David and I went to have dinner at Jason’s Deli the other night after picking up Buffalo Wings for Charlie. The funny part is we had chosen Salads off there Salad Bar. I ended up not eating all the meat David ordered for us or my Potatoe Salad and Boiled Eggs.
Yesterday I ate a little bit of the Potato Salad and one of the Boiled Eggs and still had the Lunchmeat ie Cold Cuts left over. Which allowed me to celebrate the #Holiday that falls on March 3rd which was National Cold Cuts Day #NationalColdCutsDay.
The funny part is even after making me a Sandwich for Brunch this morning I still have enough Ham and Turkey for another Sandwich tomorrow. Eating at Jason’s can save you money and one meal can turn into multiple meals if you watch what you do.
Now come and join my family on National Cold Cuts Day on March 3rd each year, and lets share our favorite Sandwiches with each other. As the nation unites in a common love for Meat items that have been stored and processed in various methods.
Call these Meats what you will including Cold Cuts, Lunch Meats, Deli Meats, or Sandwich Meats I know you have a favorite. Share the cold cut love with us because it’s time to celebrate those delicious pieces of processed Meat during National Cold Cuts Day!
Stack ‘em up or eat them slice by slice; put the Cold Cuts in your Sandwiches or cut and add them to your Pasta dish. However you choose to eat Cold Cuts, there is no denying its popularity. Did you know according to various websites, Americans alone consume around $2 billion worth of Cold Cuts per year? Bologna is the most popular type of Cold Cuts eaten. While we are still searching for the founders of National Cold Cuts Day, let’s look at how this type of Meat preparation came to be.
In the early ages, back when Ice Boxes were a part of Science fiction tales, people still wanted to enjoy Meat. Unfortunately, the Meat would spoil too quickly before people could relax and enjoy the giant Animal they were planning to eat. So they began sun-drying Meats.
This process originated in the Paleolithic age, say historians, and went on for quite a while. The Cold Cut made an appearance much later, around 500 B.C. The Ancient Romans and Etruscan population would salt and smoke Meat to keep it around and edible for longer.
Did you know Romans regularly feasted on Ham and Prosciutto. These Cold Cuts often were a part of their main courses and even became street food. Gradually, as the empires spread, the curing and processing of Meat took on aspects of the region. The ways of conserving Meat changed from region to region.
By the Renaissance, special cured Meat recipes abounded, and the Seasoning was as different as the people and Countries making them. The deli Meat that is so popular today has been attributed to the Earl of Sandwich, who popularized these, along with his famous creation (the Sandwich) in the 1700s.
n turn, Meats like Pastrami, and Corned Beef, among others, are the invention of Jewish delis from Eastern Europe. Their emigration to the U.S. and other places led to the deli Meat craze in other parts of the world.
By the 1800s, Cold Cuts were an everyday item. Specialized stores that sold such Meats populated places in the U.S., Italy, and other regions. To this, we add the ancient (and immensely popular) art of ‘Charcuterie’.
Derived from French, this describes the preservation of Meat through curing, smoking, and salting. It has been around for more than 6000 years, and the ancient Romans are likely the very first people who tried to regulate the trade of Charcuterie (they wrote laws regulating the ‘right’ production of Pork Joints).
The French contributed greatly to Charcuterie production, even building guilds, and regulating the production of such Meats. The classic culinary reference book, Larousse Gastronomique, also contains references to Charcuterie. Today, Cold Cuts are extremely common all over the world, and the industry shows no signs of stopping its upward march.
National Cold Cuts Day Activities
- VIf you have the means and the opportunity today check out different Cold Cuts: like Chicken Loaf, Corned Beef, or Pickel Loaf which I used to eat as a child.? Have you ever had Pickle Loaf? Did you like it or not? Then try out the varied faux Meats from the refrigerator section at local Supermarkets.
- Create a Charcuterie board and add whichever Cold Cut sparks your attention, whether Veg o Non-veg. Then throw in your favorite Cheeses, and Nuts of your choice then pair the Charcuterie Board with Wine. Which is the perfect partner for this type of food and you have yourself the a party.
The Funkiest Cold Cuts
- Head Cheese and no, this is not Cheese; it is the flesh, brain, eyes, and ears (some parts vary) of a Calf or Pig, all mixed into a paste-like substance. I will defiantly pass on Head Cheese. How about you?
- Black Pudding or Blood Sausage also known as Blood Pudding, tis a Cold Cut that is exactly what it sounds like . A Sausage made with boiled, then congealed, blood mixed with different Meats. Again I will pass. How about you?
- Horse SashimiA is a Japanese delicacy, of thinly sliced pieces of raw Horse Meat that people eat on special occasions. No, Horse Meat for my family. What about your?
- Tongue Loaf or Tongue Sausage is a loaf of Pork, Lamb, Veal, or Beef Tongues that are preserved in a variety of ways; the Tongues have either been cooked, pressed, jellied, and/or smoked. Doesn’t matter to me because I’m not going to try this. How about you?
- Whale Blubber is called Muktuk, this is a meal of frozen Whale skin and blubber made from the Bowhead, Beluga, or Narwhal Whale; usually eaten raw, it can also be diced, breaded, deep-fried, or boiled. Again I will pass. How about you? As you can see I’m not a very adventurous eater and neither is Charlie. Are you?
Why We Love National Cold Cuts Day
Cold Cuts are the fastest of all fast food they Cold Cuts are known for convenience! Cold Cuts cannot be your substitute for fresh Meat, but Cold Cuts are your backup for when things get tough (including not hearing the alarm in the morning).
People love Cold Cuts even though they get some flak, but we can’t help but love these delicious slices and cuts of Meat (in moderation, of course).
Did you know Cold Cuts can be healthy too when eaten smartly, of course. In fact, Cold Cuts are high in proteins (naturally) and contain minerals like iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Cold Cuts even come in even heart-healthy options including Tuna, Salmon, or even Hummus.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
