Tag: Cooking Workshops

Eat A Red Apple Day -
December 1, 2025

Celebrate by enjoying a crisp red apple — tasty, portable, and symbolically tied to health and teachers.

Quick background
- Apples (Malus domestica) originated in Central Asia and have thousands of cultivars. Red varieties include Red Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Cortland.
- “An apple a day…” reflects apples’ place in culture as a wholesome snack.

Why eat one
- Good source of fiber (especially with skin), vitamin C, and polyphenols.
- Low‑calorie, filling snack that supports satiety and portable nutrition.

How to celebrate
- Eat a fresh red apple plain.
- Try one you’ve never had (compare Fuji vs. Honeycrisp vs. Gala).
- Bring apples to work or school as a healthy snack or gift to a teacher.
- Make a simple apple recipe and share: salad, slices with dip, or baked apples.

Quick ideas
- Sliced + nut butter + sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Apple salad: sliced apple, mixed greens, walnuts, goat cheese, vinaigrette.
- Baked apple: core, fill with cinnamon, nuts, a drizzle of honey; bake 20–30 min at 350°F (175°C).
- Apple + cheese board: sharp cheddar or blue cheese pairs well with sweeter reds.

Safety & tips
- Wash apples under running water and scrub to remove residues; peel if concerned about pesticides.
- Store in fridge to maintain crispness (up to several weeks depending on variety).
- Slice just before eating to avoid browning; a splash of lemon juice slows oxidation.

Enjoy Eat A Red Apple Day — bite into a crunchy, healthy treat....

National Mason Jar Day
November 30, 2025

Celebrate the humble mason jar — a versatile glass jar invented for home canning that’s become an icon of food preservation, DIY culture, crafts, and stylish storage.

Quick background
- Mason jars were patented by John L. Mason in 1858 for home canning (two‑piece lid: metal band + flat sealing lid). They’re prized for airtight preserving, durability, recyclability, and multiuse convenience.

How to celebrate
- Use mason jars for canning, storing, meal‑prepping, gifting, or crafts.
- Host a jar swap (homemade jams, pickles, sauces, or dry mixes).
- Upcycle jars for vases, drinking glasses, candle holders, pantry organization, or herb planters.
- Take a basic canning class or try a simple preserve you’ve never made.

Practical uses
- Canning: jams, jellies, pickles, salsas, tomato sauce, chutneys.
- Meal prep: overnight oats, salads-in-a-jar, layered desserts, smoothies.
- Storage: dry goods, spices, leftovers, refrigerated sauces.
- Entertaining/gifts: cocktail kits, cookie mixes, infused oils, spa salts.

Canning & safety notes
- Use jars and lids in good condition; replace rusty or warped lids.
- Follow tested recipes and proper water‑bath or pressure‑canning guidelines for shelf‑stable preserves (USDA/extension service resources).
- Refrigerator pickles and fresh sauces are fine for short‑term storage but are not shelf‑stable unless processed correctly.
- Label jars with contents and date.

Care & sustainability
- Wash jars in hot, soapy water or dishwasher; sterilize when required for canning.
- Mason jars are reusable and recyclable — reuse for storage, crafts, or donations to community canners.

Enjoy National Mason Jar Day by preserving, gifting, organizing, or upcycling — small jar, big possibilities....