Today is a fun, food-filled holiday. It is National Cherry Turnover Day. On this August 28 holiday we celebrate by eating this sweet, flaky puff pastry with a cherry filling. This is the type of food you can have for breakfast. You can enjoy it as dessert for lunch or dinner, too. And, it is a great nighttime snack as well. To enjoy this holiday to the fullest, we suggest you have a turnover a few times during the day today. Then tomorrow, you can work off those extra calories at the gym!

A cherry turnover is a single serving snack. It is a flaky, golden puff pastry. They taste best when served hot and fresh. It is quite simple to make. First, you spread out a piece of dough into a square or rectangular shape, Next you put some cherry pie filing on it. Then, you fold it over into a rectangular shape. It is cooked by baking or frying. Finally, it is time for the fun part. You eat it!

Turnovers are best enjoyed with family or friends.

Today is International Lottery Day. I bet you’re going to love this holiday. Hopefully, today you will find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. On this August 27 holiday, try your luck. All it takes is a dollar and a dream. Forget all the scrimping and saving you’ve done, all in an effort to barely squeak by. When you win, you’ll live on easy street. Then, you can buy anything and everything that you want.  And, you can travel the world. Fly in first class and stay at the fanciest hotels. They say, “Money can’t buy happiness”. But, it’s going to be fun testing this theory.

Like other games of chance, lotteries offer hope and appeal to our dreams and fantasies of winning the big jackpot. Along with the big win, we dream of living in a huge mansion, boats and yachts, cars, vacations, and many other material things. And, think of the things you no longer have to do. Your lawn and gardens are all maintained for you. There’s no more cleaning, dusting, or mopping. Your personal chef makes the best meals. And, your butlers and maids tend to all of the needs of the household. Yes, after you win the lottery, life is going to be great.

So, we hope you celebrate International Lottery Day and its long history. Certainly, the best way to do so, is to buy some tickets.

What’s for dinner tonight!? Today is North American Grilled Veggies Day. Also called Grilled Vegetables Day, this August 23 holiday is a grilled culinary delight. Chances are, you’re grilling a hot dog, a burger, barbecuing a chicken, or some other meat tonight. So, adding some fresh vegetables to the grill is easy. And, cooking outdoors keeps the heat out of the kitchen. You just have to decide what vegetable to cook on the grill. The answer is whatever one you want. You can grill all veggies. 

It’s late summer in North America. As we creep closer and closer to Fall, the garden harvest is in full swing. Most of us are harvesting far more vegetables than we can possibly consume. So, we look for any way we can cook up more of them. Enter the world of grilling vegetables. You can grill almost any vegetable that comes out of your garden. And, grilled veggies are so delicious! 

This holiday is best enjoyed if you’re grilling vegetables fresh-picked right out of your garden. But, if you don’t have a garden, don’t let that stop you from savoring every minute of this healthy day. Rather, go to the grocery store, or a farm market. Then, select a wide variety of veggies to take home and grill up.

Does the smell of bacon sizzling in a frying pan in the kitchen get your mouth watering and cause hunger pains to set it in? Do you eat it every chance you get? Do you eat it in a wide variety of recipes including dessert recipes? If so, you’re a bonafide Bacon-a-holic. And, you’re in luck. National Bacon Lovers Day is today. We all know that bacon is salty, smoky, and delicious. And, we also know that it is not healthy for us. But, bacon is not all bad. It contains proteins and vitamins B1, B3, and B12. So, on this August 20 holiday, let’s all put away our healthy diet long enough to enjoy a day full of this artery-clogging meat. And, while you’re enjoying this salty holiday, read our Bacon Trivia and Fun Facts. 

Prior to the invention of refrigeration, salting and smoking bacon and other meats was a common way to preserve meats for an extended period. Making bacon begins with the pork bellies of pigs. Pork bellies contain a hefty amount of fat.  Often, there is so much fat in the pork belly, that manufacturers cut off some of the excessive fat before seasoning and curing it. Salt and sometimes other flavorings are generously applied. Then, you smoked it. Smoking it using different types of wood like applewood or hickory adds different flavors to the finished product.  The result is a crunchy, heavenly, and irresistible flavor.

National Rum Day is today. It is one of the most popular liquors enjoyed around the world. So, today is the perfect day to imbibe in a Pirate’s favorite beverage. Sailors around the world love it, too. As a matter of fact, until 1970, British sailors received a daily ration of this liquor. On this August 16 holiday, we get to enjoy this popular liquor. It is best enjoyed on a tropical beach.

While earlier forms of this liquor existed, its true birthplace is in North America. In the Caribbean region, rum distillers emerged in the 1600s. It quickly spread in popularity to the thirteen British colonies. This in turn led to colonial distilleries.  It was so popular in colonial times, that it lead the British to impose a sugar and molasses tax on the colonies. Sugar and molasses are ingredients in the distillation process. This and other taxes partially led to the Revolutionary War. From those days onward, rum was among the most popular drinks in America. When Prohibition arrived, bootleggers filled demand by illegally bringing countless cases of rum from Caribbean distilleries to the U.S. Today it remains among the most popular liquors in the U.S. It is consumed straight up, and in countless drinks and cocktails. Pina Collada, anyone!?   

Did You Know? Grog is a combination of rum and water. Sometimes lemon juice and/or sugar are added.  Pirates and sailors are big consumers of grog.

We encourage you to enjoy the holiday. But, please drink responsibly.  If you are going out to celebrate, have a designated driver. 

Navajo Code Talkers Day is today. This August 14 holiday commemorates and honors the Navajo tribe members who joined the United States Marine Corps during World War II and played an invaluable role in transmitting critical secret communications between Allied forces. Enemy forces were unable to decode the messages. Messages transmitted by Code Talkers were directly attributed to some Allied victories.

Encryption and coded messages have been in existence for thousands of years. They are used for military purposes, in politics, in business applications, to protect privacy, and occasionally for love letters. In World War II, the Code Talkers sent secret messages back and forth using their native Navajo language. The complex language proved to be an unbreakable code. 

Navajo Code Talkers were directly engaged in many World War II battles, including Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Tarawa to name a few. U.S. military forces went to great extremes to protect these valuable communicators. Of over 400 Code Talkers who put their lives on the line for our country, none of them died in the war. However, some of them were wounded. And fortunately, none of them were captured.

National Filet Mignon Day is Today. On this August 13 holiday, you are in for a real culinary treat. If fine dining is your thing, then a Filet mignon is your choice for dinner. Filet Mignon is the most tender and flavorful steak you can buy. The steak is so soft, you can cut it with a butter knife. This steak is a sign of wealth and prosperity. For a long time, enjoying filet mignon was a luxury only the rich could afford. 

Filet mignon is a specialty cut of beef. It is soft, tender, and loaded with flavor. Price per pound, this small steak is the most expensive steak you will find. It is cut from the middle of the tenderloin of beef. So, it certainly should be the best in every way.

How will you prepare your steak on National Filet Mignon Day? Have it your way! Grilling is the most popular option at home and in restaurants. Roasting is also popular. We suggest slow roasting like prime rib. In a hurry? You can pan-fry or broil it. Any way you prepare it, this is a fine dining treat.

What’s in a name? Filet mignon comes from two French words. The word filet means strip or thread. The word “mignon” which means Small, cute, or tender. So, you could call this a “Cute Filet”!? The French do!

Hmmm, when is National Root Beer Float Day? Why, it’s today! On this hot and humid August 6 holiday, we cool off as we enjoy one of summer’s favorite ice cream treats. Historically made by soda jerks in soda fountains around the country, this American food invention is now enjoyed around the world. You can enjoy this classic root beer float at home with your family. Or, you can go with a group of friends to an ice cream shop or old-fashioned soda fountain. Yes, there’s still a few around. Either way, you’re in for a real frosty and frothy treat.

Ice cream treats are most often enjoyed in the hot and humid summer months. Understandably, their sweet, cooling, and thirst-quenching attributes make them a summertime favorite. And, Root Beer Floats are no exception. They taste as good as they look with a scoop of vanilla ice cream floating atop your favorite brand of root beer. So, on this hot and sultry summer day stay cool by celebrating National Root Beer Float Day with a frosty mug.

You can enjoy this ice-cold beverage for lunch, dinner, or as a nighttime snack. And, while it is filled with sugar and calories, put your diet on hold for just one day. We challenge you to have more than one root beer float today. Make sure to have a long-handled spoon handy so you can get every drop. 

Okay, all you Pinball Wizards. Today is National Pinball Day. People go tilt with excitement over this machine. And, they wiggle their flippers with joy. On this August 1 holiday, we celebrate a popular game machine that generation after generation just can’t resist playing. Thanks to a resurgence in popularity, you will find pinball machines in arcades, amusement parks, bars, and pubs. Also, more than a few of us have one in the den or rec room of our home. Now if that’s not enough, there’s no shortage of Pinball Apps to download to your cell phone or mobile devices.

We play pinball for fun. And, many people play it competitively.

The iconic electronic pinball machine has been around since the 1930s. It has seen its ups and downs over those many decades. But, its resilience and attraction over many generations of people speaks volumes about its lasting popularity. Over the decades, we’ve seen hundreds of versions of the game. For example, themes include Star Wars and Strek, popular cartoon shows over the years, The Beatles and other popular bands, Godzilla, Jurassic Park, and many more subjects. We tried to compile a list of the top 10 themes of all time. We checked many sites and resources. However, there was little consensus of the Top 10 games. 

Song of the Day: Pinball Wizard, by The Who (1969)

It’s late summer and the weather is great. Today is the perfect time to explore the beauty of nature. And it’s National Park Service Day. This August 25 holiday is sometimes called National Park Service Founders Day. It exists to show our appreciation for the many park rangers, service and maintenance personnel, as well as the many volunteers who serve to protect and preserve our beautiful national parks. And, they also work to keep you safe during your visit.

According to their website, the National Park Service was established “to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations”. It’s a daunting task. So, while you are there, we encourage you to do your best to avoid causing any harm to the park itself, or to the wildlife.

On this holiday, many of the parks host birthday celebrations with special events and activities. It is a great day to take a break from your busy life at home and get away to relax at one of our well-maintained national parks.

Did You Know? There are over 400 national parks in the United States.