August Heat!
Hey Gleaner’s ! We’re back with more holidays for this Sizzling Summer heat !
GAM UPDATE:
August 19th is Potato Day
Potatoes are so versatile and this is a day to celebrate all the delicious things you can do with them! They can be anything from a savory side dish, a sweet (hello potato candy!) and a main course if done correctly (pierogis and pierogi pizza guys!). Celebrate this day by exploring every recipe you can think of as we approach potato harvest!
August 22nd is World Plant Milk Day
Plant milks have provided an incredible opportunity for the community of lactose intolerant and sensitive folks to experience the delight of being able to eat the closest thing they can to ice cream or a bowl of cereal and milk that they may ever experience. The list of different milks is almost as long as you can imagine (Oat, Soy, Peanut, Almond, Cashew, Coconut, Sesame… and every mix as you can think of!) and they can be great substitutes for a million things that call for milk but don’t have good alternatives.
Be cautious with plant milks, though. Some of these plants require an immense amount of water to grow (1,900 gallons/lb of almonds) or heavy pesticides (oats require 1300 parts per billion, highest in glyphosate which makes it difficult for bees to reproduce larva!). Make sure that plant milks are responsibly sourced and used sparingly to conserve resources!
August 28th is Crackers Over The Keyboard Day
This holiday is way more fun than it is educational but we wanted to share it with you as we know you’ve been there. The urge to snack gets too strong as you stare at those peanut butter crackers you’ve had on your desk all week from the lunch that was just too heavy. You just have to eat them mid-day and boom—Crackers over the keyboard. Only the crumbs and the keys that crunch extra know that you were even snacking— but make sure you savor them on this day a little extra!
August 29th is Chop Suey, Lemon Juice and More Herbs, Less Salt Day!
Chop Suey is an American Chinese dish variety based on Chinese versions which include meant (chicken, fish, beef, shrimp or pork) and eggs, cooked quickly with vegetables such as bean sprouts, cabbage, celery and a starchy-thick sauce. Try your hand today at making some at home with some produce you have lying around—no produce is wrong and you can experiment with flavors and consistencies as you go!
Chinese American Chop Suey A Classic Comfort Food
Lemon Juice cannot be forgotten this day either as it offers an amazing variety of health benefits and can be used in everything from a savory pork dish (the acid helps make the meat tender!) to a light cobbler dessert (the acid here helps break down the fruit and create that incredible inside you love in a cobbler or pie!)
More Herbs, Less Salt Day is also here to remind you that you don’t always have to use salt as a pallet enhancer and that herbs and spices can be an incredible way to cut the salt and add the flavor! Oh, and if you’re wondering, the difference between herbs and spices are that herbs are leafy things like basil, thyme and cilantro while spices are seeds, whole or ground, like cumin, anise and coriander!
August 30th is Toasted Marshmallow Day
We discussed earlier in the month the glory that is enjoying a million ways to have S’mores, but this day is dedicated to a core ingredient in s’mores—the toasted marshmallow. What is it about that taste (or the smell!) that brings everyone to the table (or the fireside)? We may never know, but what we can know is the many ways you can use toasted marshmallow in not just s’mores but other recipes as you celebrate this day!
11 Creative Ways to Eat Toasted Marshmallows
10 Things to Do with Roasted Marshmallows When You Kinda Don’t Like S’mores
August 31s is Trail Mix Day!
Trail mix is an incredibly versatile snack that can include anything from yogurt covered dried fruits to m&ms to any nuts and grains you can imagine! And while one wouldn’t typically imagine there being a “Recipe” per say to trail mix, some folks do prefer making their own and we’re here to provide you some guides on how to do just that for your next snacking adventure!
Easy Homemade Trail Mix Recipe
Apples
Arugala
Basil
Beets
Blackberries
Blueberries
Bok Choy
Brambles
Cabbage
Cataloupe
Carrots
Celery
Chard
Chili Peppers
Chives
Cilantro
Collard Greens
Corn
Cucumbers
Currants
Eggplant
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Onions
Ground Cherries
Kale
Lamb’s Quarters
Lavender
Leeks
Lettuce
Lima Beans
Melons
Mint
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Nectarines
Okra
Onions
Oregano
Parsley
Peaches
Pears
Pepers
Plums
Potatoes
Purslane
Radishes
Raspberries
Rosemary
Rutabaga
Sage
Shell Beans
Snap Peas
Snow Peas
Sprouts
Summer Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Thyme
Tamatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips
Watermelon
Zucchini