sandwich’.
Buona Beef is the Official Italian Beef Sandwich of Chicago Baseball (Served at Both Wrigley & Guaranteed Rate Field).
Italian Beef? : Roasted Beef that is tender, lean, low in fat, and spiced just right with special seasonings, served in its own natural Gravy on Italian bread.
Why today? : May is National Beef Month, Millions love Italian Beef, So it made perfect sense to found a holiday around it!
Recipe for Italian Beef Sandwich
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon onion salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
- 1 (5 pound) rump roast
Directions
- Step 1 Combine water with salt, ground black pepper, oregano, basil, onion salt, parsley, garlic powder, bay leaf, and salad dressing mix in a saucepan. Stir well, and bring to a boil.
- Step 2 Place roast in slow cooker, and pour salad dressing mixture over the meat.
- Step 3 Cover, and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours, or on High for 4 to 5 hours. When done, remove bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork.
Don’t skip the juices!
It is important to make sure you get lots of the juices into the sandwich… maybe messy but definitely delicious (and essential to this recipe)! In fact, in Chicago they often dip the whole sandwich right into the au jus before serving it to you!
National Grape Popsicle Day
Ah…the Grape Popsicle a childhood favorite that left your lips and tongue the telltale shade of the treat you just consumed. Why not make some homemade Popsicles today?
The story goes that Frank Epperson, an 11 year old boy, was the inventor of the Popsicle. I’m sure his mother was none too pleased when he left Soda Water with a stirring stick in it on the porch overnight, where it froze.
However, I’m sure his mom forgave him when 18 years later he started a business selling what would later be called, the “Popsicle”.
My family loves Popsicle and yes, Grape is my favorite. Charlies likes Orange and of course David likes Cherry. As hot as it is right now I wish I had some.
If you will excuse me while Charlie is Swimming I think I will make Popsicle to surprise Charlie and David with. Would you like one as well? If so what flavor would you like and why?
Facts about Popsicles:
- Popsicles were originally marketed as “a frozen drink on a stick”. Can you imgaine that?
- Popsicles originally came in seven flavors thought to be Root Beer, Cherry, Lemon, Orange, Banana, Grape, and Watermelon, but there is no official record of Epperson’s original flavors. Charlie said if there was Root Beer that is what he would like to have.
- The most popular Popsicle flavor is Cherry. Can you imagine that? I thought it would be Grape.
- More than two billion Popsicles are sold each year. WOW, that is a whole bunch of Popsicles.
- The dual Popsicle featuring two sticks and one Popsicle that could be split in half was introduced during the Great Depression as a way to split the treat across two children for the same cost. Did you ever share your Popsicle because as a child I did with my sister and brother.
Recipes:
- 3 cup grapes
Instructions
- Rinse your grapes and pull off the stem.
- Place in your high powered blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into pop molds.
- Freeze until hard. Enjoy!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
