Category: National Observance Days

National Blueberry Pancake Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Blueberry Pancake Day! Pancakes are one of the world’s oldest foods. According to historical evidence, humans have been making flat, fried dough cakes since the Stone Ages.(1)

The word ‘pancake’ first appeared in the English language in the 15th century. By the 19th century, ‘pancake’ experienced a steady incline in usage in the United States. Pancakes are also known as johnnycakes, hoecakes, griddle cakes, and flapjacks. Adding blueberries is a time-honed tradition. Blueberries are one of the only native North American berries to still be eaten today. Even better, there are a large number of Florida native blueberries that you can grow and harvest from. Spring is coming soon and is a great time to plant blueberries so you can benefit from the late summer-early fall harvest.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, packed with nutrients, and have been linked to a number of health benefits including lower blood pressure, improved insulin response, and reduced risk of cancer. There are three popular methods of adding blueberries to the pancakes: 1) fold them into the batter, 2) add them after pouring the batter into the pan, and 3) top the pancakes with whole blueberries. Consider adding nuts, chocolate chips, vanilla, blueberry syrup, or chia seeds for a little something extra. 

National Florida Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Florida Day! Florida contains over 400 years of U.S. history. It was the 27th State to unite with the USA in 1845 but its history is longer; it contains the oldest European-settled city in the U.S. Florida is nicknamed The Sunshine State because of its sunny climate and natural, lush beauty. The state houses over 20 million people and is the THIRD most populous state in the USA. Celebrate the natural wonder of Florida today! 

Arbor Day 2024

Debbie Roney Smith on

Arbor Day is only a week away! Arbor Day is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska; they planted approximately 1 million trees! Within 20 years, Arbor Day spread throughout the nation to every state save Deleware. In 1883, it spread internationally to Japan, Europe, Canada, and further. It became a national holiday in 1970 during Nixon’s presidency, and is now a treasured annual event across the globe.

Click the image to learn more about Forests and Carbon!

The need for trees is ever-growing. According to UN Forestry Data, around ten million hectares of forest are destroyed globally every year; for reference, that’s an area the size of Portugal! Around half of the deforestation is offset by regrowing forests, so overall there’s a loss of around five million hectares each year. Imagine if we could bridge the gap; 1 hectare of #forest captures anywhere from 2-5 tonnes of #CO2 a year (this depends on several factors such as the rate of growth, the age of the forest, location, number of trees, and more). According to a 2019 survey, adding nearly 1 billion hectares of forest could remove two-thirds of the roughly 300 gigatons of carbon humans have added to the atmosphere since the 1800s.

Adding forests wouldn’t just sequester carbon; forests provide a host of added benefits including enhanced biodiversity, improved water quality, reduced erosion, improved air quality, and more. Forests can help provide jobs, recreation areas, and can attract tourists for everything from one-of-a-kind views to rare bird species. And it might sound cliche, but a forest starts with you.

So this Arbor Day, get your hands dirty and plant a tree! Visit the Arbor Day Foundation event map to see what’s happening in your area. 

National Gourmet Coffee Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

National Gourmet Coffee Day is celebrated on January 18 every year. Gourmet coffee is specifically made using 100% Arabica coffee beans and is renowned for its quality and consistency of flavor. Looking to try a cup of gourmet coffee today? The list below curates coffee shops in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas that reportedly carry/have carried Arabica coffee beans. Or, consider buying online and brewing at home!

 

National Cut Energy Costs Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Yesterday was National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. It was established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. Celebrated annually, it is designed to bring awareness to energy waste in businesses and homes. According to the mortgage company Freddie Mac, an average U.S. family spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. Cutting your energy waste helps you save money. Find a few suggestions below of changes you can make in your home to save more money in the long run:

  • Buy a programmable thermostat.
  • Switch to LED lights. They might cost twice as much as CFL bulbs, but they last three times longer.
  • Check that your appliances are energy efficient or choose energy efficient when you buy new/used appliances. 
  • Consider houseplants. They help reduce energy waste via transpiration.(1)
  • Every 3 months, check your appliances for dust build-up. Clean if necessary. This helps the unit perform efficiently.
  • Kill phantom energy loads (aka “vampire/ghost power” or “standby power”) by unplugging certain electronics/appliances when they are not in use. An estimated 5-10% of residential energy is used for standby power.(1) Visit this Green Groundswell article to learn which electronics consume standby power.

National Day of Giving

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tomorrow is National Day of Giving! It was officially created in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y partners in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation. Also known as Giving Tuesday, this globally celebrated day is designed to encourage the habit of giving among people and communities to make the world a brighter place. This can be as simple as giving a helping hand to an elderly neighbor carrying in groceries. However, it is also an opportunity to donate to those in need (mutual aid) as well as organizations, charities, and volunteer groups doing good. Giving Tuesday is also a fantastic opportunity to engage in community service. Find events or ideas on how to participate by visiting the official Giving Tuesday website here. 

National American Beer Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National American Beer Day! Celebrate by visiting a local brewery. This is an annual event designed to help celebrate domestic lagers and ales brewed across the United States. Today’s blog highlights the local favorite, Blountstown Beer Company. Blountstown Beer opened in February 2022, and is the creation of Josh Parker and Randal Martina. The brewery features excellent brews and wonderful recipes, the brewing knowledge provided by Parker and the culinary skills by Martina. Visit their Facebook page here to learn more.

National Bookshop Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tomorrow is National Bookshop Day, an annual celebration of all things books, reading, and local! It was conceived by the Bookseller Association. It is celebrated by individuals and businesses associated with the book trade, including publishers, authors, local bookshops, book lovers, and booksellers. See the list below for a selection of local bookstores to support tomorrow in the Panhandle and surrounding areas:

National Coffee Day 2022

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Coffee Day! The exact date of its origin is unknown, however, it is believed to have first been celebrated in Japan circa 1983. The celebration was then introduced to the United State in 2005. It is celebrated annually on September 29th. This annual celebration should not be confused with International Coffee Day which was first celebrated on October 1, 2015.

See below for a list of businesses that are offering National Coffee Day(NCD) deals or freebies:

  • Barnes & Noble: receive a free tall hot or iced coffee with the purchase of any baked item from B&N Cafés nationwide.
  • Dunkin’ Donuts: DD Perks members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase at Dunkin’.
  • Panera Bread: new Unlimited Sip Club subscribers receive two months free if they sign up on NCD. Existing Sip Club members receive $2 off select barista beverages and smoothies.

National Cheesecake Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Did you know that National Cheesecake Day has been celebrated on July 30th since 1985?! That’s over 30 years of the classic sweet treat being honored. Looking for a fun Florida-flavored cheesecake to enjoy today? Try the following Florida Orange Cheesecake recipe:

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups of (finely ground) vanilla wafer cookies
  • 1/3 cup of golden brown sugar
  • 6-7 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 4-6 Florida oranges (or 1 cup of fresh orange juice)
  • 1 cup of sugar, divided
  • 2 Tablespoons of finely grated orange peel
  • 4-8 ounce packages of cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 container 8-ounce sour cream 
  • 3 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • 5 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2-3 oranges, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
  • 1 1/2 cups of water
  • 1 1/2 cups of sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Directions:

  1. 2 hours prior to baking, remove the 4 packages of cream cheese and 5 eggs from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature.
  2. Set the oven at 350 degrees and position the rack in the middle of the oven.
  3. Finely grind 2 cups of nilla wafers. Add wafers to a medium bowl. Add 1/3 cup of packed golden brown sugar. Melt 6-7 Tablespoons of butter. Add 6 Tablespoons to the mixture. If the mixture is still dry add 1 more tablespoon.
  4. Press the mixture together with your fingertips, combining the three ingredients. The mixture should be damp.
  5. Press the crust mixture on the bottom of the pan and create a 1” border up the side of the pan.
  6. Bake the crust at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until set and the edges are golden brown. Allow the crust to cool.
  7. Wrap 4 layers of foil tightly around the outside of the pan so that it is completely waterproof as it will be put in a water bath.
  8. While the crust is cooling, make the filling. Zest 2 Tablespoons of orange zest from the skin of the oranges. Then juice 4 medium oranges to create 1 cup of orange juice – alternatively, use 1 cup of boxed orange juice.
  9. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of orange juice, ¼ cup of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of orange zest and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to a simmer. For 10 minutes, let the mixture simmer reducing to ¾ cup. Chill until cool.
  10. Meanwhile, using a mixer, beat the 4 packages of (room temperature) cream cheese and ¾ cup of sugar until smooth. Then mix in 1 cup of sour cream, 3 tablespoons of flour, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Beat in the 5 eggs one at a time. Finally, mix in the cooled orange juice mixture.
  11. Pour filling into the cooled crust.
  12. Next, take a large roasting pan and place the aluminum foil-lined spring form pan inside. Then, pour hot water around the spring form pan, so that water rises halfway up the sides of the pan.
  13. Place in the oven. Bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
  14. Remove the cake from the roasting pan and discard the foil. When it is cool, cover the cake and place in the refrigerator overnight.
  15. *Optional step. To make the orange topping, slice 2-3 oranges, in 1/4 inch thick slices.
  16. Combine 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 1/2 cups of sugar in a saucepan. Take the vanilla bean, split it open lengthwise, and scrape the seeds into the water and sugar mixture. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add the orange slices and simmer until translucent, typically around 25 minutes. Remove the oranges from the heat and let cool on a paper towel.
  17. When oranges are cool, arrange them on top of the cake.
  18. Take a pastry brush and dab some of the remaining syrup on top of the oranges and over the surface of the cake to create a shiny coating.