Two Days (in One)

World Rainforest Day 

Rainforest Leaf: photo by Cliff Hutson

Some say that “luck” is when preparation meets opportunity. So, luck or not I always appreciate it when a Monday rolls around, it is a notable day, and I have a photo in my archive to go with it. It makes that week’s blog post easy-peasy. This week I am going with a twofer. 

June 22 is World Rainforest Day. A rainforest is not my favorite environment - too humid, too buggy. But, I do recognize their importance; they support more than half of all known plant and animal species and play a crucial role in regulating the world’s climate; and was once in a place where I took a photograph that is a personal favorite. It just captures that day for me.

National Chocolate Eclair Day

Eclair: photo by Cliff Hutson

On the other hand, I love eclairs, and thought that I would have several images from which to choose. But, when I ran my search of the archives the one photo that came up as not the one I had in mind. I guess it is on a drive to which I no longer have access to or otherwise has become lost in the mists of time. This one will do nicely though.

National Chocolate Eclair Day is also observed on June 22 every year in the United States to celebrate this delicious dessert.

Close Enough

Eschew Perfectionism

Close Enough: photo by Cliff Hutson

Perfect is the enemy of good.

National Blueberry Pie Day

A good day for pie:

Blueberry Hand Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

"National Blueberry Pie Day is celebrated on April 28 each year, marking the start of blueberry pie-making season as fresh blueberries become available. This day honors one of America's favorite desserts, which has been enjoyed since the colonial era."

- Auto-generated based on listed sources. May contain inaccuracies.

Snack Pies

 Mrs. Redd's Pies - "Real fruit filling."

There is not anything that I can say about these pies that this site has not adequately coved, if you read the comments. It seems that you like them or you don't. I enjoyed all of the ones that I photographed, except for the pudding. 

Cherry

Pudding

Apple

Berry

Lemon

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

National Cherry Turnover Day

 National Cherry Turnover Day

National Cherry Turnover Day (in the USA) is celebrated on August 28 every year.

This day commemorates the creation of the cherry turnover, a pastry made with puff pastry and filled with sweetened cherries. The cherry turnover is believed to have originated in the United States in the 19th century.

Creation dates, in my opinion are hard to nail down. However, today is a good excuse to pick up a turnover on my weekly trip to the supermarket. 

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Pigs in a Blanket Day

 Pigs in a Blanket

Pigs in a Blanket: photo by Cliff Hutson

What's in a name?

When I think of "pigs in a blanket" my first thought is of breakfast sausages wrapped in pancakes. This is one of my favorite breakfasts, which I like to douse in boysenberry syrup, as opposed to the usual maple.

However, it turns out that National Pigs in a Blanket Day is a holiday celebrating pork sausage (or hotdogs) baked in pastry.  It seems that many versions of this dish can be found through out the world, but is far from the top of my list of things to savor.

Clearly, that is just me. A quick search of the inter webs came up with almost no mention of the pancake version. Live and learn.

British Pie Week

British Pie Week

 

Beef and Ale Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

British Pie Week takes place every year on the first full week of March. It was founded by Jus-Rol, a company that crafts ready-to-bake pastries and doughs for any occasion, back in 2007.  

I post about this Untied Kingdom observance because I happen to like my photo of a Steak and Ale pie (from 2014) which according to research conducted by hungryhouse.co.uk, is the UK's highest rated pie. It is also a small way of of getting in touch with my 31.0% British and Irish ancestry - as assigned by 23andMe.

Motto: photo by Cliff Hutson

By the way, this pie pairs really well with a stout, in my humble opinion.

Hockey Jersey (detail): photo by Cliff Hutson

Cuban Food

Cuban cooking is a blend of African, Spanish, Taino, and other Caribbean cuisines. I do not have to travel to Havana, Miami, nor Tampa to get good Cuban food as there are places right here in Southern California where it is available, even my home.

Pastels de Carne

Meat pie: Puff pastry filled with picadillo (Cuban-style ground beef with onion, bell pepper, olive, and Spanish seasonings)

Empanadas de Pollo

Savory hand pie filled with Cuban-style chicken fricassee

Rollos de Queso

Cheese rolls: Puff pastry made with European style butter with cream cheese filling, topped with sugar.

¡Me comí esto!

I ate this! Also, I could honestly say that I baked these dishes. But, in the interest of full disclosure; Porto's,  a favorite bakery/cafe of mine, has come up with an online “bake at home” strategy. With a minimum two days notice, it will ship, unbaked, a subset of their full menu to me to arrive on the day of my choice, packed in dry ice.  I transfer it to my freezer, then all I have have I have to do for a meal is to take out the desired quantity and pop it in the oven for 20 - 30 minutes, and voilà. I still do the sides on my own.

Sadly, they do not offer my favorite thing for bake at home, but the items that do have are a welcome change of pace from cooking for myself.

Observing the Phrase

A Path to Enlightenment 

A flute without holes is not a flute.

A donut without a hole is a danish.

- Ty Webb

National Pastry Day

 We celebrate National Pastry Day on December 9

Chocolate Croissant: photo by Cliff Hutson

Bear Claw: photo by Cliff Hutson

Blueberry Danish: photo by Cliff Hutson

Apricot Pinwheel: photo by Cliff Hutson