National Holidays in September: The Food Holidays

I have gotten a lot of comments on my holiday lesson plans article series about the fact that there are plenty of food holidays to keep you busy during the whole year. Anyone who has commented on this is right. I do my best to vary the holidays that I include in that article series so that we're giving our kids insight about a wide variety of topics. However, there is no reason that there can't be a separate article series for the food holidays. Here it is. Enjoy!

Get back to the basics today and enjoy a cheese pizza without any toppings. There is no reason that cheese pizza has to be boring. If you're looking for a way to mix up the pizza recipe, consider using different cheeses, sauce, and/or crust. I love to use Pillsbury hot roll mix for pizza crust. Of course you can also use refrigerated crust or you can make it from scratch.

National Date Nut Bread Day is celebrated on September 8 or December 22.

It never fails to amaze me how many truly random food holidays are out there. I can understand days for simple, universally popular foods, such as blueberries or pancakes. But who loved date nut bread enough to declare a day for it? Unfortunately there are no records of a particular creator so we may never know. Dates and nuts are both delicious on their own so why not include both in a batch of homemade bread today?

There is a reason that chocolate continues to be one of the most popular shake flavors out there. If you really don't like chocolate, you can switch it up today with a different type of shake. For those who do love chocolate but are looking for a healthy recipe, there are lots of recipes filled with protein and vitamins, including gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options. There is nothing wrong with a classic take on the chocolate shake, too.

Is a Chinese meal complete without a fortune cookie? It doesn't feel like it. A fortune cookie is one of life's simple pleasures. Celebrate today with some take out or dining in at your favorite Chinese restaurant. You can also switch up the routine and make fortune cookies at home from scratch or make a fortunate cookie craft, such as felt fortune cookies.

I love peanut butter in many different forms including sandwiches, savory recipes, and desserts. If you usually enjoy peanut butter in one of these forms, venture out today and try something new. For those who don't want to switch it up that much, try a new variation for a favorite recipe. For example, instead of eating peanut butter and jelly today, try peanut butter and Nutella. Of course there's nothing wrong with enjoying one of your standard favorites, too.

I am not too picky when it comes to donuts. Cream-filled is not my first choice, but I certainly don't say no to it. Keep it simple today and enjoy a Boston Cream or another cream-filled donut without a lot of frosting or other toppings (i.e. sprinkles). If you're feeling adventurous, make your own.

Nothing beats a warm, homemade pastry with fresh seasonal fruit. Of course it should have lots of cinnamon and should be topped with vanilla ice cream. If you would prefer a different fruit, substitute one of your choosing in just about any great dessert dumpling recipe.

Enjoy a classic burger with your favorite kind of cheese today. Don't be afraid to keep it simple today, as many of the best burgers don't need much to be fabulous on their own. Of course you can always mix it up as you like, too. The possibilities for burgers as endless. Just don't forget the cheese.

The only reason that I don't opt for butterscotch pudding very often is because I never get tired of vanilla and chocolate pudding. What's not to love about both of them? Butterscotch it another classic, though. If you love butterscotch flavor, whip up a batch of homemade pudding today.

This is another great truly random dessert for an entire holiday. The dish is over a hundred years old and has many variations as well as cheater versions. If you don't use fresh fruit, please use frozen. It will simply not be the same with canned cherries (despite what Rachael Ray may say). Make sure to select a high quality vanilla ice cream as well.

If you're looking for an easy variation, switch up your current pancake recipe with a different kind of flour (i.e. whole wheat, buckwheat).

If this holiday falls on a weekend this year, you don't even need an excuse to make this for breakfast. If it falls on a weekday, use this AS an excuse to make a special breakfast. Many pancake recipes out there are decadent and more appropriate as desserts than breakfasts. Either prepare these recipes with the intention of serving them as desserts or adjust your calorie intake accordingly later in the day.

Does anyone else go crazy with pumpkin recipes in the fall? There is no reason to wait until Thanksgiving to start making your favorite pumpkin dishes. Pull out your old favorites and consider making one or two new recipes this year, too.

Do you still have some frozen berries left over from a blueberry pick this past summer? If you didn't overdose on them a month or two ago, pull out a batch and whip up some Popsicles before the weather is too cool. Blueberries are a perfect pairing with many other fruits including lemons, bananas, and peaches. Considering including any or all of them in your blueberry Popsicles. You have all month to enjoy this and can experiment with several different recipes.

Tip: Chicken can be great in a slow cooker. If you want to put something in the cooker early in the day and not worry about it until the evening, there are lots of good options.

Unless you have vegetarians in your house, you'll most likely be able to find a chicken recipe this month that your whole family enjoys. Bake it in the oven, cook it on the stove, or put it on the grill. If you're looking for an easy marinade, consider salad dressing, such as Italian or toasted sesame.

I'm one of those weird people who puts honey on pancakes and French toast instead of syrup. I just love it and prefer it over many other sweeteners. I'm also a huge fan of honey mustard dressing. It goes with so many foods. Give honey a try a few times this month. There are so many wonderful desserts that feature honey (baklava, anyone?) as well as savory sauces with it.