February 23, 2019 – NATIONAL BANANA BREAD DAY – NATIONAL TILE DAY – NATIONAL DOG BISCUIT DAY
FEBRUARY 23, 2019 | NATIONAL BANANA BREAD DAY | NATIONAL TILE DAY | NATIONAL DOG BISCUIT DAY
February 23rd annually recognizes a well-known food holiday, National Banana Bread Day.
A moist, sweet, cake-like quick bread, banana bread is made with fully ripe, mashed bananas. There are some recipes where banana bread is made with yeast when it is then usually sliced, toasted and spread with butter.
It was with the popularization of baking soda and baking powder in the 1930s that banana bread first became a standard feature of American cookbooks and appeared in Pillsbury’s 1933 Balanced Recipes cookbook. Banana bread later gained further acceptance with the release of the original Chiquita Banana’s Recipe Book in 1950.
The United States saw the arrival of bananas in the 1870′s, but it took a while before they appeared as an ingredient in desserts.
The Vienna Model Bakery advertised banana bread as something new in the April 21, 1893, edition of St. Louis Post-Dispatch. An early restaurant/bakery chain owned by Gaff, Fleischmann & Company, The Viena Model Bakery was known for their baked goods and was likely one of the first to produce banana bread in the United States. The recipe was made with banana flour, which is made by drying strips of the fruit, then grinding it to a powder. This process had long been used in the West Indies.
In Hawaii during World War I, there was a surplus of bananas due to very few ships to export the fruit. In order not to waste the fruits, alternative uses for bananas were developed. The bakeries started incorporating the fruit into their bread.
This recipe was printed in The Maui News on April 12, 1918, for banana bread:
2/3 banana
1/3 flour
Yeast, coconut milk or water
There was also rationing of staple food items such as flour. Banana flour was a suggested substitute. It was touted as a health food and recommended for a vegetarian diet.
This, of course, is not the quick bread we know today. A recipe submitted by Mrs. Dean in the February 18, 1918, issue of The Garden Island paper for a banana muffin might more closely resemble the quick bread we think of today.
1 cup cornmeal
3-1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 sifted banana
3/4 cup rye flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon Crisco
Mix dry ingredients, add banana, milk and egg and Crisco.
The difference between a quick bread and a muffin in baking has a lot to do with the type of fat and how it is mixed creating a different crumb or texture to the bread.
In 1927, Unifruit (a wholesale produce company) offered a free cookbook called From the Tropics to Your Table full of banana recipes including banana muffins and breads. This little cookbook would have been handy during the Great Depression which was just around the corner. Throwing out overripe bananas was not something a family could afford to do. Utilizing every bit of food and stretching meals was a daily practice. Overripe bananas, as well as other fruits and vegetables, were baked into breads, stews and other dishes when flavor and texture were not as appealing raw.
There are many different variations of the traditional banana bread, a few of which include Banana raisin bread – Banana nut bread – Chocolate chip banana bread.
HOW TO OBSERVE
To participate in National Banana Bread Day, try one of the following banana bread recipes:
Buttermilk Banana Bread
Banana Sour Cream Bread
Applesauce Banana Bread
Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
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“Sweet Potatoes” are so good – packed with Vitamins and with just a couple of your other favorite good foods – what a feast for a KING – that the Queen of the kitchen decided would just make your day, complete!
NATIONAL COOK A SWEET POTATO DAY
National Cook A Sweet Potato Day is celebrated across the United States each year on February 22nd. The sweet potato is eaten and loved, each day, by millions of people across the nation.
Either Central America or South America is thought to be the center of origin and domestication of sweet potatoes. It is known that in Central America, sweet potatoes were domesticated at least 5,000 years ago. Peruvian sweet potato remnants dating as far back as 8,000 BC have been found in South America.
The sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamin A, which supports good vision, the immune system, and bone growth. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B-6, magnesium, and vitamin C. It’s also great for the complexion.
High in fiber and low in fat and calories, this root vegetable is a healthful alternative to snack foods when prepared without added butter, sugar or salt.
Unlike other potatoes, sweet potatoes like long, hot growing seasons. This might explain why it is the state vegetable of North Carolina.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Give these sweet potato recipes a try:
Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Louisiana Sweet Potato Pancakes
Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Pecan Topping
Sweet Potato Pineapple Casserole
Sweet Potato Cake
The “Sweet Potato Pecan Pie” is the one, that I have to make first – this is for sure, the best way to get my Vitamins – and really enjoy – the “yummy” good taste, too!
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Just have to post an old PHOTO that could be sixty years ago, when it was taken – at the bowling alley – do people still go BOWLING?
That terrific little bowler is my sister “KAREN” – and the Photographer is my youngest brother, “Tommy” – and the people back then – may or may not have wanted someone taking PHOTOS – while some “BOWLERS” were there – just may cause them to not get that ball to land where they want it – or just blind them – and cause them not to be able to see too well – with bright lights flashing?
This was one of those evenings when we also went to the “Ice skating rink one block south of Delmar on DeBaliviere Avenue” – as this area had so much to do and see – and we were there – just for a real good time!
It just seems to me – that back in those days – we had so much more FUN – no one had those hand-held items in their hands – that, they have to keep looking at – and do not have real time to talk and have FUN – since they just may miss some “very unimportant” message!
We had more FUN to talk and enjoy being with “LIVE” People and Friends – and the TIME did not fly by – so fast – that the day was over before we wanted – as with today – TIME fly’s by – and before you know it – it is the next day – you do not feel like you have accomplished, all that you should, and or had intended to do – like we did in the good old days!
“Three Cheers for yesterday” at least we have good memories – and that is what adds up – to having even better times in the future – as we remember and try to do more faster – just to keep up with all of our “LOVE to Do THINGS” just making many more of those good times and memories – for future reference! D.V.
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Some days when you are just getting your own “MOTOR” all revved up, and now running, for a new and bright day – one of those middle of the “WEEK” days just starting – it is too early in the morning – YOU have had your shower and you now, have no idea at all – since, you did not make plans, that which you will be wearing – just kind of thought it would be warmer – a real maybe – and now, guess we will wait and see – just what the “WEATHER MAN” is bringing to us, for the twenty-first day in February?
So there I am – into the drawers – pulling out this and that – and just setting aside – thinking – maybe – or, oh well, let’s just see what else is available, in another drawer?
Next drawer – something purple – is this the bottom or the top? Sure enough top and matching bottom in purple and have not worn in years – but, I did find a long sleeve white sweater in the above drawer, that could be worn under this purple top – white turtle neck and white sleeves to make this purple outfit look – good – keener or maybe even, terrific – and with those – two long sleeves – surely, I will be warm – no matter, what the “Weather Man” has decided to send, to us today!
Well, there I am all dressed – and looking in the mirror, “WOW” – what first comes to mind – I remember, that our little “Jaime” herself – wore a purple outfit in the lobby of our “AIRPORT” – standing there – by the front doors – and she looked so beautiful just like a “MOVIE STAR” – and just so that I would have this wonderful memory for TODAY and forever – someone took her Picture – and today – that PHOTO is above – for all to see and admire – as she looks like she is just arriving or maybe, she could be ready to take off , and FLY with her DADDY – as “JAIME” does have a nice “bag” of stuff in her hand, – so that, which ever way – no matter – if she is coming and or going, “Jaime” is all ready to go some where, looking beautiful – all – the day long.
Just thought, that I should add this special PHOTO of little, “MISS Jaime” our very own, “Miss Congeniality” since, she has that extra special gift of getting along with everyone – always so sweet and friendly – always there to help every one, with whatever she can – just to help make everyone feel real good and happy – and to think, that we are the lucky ones – since “JAIME” belongs to us – we are all able to have many wonderful times, being all together yesterday – today, and memories, that I will always have – even without a PHOTO!
“I just LOVE this PHOTO and grateful to who ever it was, that took this PHOTO, and gave it – to me – “treasures such as these” – are the best kind of memories to have – and that is forever!” D.V.
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“Just made two Cherry Pies and they are delicious – if I say so myself!”
Cherry Pie
NATIONAL CHERRY PIE DAY
Some pie lovers will be eating their favorite pie on February 20 during National Cherry Pie Day. Whether they eat it for breakfast, lunch or supper or a slice at every meal depends on just how much they love cherry pie!
It seems only right that we celebrate the cherry pie so close to Presidents Day as we all know the story (albeit untrue) of President George Washington and the cherry tree. Cherries were, however, one of his favorite foods.
According to the American Pie Council, the pie came to America with the first English settlers. The early colonists cooked their pies in long narrow pans calling them “coffyns” like the crust in England. As in the Roman times, the early American pie crusts often were not eaten, but just designed to hold the filling during baking. It was during the American Revolution that the term crust was used instead of “coffyn.”
In the United States, cherry pie is often referred to as a “great American dish”. Recipe books have many different versions of recipes for cherry pie.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Try making your own cherry pie using this delicious recipe.
NATIONAL CHERRY PIE DAY
Some pie lovers will be eating their favorite pie on February 20 during National Cherry Pie Day. Whether they eat it for breakfast, lunch or supper or a slice at every meal depends on just how much they love cherry pie!
It seems only right that we celebrate the cherry pie so close to Presidents Day as we all know the story (albeit untrue) of President George Washington and the cherry tree. Cherries were, however, one of his favorite foods.
According to the American Pie Council, the pie came to America with the first English settlers. The early colonists cooked their pies in long narrow pans calling them “coffyns” like the crust in England. As in the Roman times, the early American pie crusts often were not eaten, but just designed to hold the filling during baking. It was during the American Revolution that the term crust was used instead of “coffyn.”
In the United States, cherry pie is often referred to as a “great American dish”. Recipe books have many different versions of recipes for cherry pie.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Try making your own cherry pie using this delicious recipe:
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 1 hr 30 min
- Prep: 20 min
- Cook: 1 hr 10 min
4 cups fresh or frozen tart cherries
1 to 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 tablespoon almond extract (optional)
Your favorite pie crust or pie dough recipe for 2 crust pie
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, to dot
1 tablespoon granulated sugar, to sprinkle
- Place cherries in medium saucepan and place over heat. Cover. After the cherries lose considerable juice, which may take a few minutes, remove from heat. In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cornstarch together. Pour this mixture into the hot cherries and mix well. Add the almond extract, if desired, and mix. Return the mixture to the stove and cook over low heat until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and let cool. If the filling is too thick, add a little water, too thin, add a little more cornstarch.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Use your favorite pie dough recipe. Prepare your crust. Divide in half. Roll out each piece large enough to fit into an 8 to 9-inch pan. Pour cooled cherry mixture into the crust. Dot with butter. Moisten edge of bottom crust. Place top crust on and flute the edge of the pie. Make a slit in the middle of the crust for steam to escape. Sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool.
This was easy and delicious!
Posted in Grandma, Today and tagged "Mickey McLaren" -" herself"with .
Sure glad that, I did not cut off , the DATE of June 1960 – from this PHOTO – as you can see this is our “Easter Gift Chicken” and, is NOW sharing the food dish of our elder boy, “TOM’s” favorite dog, “MISSY” – – – (and, I just can not remember the dog;s name. Some where is a previous story – where, we will read more about this PHOTO!)
This next PHOTO is a clipping, from a “Facebook” article – that I feel is the way so many of our young people feel – that have enlisted in the Service for AMERICA – as in the last PHOTO on this page, we have our “TOM Aldrich” with his “War Dog, Shane” – when he enlisted – and the black dog in the above PHOTO was “TOM;s” before he joined the Army at the age of eighteen. 
This next PHOTO is that same “CHICKEN” – the “EASTER GIFT” – while still a member of the household – living inside – and “Little Lee” trying to get the poor scared chicken to eat – by bringing food to her – even if it meant – trying to catch the chicken under the television – a nice and small space of safety, for the chicken.
This next PHOTO is “TOM Aldrich” while he was stationed in Korea and with his “WAR DOG, SHANE” – as “TOM” was so good at the working and training of dogs – before and even after leaving the service – as some people just have those extra special communication skills with the living and working with the animals, that they LOVE!
So, on the – 20th of February, 2019 – be sure to enjoy all of the activities taking place in Saint Louis, Missouri – the NATIONAL – LOVE YOUR PET DAY! D.V.
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