You’re at any of a number of your favorite burger joints. You just ordered a burger with all of your favorite toppings Then, the waitress asks if you want anything with it. Of course, you do! But, you’re tired of same-o-same-o french fries. Then a smile creeps across your face as you say “Yes, Onion Rings, please!” Those onion rings are the perfect side as today is National Onion Ring Day, a June 27 holiday.

After french fries, onion rings are the second most popular choice to pair with your burger or hot dog. They go great with Italian sausage, too. Aren’t you lucky that someone a long time ago, created the first onion ring recipe? Here lies the great mystery or debate….. just who first created the onion ring recipe?

It is well documented that the first onion ring recipe was in the recipe book The Art of Cookery Made Easy & Refined. It was published in 1802.  In the 1900s, several other individuals, companies, and restaurants made claims to be the first. Those supporting their case suggest the 1802 recipe wasn’t truly onion rings. But, that 1802 recipe called for onions sliced into rings, and to be fried. Undoubtedly, those who came up with recipes in the 1900s contributed to the evolution of onion rings and contributed new recipes for our beloved rings. But, the 1802 recipe was the first. We don’t mean to take sides in the debate, we’re just saying……………………..

It’s so easy to participate in this special day. Simply, eat onion rings. However, you get extra brownie points, if you make onion rings from scratch. See Fried Onion Rings in Beer Batter

Onions, now here is something to cry about…. if you’re cutting them fresh, that is! The National Onion Association (NOA) created National Onion Day to memorialize the creation of their organization on this day in 1913. We think it’s great that they did. At the same time, we’d like to propose an expansion of the purpose of this special June 27 holiday, to make it more relevant to everyone. Let’s also enjoy this special day, as a day to celebrate growing onions, and of course, eating them!

If you’re a gardener, celebrate today by pampering your onion plants. Weed them, apply a dose of fertilizer, and give them a good drink of water. They’ll respond to the love you give your plants today, by growing bigger onion bulbs.

All of us can enjoy eating them. There’s no shortage of onion recipes. We sure love our onions. We use them to flavor foods, and as a recipe item itself, for example, onion soup or onion rings. Eat onions today for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast, put some onions in your eggs, or eat an onion bagel. For lunch, use onion bread for your sandwich. Put a big slice of red onion on your burger, or just about any sandwich. For dinner, have a cup of onion soup or a blooming onion. For your main course, select an item that goes well with sautéed pepper and onions.

Need more ideas, see Onion Recipes.

   Did You Know? Onions are a $6 billion industry.

Today is National Jerky Day, a June 12 holiday. It has been popular for hundreds of years. Jerky originated in South and North America. People were eating jerky hundreds if not thousands of years before the White Man came to America.

Jerky is dried, flavored meats. Essentially, the meat is soaked in brine and a variety of flavorings, and then it is dried. It is popular for snacks and as a nutritious treat on long hikes, while biking, and out in the woods. It is lean, nutritious, and lightweight, making it easy to carry in your backpack.

Many of us think of jerky as “beef jerky”. But, it is made from almost any type of meat, including deer, chicken, poultry, pork, and turkey. A wide variety of flavorings often smoked, gives us a wide variety of jerky to enjoy. And, enjoy it we do.

Did You Know? Jerky is a Space food. It has been on the diet of astronauts in space since 1996.

To really celebrate National Jerky Day, make some homemade jerky. If you don’t have the time or expertise to make it at home, that’s perfectly okay. Go out and buy some, and enjoy it today.

Today is National Handshake Day. It celebrates the handshake in all of its forms, as a way of greeting, and in a business where professionals around the world, “seal the deal” with a handshake, before putting the agreement into writing.  Your handshake is your first impression. It is a sign of peacefulness and agreement is used around the world.

People have been shaking hands for thousands of years. A form of shaking hands dates back to at least 5,000 B.C. Roman soldiers and medieval knights shook hands, to check the forearms of their opponents for daggers and other hidden weapons. Handshakes are used around the world upon meeting or greeting someone. It is a universal sign of friendship. There are countless examples of the use of a warm handshake to disarm wary adversaries or end feuds and battles. Native Americans incorporate the handshake in “blood brother” rituals. 

National Gardening Week is a wonderful, week-long event. It is both a celebration and an educational opportunity. National Gardening Week celebrates one of America’s most popular hobbies. Tens of millions of Americans, young and old alike, grow a garden of some size. This week is a great opportunity to get out into your garden and tend to it, along with enjoying your garden’s peacefulness and beauty. Regardless of whether your garden is big or small, show it off to family and gardening friends.

 National Gardening Week is also a great time to promote this hobby, and offer educational programs to the general public Garden clubs, 4H groups, schools, and even businesses can get into the act, providing some form of educational programs, demonstrations, or seminars. As individuals, gardeners can encourage others to start gardening.

However you celebrate this week, we hope it is a great growing experience for all involved!

Circle the wagons, err the trucks that is. National Food Truck Day, also called National Eat at a Food Truck Day, is today. Often several trucks participate at an event together, forming what is fondly referred to as a Food Truck Rodeo. School is out, and summer has arrived. Now you find thousands of these food venues around the country hitting the road. The trucks are largely run by local, small business entrepreneurs. You can find them at street corners, in parks, and at special events. When you eat at a food truck, you are supporting your local small businesses.

According to the creators of this day, the goal of National Food Truck Day is to “… celebrate and support small businesses across the country. The people who operate food trucks, food carts, and trailers, are all hard-working small business owners that make our cities that much more delicious and diverse. We wanted to create a national day that celebrates the entire industry and raised awareness.”

You will find food truck rodeos everywhere. Summer is filled with festivals and events. During almost any summer happening, you’ll find these trucks. There’s hardly an event, that does not utilize the menu versatility a group of several trucks has to offer. It is mutually beneficial to both the industry and the entertainment or event venue. For food trucks, it means increased business success, with more and more faithful followers and increased profits. The popularity and diversity of food truck menus bring more people to the events. Some people actually follow their favorite food truck from one event to another, increasing attendance.

On National Food Truck Day, many of the trucks offer special deals. We encourage you to get outside in the warm, sunny summer weather and patronize a food truck today!

Humans have cultivated corn for many thousands of years. Native to Mexico, it has been grown as a domestic crop 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. So, it is only fitting that it gets its own holiday. National Corn on the Cob Day arrives today in a sweet way. This June 11 holiday encourages us to celebrate and enjoy this tasty summertime delight. Millions of people love sweet corn on the cob. As summer nears, we can’t wait to bring out the salt and pepper, and chomp down on a freshly cooked ear or two, or perhaps three.

Plainview, Minnesota celebrates National Corn on the Cob Day in a big way. They hold a parade and other festivities.

Did you Know? Sweet Corn originated in Mexico. It dates back to about 9,000 BC.

Grab your corn holders. To celebrate National Corn on the Cob Day, have it your way. Boil, roast, steam, or grill it for dinner!

Tip: Sweet Corn loses its sweetness rapidly. Home gardeners know to pick it just before it is cooked. When buying sweet corn at a store or farm market, make sure it is fresh-picked. If you grow it in your garden, pick it moments before you cook it. You will taste the difference.

Other Names: Most of us call it sweet corn. However, it is also called “corn-pole”, “corn stick”, and “sweet pole”.

More Resources: Learn more about sweet corn

National Canoe Day is today. Summer has arrived, and it is a perfect time for a canoe ride. Take a canoe out on your favorite waterway on this June 26 holiday, and enjoy the peace and serenity. And, get a little healthy exercise along the way.

Canoes have been around for thousands of years, and have been used by countless cultures around the world. The earliest were dugout canoes made from the trunk of a single tree. They were made as early as 7,600 – 8,200 BC and found in the Netherlands. Carib Indians of the Caribbean first made dugout canoes around 3,500 B.C. They carved out logs and used the canoes to travel between islands. The word canoe originates from the word “kenu” in their native language.

Celebrating this day is a real pleasure. Simply go out in a canoe onto a lake or stream. Take a leisurely ride, and enjoy the scenery. Don’t rush… take your time. You’ll return calm and relaxed after a memorable experience.

Safety first! Make sure to wear an approved life jacket while out on the water. This writer is here today because I had a life jacket on when our canoe tipped over in a fast-running creek.

Song of the Day: Tippy Canoe and Tyler Too. Popular 1840 presidential campaign song, originally called “Tip and Ty”, for Whig party candidate William Henry Harrison.

Today is Ballpoint Pen Day, a June 10 holiday. We use them just about every day. Most of us have several or even dozens of them around our home and office. They are a common, everyday object.  We might even have one tucked between our ear and head right now. But, let’s not take ballpoint pens for granted. The invention of the ballpoint pen in 1943, can be counted among the great inventions of the 20th century. It’s right up there, with the invention of canned beer! Without it, we would still be using a messy fountain pen, or frequently dipping a quill into an ink jar.

On this day in 1943, brothers Laslo and Georg Biro of Argentina filed a patent for ballpoint pens. Other inventors were working on making a ballpoint pen. The Biro brothers were the first to succeed. The ballpoint pen was originally called a “Birome”. Ballpoint pens hit the U.S. market in 1945 at Gimbel’s department store, selling for $12.50 each!! It became an instant success and the rest is history. The Biro brothers sold their patent to Bic.

Name Your Poison Day is today. This June 8 holiday prompts us to make a choice. The term “Name Your Poison” is commonly used to suggest that you select among several options. Most often we hear it when a bartender asks what we want to drink. But, this expression can be used in a wide variety of decision-making situations. This term also can have a negative connotation when deciding upon unfavorable options. 

The origin of this term is unknown. But, at the time, it probably originated when it was necessary to make an unhappy choice. It is commonly used when asking someone what type of alcoholic drink they want. But, it is also used to refer to any choice of options, good or bad. For example, “Name Your Poison” may refer to selecting an ice cream flavor, a dessert choice, etc.