Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: November 14th, 2022. Today is not only National Homemade ‘Guac Day’ which David’ mom is going to be excited about. It’s also National Pickle Day which David will be excited about. How about you?
Whether ‘Guac'”‘ treat is piled on top of a Tortilla Chip or used as a garnish for a Mexican dish, Guacamole is a delicious way to truly enhance a snack or a meal!
History of National Guacamole Day
While the day itself doesn’t exactly seem to have any poetic origin, National Guacamole Day is a terrific excuse to indulge in this dip!
However, Guacamole itself seems to have its origins with the Aztec people group at some time before the 16th Century. Did you know early Guacamole recipes only included mashed Avocado which became very popular due to the health benefits of the Avocado. Adding in Tomatoes and Onions came later, which was a natural development since those are also native to the Americas. Eventually Lime Juice was added, which originated in the Middle East but made its way west with the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
Did you know the word, Guacamole, originally came from the word “āhuacamolli” which translates literally to mean “Avocado Sauce”.
Not only is ‘Avocado’Guac” a great addition to a savoury spread, it’s also good for you! This is because “Guac” is made from Avocados, which are nutrient dense and packed with healthy fats that help the body lower bad cholesterol. All of which contributes to having a good time and living as long as possible.
How to Celebrate National Guacamole Day
Celebrating National Homemade ‘Guac’ Day is easy and can be filled with fun as well as delicious flavors!
Enjoy the day with these ideas:
Eat Guacamole
Even if there’s no particular reason, other than it being an awesome day, go ahead and celebrate National Guacamole Day by picking up some up at the store! Don’t forget to grab something to put the ‘Guac’ on, like a bag of Tortilla Chips, Veggie Sticks, or a piece of Toast. Eat ”Guac’ with French Fries, slather ‘Guac’ on a Quesadilla or use ‘Guac’ as a filling or garnish for Tacos. The options for eating Guacamole are virtually endless!
Learn to Make Guacamole at Home
Freshly made Guacamole is the most delicious part of this holiday! All it takes is purchasing ripe Avocados and making ‘it’Guac’ from scratch at home.
Of course it might be even tastier to add a bit of flavor to the ‘Guac’, including Lemon or Lime Juice for Zesty Citrus notes. Or perhaps Tomato, Garlic and Onion to expand the palette. The choice is completely personal.
Creative Ways to Eat Guacamole
Many people associate Guacamole only with Corn Tortilla Chips. But there’s so much more to ‘Guac’ than that! For those who are trying to get a bit healthier and forego Chips, or for those who are just looking for a bit of adventure, Guacamole has a lot of creative ways it can be used during snacks and meals. In addition to using ‘Guac’ as a dip, try out these ideas:
- Spread Guac On a Sandwich. Guacamole is a great Sandwich condiment. Simply pile Guac on top of a Hamburger or Chicken Sandwich for a tasty treat. Guac is also tasty when used as a healthy addition to Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
- Top a Pizza With Guac. A boring Pizza can be made delicious with Guacamole. Some people like to combine Guacamole with Buffalo Sauce and Chicken as well.
- Stuff Mushrooms with Guacamole. Keep Guacamole vegetarian by filling hollowed out Mushrooms with Guacamole and topping with a spicy Buffalo Sauce.
- Make Guacamole into a Salad. Guacamole can make a healthy and delicious base for a Salad. Create a Greek Fusion by adding Feta Cheese, or make the Salad sweet by piling it up with chunks of Watermelon or Peaches.
Have a National Guacamole Day Party
Invite family over for a little get together celebrating National Guacamole Day. Give a nod to Guacamole’s origins by decorating and dressing up in costumes that channel Central American culture.
Of course, the table of refreshments will need to center around the guest of honor–Guacamole! Then the table can be filled with all sorts of other South of the border treats as well. Try offering Tostadas, Chips & Salsa, or Quesadillas. Toss in Churros for a delicious dessert.
Facts About Avocados
Since they are the main ingredient for Guacamole, a fun activity for the holiday would be to learn a bit of trivia to share with family as National Guacamole Day is celebrated.
- Avocados are a Fruit. That’s right, technically Guacamole is actually a smashed Fruit Salad!
- Hass Avocados were banned in the US. In an effort to control pest problems, the Hass Avocado were once banned in the United States. From 1914 to 1997, it was illegal to import Hass Avocado. Everyone was much happier now that Hass Avocado are legal again.
- The World Record for Guacamole was over 3 tons. Created by a wholesaler in Jalisco, Mexico, this batch of Guac took more than 800 people to make it. This batch of Guac contained more than 25,000 Avocados, 3,500 Tomatoes and 3,000 Lemons.
It’s not necessary to only indulge in this tasty treat on National Guacamole Day. After all, Guacamole is good for you all year round, this is just an extra special reason to enjoy it!
Avocados are Native to Central and South America.
Avocados have been cultivated for over 10,000 years.
Another name for Avocado is the “Alligator Pear.”
The Aztec word for Avocado was ahuacatl, which means “testicle tree”.
Spanish explorers could not pronounce ahuacatl, so they called Avocado, “Aguacate.” The origin of the word Guacamole.
National Pickle Day
NATIONAL PICKLE DAY | NOVEMBER 14
National Pickle Day recognizes the tart, sometimes sweet, or Spicy Pickle. Each year on November 14th, Pickle lovers pop open pecks of their preferred preserved Pickle. These Pickles could be a Dill, Gherkin, Cornichon, Brined, Kosher Dill, Polish, Hungarian, Lime, Bread and Butter, Swedish and Danish, or Kool-Aid Pickle. No matter your choice, eat Pickles all day long.
The term Pickle comes from the Dutch word peke, meaning brine. In the United States, Pickle typically refers to a Pickled Cucumber. Just about any fruit or vegetable can be pickled.
The process typically starts with a blanching process, depending on the fruit or vegetable. Then the product is packed into jars with seasonings that will give the Pickles their flavor. The Pickles can be spicy, tart, or sweet. However, the tartness and sweetness come from the brine. A basic brine includes Vinegar and Water. Various amounts of Sugar adjust the level of sweetness in the brine.
Pickle Facts
We consume a phenomenal 5,200,000 pounds of Pickles each year in the United States. While Pickles can be high in sodium, Pickles are a good source of vitamin K. In moderation, Pickles make a great snack.
- Did you know food vendors sometimes serve Pickles on a stick at fairs or carnivals. These Pickles are known as stick Pickles.
- A rising trend in the United States is deep-fried Pickles. The Pickle is wrapped in Dough or dipped in breading and deep-fried.
- The popularity of the Pickle dates back thousands of years to 2030 B.C. At that time, traders imported Cucumbers from India to the Tigris Valley. Here the people first preserved and ate Cucumbers as Pickles.
- Cleopatra attributed her good looks to her diet of Pickles.
- Even Julius Caesar craved the benefits of Pickles. Julius Caesar believed Pickles lent physical and Spiritual strength and gave them to his troops.
Snack on a Pickle to celebrate, but don’t stop there. This snack is multipurpose. Pickles make delicious additions to Salads and Sandwiches. Grind Pickles up and make a Relish. Experimenting with Pizza? Top it with Pickles. If your Sloppy Joe is missing a little zing, add Pickles. While not everything is better with Pickles. But you could experiment Ice Cream, because a little experimentation goes a long way with Pickles.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
Try tasting Pickled Carrots, Cauliflower, or Watermelon. Even proteins including Eggs. Let us know what your favorite Pickle is by using #NationalPickleDay. Then share on Social Media.
If you are a Educator, visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for project ideas, puzzles and more to use in your classroom.
NATIONAL PICKLE DAY HISTORY
While National Pickle Day has been celebrated for 70 years on various days, we have not not identified the founder of National Pickle Day. However, in 1949, the first observance began with encouragement from the Pickle Packers Association.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
