May (2012) Fun Food Holidays

“It's May, it's May!
The lusty month of May!
That darling month when everyone throws
self-control away!”

Or at least that's what Lerner and Lowe tell us.

I mean, how much self-control can you have during National Asparagus Month? Or while celebrating eggs, barbecue, hamburgers, salsa, gazpacho, salad, strawberries, and chocolate custard?

And did I mention, it's also National Mediterranean Diet Month?

And those are just the month-long observances. There are also weeks dedicated to raisins and to herbs (week one), hamburgers (week two), pickles (week three), and to both frozen yogurt and beer (week four).

Wow! Lusty month, indeed!

Kick it all off with National Chocolate Parfait Day on May 1^st. Follow that with a nod to truffles – the candy variety – on the second, and raspberry tarts on the third.

May 4^th is a little weird. It's a day to commemorate homebrew, orange juice, and candied orange peel. If you want to serve them all up in the same glass for a more fulsome frolic, well.......

May 5 is “Cinco de Mayo,” so enjoy a hoagie. Hey, I don't come up with 'em, I just report 'em.

The all-American favorite, crepes suzette, has a day on May 6 and National Roast Leg of Lamb Day finishes the first week of this fabulous foodie month on May 7.

May 8^th has a lot going for it; empanadas, coconut-cream pie, and, believe it or not, a coke. Yep, it's Have a Coke Day. Maybe a diet Coke after all those empanadas and coconut-cream pies.

Butterscotch brownies hold forth on May 9, followed by National Shrimp Day on the 10^th.

Here's an easy one to celebrate; May 11 is officially designated as Eat What You Want Day. Woo-hoo!

And if what you want is nutty fudge, well you can celebrate for two days. National Nutty Fudge Day happens on May 12.

The much-praised apple pie and the much-maligned fruit cocktail share the day on May 13.

The 14^th belongs solely to buttermilk biscuits. As it should be; nothing should have to share or compare with buttermilk biscuits.

Knock back a bag of chocolate chips on May 15, National Chocolate Chip Day.

Are you ready for some Coquilles Saint Jacques? The classic French dish has a day on May 16. (It's baked scallops in a rich cream sauce, by the way.)

No explanation needed for cherry cobbler. Enjoy some on May 17.

Could you fall for a cheese souffle? National Cheese Souffle Day is May 18.

Warm up the fire and brimstone – and some chocolate while you're at it. National Devil's Food Cake Day ignites on May 19.

What's with the French food this month? Quiche Lorraine is saluted on May 20, but you are also admonished to pick strawberries on that day – preferably from the field rather than from the produce department.

Put 'em to good use the next day, May 21, National Strawberries and Cream Day.

Maybe save a few for the following day, May 22, National Vanilla Pudding Day. It could work.

Stretch into National Taffy Day on the 23^rd.

The French are back on the 24^th, National Escargot Day.

If you have leftovers, National Brown-Bag-It Day happens on May 25, coincidentally also officially designated as National Wine Day. Brown bag......wine......hmmmm.

Choose your dessert on May 26, both National Blueberry Cheesecake Day and National Cherry Dessert Day.

A childhood favorite, the grape popsicle, is feted on May 27.

"Where's the beef?" Find out on May 28. Brisket and hamburgers are both on the celebratory menu.

The French make yet another appearance on the calendar with National Coq au Vin Day on the 29^th.

Sip on a mint julep on the month's penultimate day and round out May with some macaroons on May 31.

“It's mad! It's gay!
A libelous display!
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May!”