Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to November 23, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate speedy drinks rocking around the clock.

The Italian word espresso means ‘quick in time.’ In the coffee houses and cafes of the late 1800s this simply meant a coffee made expressly for the person ordering it with freshly roasted and ground coffee beans. Then in 1901 it all changed. Luigi Bezzera invented the modern espresso machine which brewed a smaller, more concentrated cup even faster than other methods. With it came an intoxicating layer of creamy foam on the top known as crema. For coffee drinkers this is the holy grail of flavor. It’s the secret behind delicious coffee creations from lattes to cappuccinos. It’s also preferred by bakers for the true coffee flavor it adds to cheesecakes, ice cream and tiramisu. On National Espresso Day, espresso your own love for coffee.

When Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in the late 1800s, the machines were far too expensive for most people to own. So businesses opened listening parlors, where people could pay a nickel to listen to a song, hence the name nickelodeons. Each one was equipped with 4 listening horns, which meant you could listen with friends. Eventually, the machines were designed with amplifiers and were able to play multiple records. Jukebox music is still fun today as it gives you an excuse to hang out with friends who are home for the holidays. On National Jukebox Day, drop a few coins in the machine and dance the night away.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 22, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate spicing things up and a sauce with pucker power.

When you think of peppers, you probably think of spicy foods. And while that’s true, there are many varieties of pepper. Like the bell pepper, a mild version. These colorful fruits—yes, peppers are fruits—have more vitamin C than oranges and they’re chock full of vitamin A. But of course, there are spicy peppers too, like the habanero or the Carolina Reaper. If for some reason you bite into one of these fiery peppers, don’t reach for a glass of water. That’ll only make things worse. Grab a glass of milk or some ice cream to cool the heat. November is National Pepper Month, a time to test your tolerance for kicking up the heat!

The cranberry relish we know and love originated in the early 1900s. When a New England lawyer purchased a cranberry bog in 1912 he had no idea of the empire he would build. He found that fresh cranberries had a short shelf life and the window for harvesting and selling them was relatively small. The canning process delivered a solution to extend their marketability and 100 years later we still enjoy this sweet tart flavor produced by the Ocean Spray company. While plenty of folks like to spice up their own recipe made from fresh cranberries, the jiggly kind that comes in a can is a perennial favorite. Celebrate National Cranberry Relish Day, with a sauce that is good any day of the year!

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 21, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate stepping up our stuffing and a royal cookie.

I’ve always wondered why we celebrate National Stuffing Day ahead of Thanksgiving, but I think I have the answer: it’s never too early to plan the big meal. At my house the stuffing is made with homemade rolls that I make days in advance. The smell of fresh bread is an appetizer itself, but add some onions, celery, poultry herbs and broth and it’s pretty much the favorite side dish at our house. Do you guys have a favorite recipe? On National Stuffing Day, give a new recipe a whirl and see what lands as a new tradition.

Cookies usually come in the standard shapes of round or squares. But only one kind is synonymous with the human form; the gingerbread man. So how did this cute little cookie come to be? Surprisingly, we have Queen Elizabeth I to thank for that. In preparing for a certain royal banquet, she instructed her baker to decorate the gingerbread to look like the world leaders and dignitaries in attendance. This was so popular that the idea made its way to the masses and with that a tradition was born. Now that’s food for thought! On National Gingerbread Cookie Day, run, run, as fast as you can and catch one of these tasty little creations.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 20, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate all things absurd and keeping a lid on dinner.

Anna: National Absurdity Day comes but once a year, but around here we like to point out odd things every day. Right guys?

Marlo: Yes! Have you heard us in between takes?

John: I mean it's kind of absurd that we're talking about absurdity.

Marlo: Because we were just being absurd right now. It's kind of crazy!

John: Like Marlo and I were just talking about if you take your shorts off and you flip them into the air with your foot and catch them it's how you can test whether or not you still have good balance.

Marlo: That's correct! Except when you kick them and you shove your foot into the bed post, which is what I did two days ago.

Anna: I am sorry I opened this can of worms. On National Absurdity Day go ahead and scoff at the off the wall things that make you go, “Hmmmm.”

As we gather together with our families this week, we can be sure of a few things, people will eat too much and someone will stir up a family ruckus. It’s time to plan ahead, not only for Thanksgiving dinner, but also what to do before and after the feast is served. Games bring people together, which is exactly what this holiday is about. Yes, there may be some arguments, but it is better to scrap over who owns Park Place than so many other things. Puzzles can keep our heads occupied, even through the post meal brain fog. If you have something for everyone, your family dinner is bound to go smoothly. During National Game and Puzzle Week, keep things fun and light, while dinner does the heavy lifting.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 19, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate catching a bubbly buzz and some friendly competition.

Here in North America more than 90 percent of us enjoy caffeine every single day. But not all of us enjoy tea or coffee. If you love the buzz of caffeinated soda you can thank a German Chemist who first isolated caffeine from coffee beans in 1819. In England, Joseph Priestly discovered how to create carbonation, which was useful for medicinal tonics that later became known as sodas. This method of infusing water with carbon dioxide is more popular than ever thanks to the addition of caffeine. On National Carbonated Beverage With Caffeine Day, we celebrate the satisfying combination that most of us could not do without.

Have you ever wondered why the playing pieces for Monopoly are so random? You can thank a bunch of kids for that. The classic board game Monopoly was invented in the 1930s by Charles Darrow and based on the properties and street names of Atlantic City, New Jersey. When it came to the playing pieces, he asked his nieces for help. And they picked through metal charms from a bracelet to create the bizarre collection that includes an iron, a race car, a thimble, and a top hat. Little did they know how many people would fight over the race car over the years. On National Play Monopoly Day, you may enjoy an overly competitive game, just don’t forget the spirit of fun for which it was invented!

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 18, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate cold soup and a mighty mouse.

Though some like it hot, most people know the soup Vichyssoise is best served cold. Here in the States this French classic was first served at the Ritz Carlton by chef Louis Diat in the Summer of 1917. The chef was inspired to recreate the potato and leek soup of his childhood in France. But how did the French come to love cold soup anyway? Some believe that the tradition began with King Louis the XV who was so afraid of being poisoned that he had many servants taste his soup first. By the time it was approved for his consumption, the soup was cold and that is how King Louis came to prefer it. On National Vichyssoise Day we invite you to rediscover this culinary classic.

We give a shout out today to the world’s most popular cartoon character: Mickey Mouse. Here are a few facts about Walt Disney’s loveable rodent, that you might not have heard. His original name was Mortimer, but Disney’s wife made him change it. His first appearance was in the 1928 silent cartoon, Steamboat Willie. Mickey didn’t speak until the following year’s animated feature The Carnival Kid, in which he worked as a food vendor. His first words were “Hot dog! Hot dog!” He was the first animated character to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. Today we celebrate the birthday of this little mouse who’s made a big impact.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Some kids find their calling early on. For young Ilan Ethan his mother’s punishment became his passion. Ilan’s Greek mother and grandmother banned the kids from the kitchen, but the plucky boy couldn’t resist sneaking into this wonderland. As a penance, his mother put him to work rolling out thin layers of phyllo dough. Little did she know, Ilan would master the technique along with the alchemy of making delicious baklava. Today he produces more than 7 different flavors inspired by global variations like Persian date and almond and Egyptian walnut and fig. For that we can thank the Ottoman Empire that held power over so many regions. Lucky for us you can order some online through Instagram @baklavaslasvegas. Or pop over to the Las Vegas Farmer’s Market on National Baklava Day.

Who doesn’t love the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked bread? Today we celebrate the tradition of making it at home. This day was established in the 1980s by the The Homemade Bread Committee from Ann Arbor, Michigan. The celebration is all about family and friends slowing down, exchanging recipes, and enjoying the process of baking bread together. Maybe you already know how satisfying this tradition can be, and if not, it's time to learn some well kept secrets that have been around since the dawn of time. One thing is for sure: National Homemade Bread Day will bring joy to any home that is willing to bake bread together.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 16, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a helpful notion and food served lickity split.

Dalton Stevens of South Carolina, discovered a useful way to beat insomnia. He spent his sleepless nights sewing buttons on a denim jacket for nearly three years. When he had completely covered it with 16,333 buttons, the jacket weighed over 16 pounds! Word got out and people began mailing him buttons which he used to cover shoes, doors and even a commode. In 1990 the Guinness World Records certified that “The Button King” owned the world’s largest collection: 439,900 of them without any duplicates. This hobby served Dalton well as he lived to the ripe old age of 86. On National Button Day, we celebrate these tiny treasures and the many uses they serve.

Fast food has its origins in the State of Kansas. In 1921, E.W. Ingram opened a restaurant that you might have heard of...White Castle. They served the same small, square burgers as they do today. And the burgers were shaped that way so that more would fit on the grill. When White Castle opened, burgers were thought of as a food only slightly about table scraps for dogs. In order to dispel that notion, Ingram set up the kitchen so that people could see their food being prepared. His “take out” food diner began selling burgers by the sack, which is now a hallmark of fast food restaurants. On National Fast Food Day, indulge in some of your guilty pleasures, and enjoy the convenience of this “fast meal.”

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 15, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate successful cakes and a legacy of generosity.

In 1950, inventor H. David Dalquist created a cake pan for a local women’s group who wanted to bake a traditional kugelhopf or ring-shaped cake. Naming the pan for the German word for bond, Dalquist added the ‘t’ to the end of “bund” and patented the pan in a stroke of foresight genius. At first the pan did not sell well, and his company, Nordic Ware, considered discontinuing it. Then in 1966 the pan was used to create the “Tunnel of Fudge” cake in a Pillsbury bake off that inspired bakers everywhere! Over 200,000 orders for the pan streamed in and over 60 million have been sold to date. On National Bundt Day celebrate the bond of baking with your own family!

Giving back to the community is important and no one did that quite like Andrew Carnegie. As a child, he and his family emigrated to the United States from Scotland and he got a job as a bobbin boy at a cotton mill. Decades later, he became a railroad and steel tycoon who had amassed one of the largest fortunes of all time. Adjusting for inflation, he was worth over $350 billion. Wanting to leave the world a better place, Andrew set up pensions for his employees, gave donations that built universities, museums, and nearly 3,000 public libraries. On National Philanthropy Day, we celebrate the successful men and women who make a difference by helping others.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to November 14, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate all things sour and a day in your PJs.

One of the oldest methods of preserving food is pickling. This process involves placing vegetables or fruits in a sealed container with brine or vinegar. The fermentation that takes place changes the flavor and texture of the food, creating pickles, though technically only pickled cucumbers are referred to as “pickles.” Everything else has the word “pickled” before its name. So why do only cucumbers get this honor? Well, for starters, it’s one of the best parts of going to a deli. No corned beef or pastrami sandwich would be complete without one. On National Pickle Day, get your pucker on anyway you please.

Nothing makes us feel cozier than spending the day in our pajamas. That's why we love holidays that invite the whole family to enjoy this feeling together. But why wait for the hustle and bustle of the season when any day of the week will do. At least that's the rationale behind National Family PJ Day. A day spent in our jammies means we prioritize things like board games, brunch and extra time curled up together watching movies or reading books. This day is all the better because there are no expectations or traditions beyond hanging out together and keeping it casual. And if you're into matching jammies you might as well snap a few holiday photos so you can check that off your list. Hey, you just started a trend and you're barely out of bed!

I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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