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The View from My Kitchen

Benvenuti! I hope you enjoy il panorama dalla mia cucina Italiana -- "the view from my Italian kitchen,"-- where I indulge my passion for Italian food and cooking. From here, I share some thoughts and ideas on food, as well as recipes and restaurant reviews, notes on travel, a few garnishes from a lifetime in the entertainment industry, and an occasional rant on life in general..

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Grazie mille!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

August (2012) Fun Food Holidays

Considering the lofty personage for whom it is named, August is really a dull month. There are no holidays to relieve the monotony of the procession of thirty-one long, languid, sultry, steamy days. But we can find a little relief in the celebration of food.

To begin with, August is Panini Month, a fact which moves it right to the top of my list. It is also Sandwich Month. Yes, I know that “panini” and “sandwich” are the same thing, but perhaps whomever designates such things does not speak Italian. Sidebar: a single sandwich is a panino; two or more are panini; anytime you see “paninis” advertised, you're looking at bad Italian. Anyway, August is also Catfish Month, Brownies for Brunch Month, and Peach Month. And the second week of August is designated as National Apple Week. See, things are looking less dull already.

The month starts with National Raspberry Cream Pie Day on the 1st and segues quickly to National Ice Cream Sandwich Day on the 2nd, a pretty good way to start a month if you ask me.

Grab Some Nuts Day (careful, there!) happens on the 3rd, a day shared with National Watermelon Day.

I'd swear we celebrated lasagna already this year, but who cares? Celebrate some more on August 4. And, by the way, National Mustard Day is a floating holiday that occurs on the first Saturday of August. That means it floats to the 4th this year.

Waffles and oysters both get a day on August 5. Hmm, Oyster Waffles.....there's one Waffle House hasn't come up with yet.

August 6, is Root Beer Float Day and the 7th is dedicated to raspberries in cream.

Zucchini and frozen custard Day share a day – but not a dish – on the 8th, followed by National Rice Pudding Day on the 9th.

August 10 is a double treat day, feting both Banana Splits and S'Mores. Woo-hoo!

What is it with raspberries this month? National Raspberry Tart day is August 11.

Find a fast food joint on the 12th and pig out in recognition of Julienne Fries Day. Then have your steak and eat it, too, on Filet Mignon Day on the 13th. Why those two aren't celebrated together, I don't know.

The Creamsicle gets its day on August 14, and I'm already salivating in anticipation of Lemon Meringue Pie Day on August 15.

And here's another weird combo: August 16 is Bratwurst Day. It's also National Rum Day. Now, whoever heard of rum and brats? Shouldn't the beer industry protest?

Grab some vanilla custard to celebrate the 17th, or wait until the next day and make it ice cream in honor of National Soft Serve Ice Cream Day.

The lowly potato is recognized on August 19, which is also Hot & Spicy Food Day. A hot & spicy potato, perhaps?

Cool down all that heat & spiciness on August 20, Lemonade Day. Although I think any day in August could be Lemonade Day. The 20th is also National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, so have a slice with your lemonade.

And if you're still in the mood for pecans, take note: August 21 is National Pecan Torte Day.

The 22nd is Eat a Peach Day, so please do so. And/or you can drop by your neighborhood Italian place and celebrate National Spumoni Day. Or both. Why not?

Have some sponge cake on the 23rd and some peach pie on the 24th.

For you cherry aficionados, grab a cherry popsicle on Cherry Popsicle Day (August 26) and/or scarf down a cherry turnover on its designated day of August 28. Banana lovers get their day sandwiched in between on August 27.

Chop Suey, the “classic” Chinese dish that does not exist in China, has a day on the 29th. So does lemon juice. Not the whole lemon, mind you; just the juice.

August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day. By then, if you just slide one onto a stick and hold it out in the sun for a few minutes, that should do it.

Round out the month by eating outside in honor of – you guessed it – Eat Outside Day on August 31. If the weather is as miserably hot as I suspect it will be, I'll make it a late evening meal, thank you. Oh, and it's also National Trail Mix Day, so eat some trail mix – outside, of course.

È Solo caldo come pensate che sia! :-)

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