(and a Yummy Recipe For that Purpose)

Let’s talk about celebrating and gathering with family and friends. It’s been a busy summer and I bet my boatloads of garden zucchini that you’ve got reasons to celebrate. If you can’t think of one, turn to this list for September’s special day occasions, taken from a fun site, Foodimentary (www.foodimentary.com) for some ideas. I’m starting with Sep 23 since the rest of the month is over.

September 23
National White Chocolate Day

September 24
National Cherries Jubilee Day

September 25
National Food Service Workers Day

September 26 
National Key Lime Pie Day

September 27
National Chocolate Milk Day

September 28 
National Strawberry Cream Pie Day

National Drink a Beer Day

September 29

National Coffee Day
National Mocha Day

September 30 
National Mulled Cider Day

And September is also host all month long to some other worthy themes, such as National Chicken Month, National Honey Month, National Mushroom Month, National Papaya Month,
National Potato Month, and National Rice Month. So the fun never ends.

Now if you can’t squeeze a celebratory gathering into what’s left of this month, go to Foodimentary and just look at all the reasons to party in October. National Apple Month, National Caramel Month, National Cookbook Month, National Cookie Month, National Pork Motnh, National Pizza Month, and National Pretzel Month are just some of the monthly designations.

Then there’s Oct 5 which is National Apple Betty Day, Oct 7 which is National Frappe Day, Oct 8 which is National Fluffernutter Day, Oct 13 which is National M & M Day, Oct 17 which is National Pasta Day, October 19 which is National Seafood Bisque Day, and Oct 22 which is National Nut Day—again, just to name a few special October days. (I have NO idea what a fluffernutter is, but I’m gonna find out.)

I’m one that probably won’t have time to gather folks in this month. But I still think there can be a small celebration of sorts. Here’s a plan: Since Sep 25 is National Food Servers Day, how about we celebrate them by preparing some mulled cider mix (which is honored on Sep 30, by the way) and giving it to one or two of our favorite food servers in our communities? We all know some. And these folks are some of the unsung heroes that make our lives a little more pleasant as they quietly and efficiently do their jobs.

Like this idea? If so, I’ll close with my favorite mulled cider mix recipe. And be sure to make some for yourself—it’s so good! So good in fact, that you may want to serve some if you get around to hosting an October celebratory gathering.

OH, and here’s another idea: Since October is National Cookbook month, how about we give a copy or two of Cook’n 12 to a needy cook in our family or neighborhood? Then these folks will have even more reason to celebrate! Now the recipe:

BEST MULLED CIDER MIX

4 cups sugar

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 teaspoon mace

1 teaspoon ground allspice

2 teaspoons dried ground orange peel

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and fill into individual jars.

RECIPE NOTE: If you don’t want to make a sugary concoction, just omit the sugar and include instructions that these mixed spices should be added to hot cider according to taste. After all, apple cider is plenty sweet on its own.

Add Recipe to Cook'n