April 30th is National Raisin Day #NationalRaisinDay. Do you remember the school lunches and receiving the little red boxes of #Raisins? Did anyone in your class eat the Raisins because I don’t think they did in my class.
Now, there is Oatmeal Raison Cookies and all I can say is why ruin #Cookies with Raisons? If you ask Charlie and David they say its fine to put Raisons in Cookies. What do they know? There men. LOL Now, I have a question for you do you like Raisins and if so in what?
When it comes to Raisins, there are generally two groups of people: those that love Raisins and those that believe they ruin a perfectly good Cinnamon Bagel. But whether you find these wrinkly Fruits irresistible, or believe they should have stayed out in the Sun where people found them, it’s hard to deny the impact these sweet snacks have had on history, pop culture, and cuisine. Come and join us in celebrating National Raisin Day on April 30.
Did you know Raisins show up throughout history and literature as a healthy, transportable snack for everyone from the Egyptians to Christopher Columbus to George Washington? And of course, those little red Raisin boxes are a classic symbol of childhood.
National Raisin Day Activities
- For breakfast, why not Cinnamon Rolls topped with Raisins? For lunch, make a nice Waldorf Salad and swap out those Grapes for a few of the Sun-dried variety. Finally, why not top dinner off with a little bit of Bread Pudding?
- All you need are Grapes from the Super Market and Sunny, dry weather. First, get red or green Grapes and remove the large stems from the Fruit. Next, place the Grapes on a rack and leave them out in the Sun for a few days. Finally, place the shriveled Grapes in an airtight container and you have a namesake snack!
- Watch “Meet the Raisins” (1998) a half-hour special which got a Primetime Emmy Award nod for Outstanding Animated Program. Afterward, why not make it a full on Rais-a-Thon following it up with the sequel — “Raisins: Sold Out!” Don’t forget the Raisinets!
National Raisin Day Activities
- Raisins can be up to 72% Sugar by weight, making them a sweet and satisfying snack. But unlike Jellybeans, Raisins are have some nutritional value.
- Raisins boast cancer-fighting antioxidants.
- Raisins provide an excellent source of fiber, and contain no cholesterol.
- Raisins and Oatmeal Cookies are one of the culinary world’s great pairings, but it’s just one of many. Another great pairing is Cereal, of course as long as it’s not too sweetened already.
- Some other fan favorites: Rugelach, Cinnamon Raisin Bread, Rum Raisin Ice Cream and Trail mix.
- Over half of the world’s Raisins come from California. Although Napa is known worldwide for its Wine-producing Grapes, the Golden State’s Raisin capital is actually the city of Selma— just Southeast of Fresno. This area produces over 350,000 tons of Raisins annually.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
