July (2012) Food Holidays

Summertime and the living is......sticky. At least it is in my part of the world. I really do love stepping outside this time of year for a nice, fresh drink of air. But a little hot weather never cooled a big appetite, right?

July is National Hot Dog Month and the ubiquitous little sausages also get a day to themselves late in the month. And what's the preferred summertime method of cooking hot dogs? Why, grilling, of course! July is also National Grilling Month. And what would grilled hot dogs be without baked beans and ice cream? Both foods are stars this month. July is also National Bison Month, so toss some bison burgers on the grill. See how all these things work together?

It's odd that a month that is also National Culinary Arts Month would begin with National Canned Luncheon Meat Week, but it is what it is.

Gingersnaps and ice cream go well together, right? So get in the spirit on July 1, Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day and National Gingersnap Day all rolled into one.

The second of July belongs to anisette and you are encouraged to Eat Beans on July 3^rd, a day also dedicated to chocolate wafers. Hmmmm.

Celebrate our nation's birthday with fireworks and ribs. That's right. July 4th is National Barbecued Spareribs Day.

Have a nice apple turnover on its day, July 5, but save some room for chicken. July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day.

The next several days are devoted to sweet substances: strawberry sundaes on July 7, chocolate with almonds on the 8^th, and sugar cookies on July 9.

Pick some blueberries on July 10, Pick Blueberries Day, and then make some blueberry muffins on July 11, National Blueberry Muffin Day.

National Pecan Pie Day happens on July 12.

A day I can get behind, National French Fries Day, is July 13. It's also Beans 'n' Franks Day.

The French celebrate Bastille Day on July 14. Every else celebrates macaroni on that day.

How do tapioca pudding and gummy worms sound to you? Yeah, I think so, too. But both things are celebrated (separately, I assume) on July 15.

Corn fritters have a day of their own on July 16 and peach ice cream gets a nod on the 17^th.

Nothing says “summer” like fish eggs. National Caviar Day is July 18.

July 19 is National Daiquiri Day, and you may need a drink to prepare for the next day.

It all comes together on July 20, a day on which you can honor lollipops, fortune cookies, ice cream sodas and hot dogs! What an eventful day! Maybe Pepto-Bismol should sponsor it.

If you've still got the stomach for it, the next day is National Ice Cream Day and the day after that is National Penuche Fudge Day. Go look it up. I had to.

Now don't confuse your ice cream days, here. The 20^th is for ice cream sodas, okay? The 21^st is just for ice cream in general, and July 23 is specifically National Vanilla Ice Cream Day. Skip a day, and you get National Hot Fudge Sundae Day on July 25, and coffee milkshakes get a day on the 26^th.

Fire up your torches for National Crème Brûlée on July 27.

National Milk Chocolate Day is July 28, but I wouldn't leave any in the car for too long.

Garfield and I both celebrate July 29. It's National Lasagna Day!

National Cheesecake Day falls on July 30 and then the month goes out with a bang as raspberry cake, cotton candy, and jelly beans all fight for recognition on July 31. If that's not an excuse for a three-day bellyache, I don't know what is.

See you in August!