Sure, last month was National Celery Month. But this amazing vegetable gets another turn in the spotlight in April, National Fresh Celery Month! This plant is the total edible package: stalks, roots, leaves, even the seeds! And at less than ten calories per rib, you can afford to dress up your fresh stalks with cream cheese, peanut butter, dip--stuff that turns a raw veggie into a delicious snack!
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The US is the world's leading producer of soybeans, the legume that some describe as a 'complete protein.' There are so many uses for this crop: filler for meat and dairy products, cooking oil, tofu, animal feed, even plastics and paint! Check the labels of products you buy at the supermarket; you'll probably find soy in the list of ingredients. That's why it's National Soy Foods Month!
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As a toddler, you tried a little of everything: rocks, dirt, toys, TV remote controls. But gradually you came to regard these items as nutritionally insufficient and not very tasty. Lucky for the human race that April is National Food Month! What can we say? CDK is a huge supporter of the food movement.
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What would your pecan pie or pralines taste like without the state tree of Texas, the pecan tree? Like many nuts, pecans are high in protein and antioxidants. And, if you've ever eaten a big slice of pecan pie for dessert, you might've noticed that they're quite filling as well! If you're into celebrating National Pecan Month, CDK's fifteen hundred recipes with pecans in them will keep you cooking all month long!
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It makes sense that April would be National Soft Pretzel Month. A traditional food of both Lent and baseball season, delicious doughy soft pretzels are a bread that is distinctive in taste and shape. In fact, the loopy pretzel is a symbol of bakers dating back centuries in Europe. Try one of CDK's soft pretzel recipes, or a derivation like a pretzel sandwich or our big party pretzel.
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What's a foodie to do on April Fool's Day? There's the old switcheroo of someone's favorite cola for another brand. Or how about hosting a happy hour where the cocktails are secretly devoid of all liquor? Or check out CDK's recipes for Day Old Bathwater, Diaper Soup or Dog Food Dip! The crazy part is, they're good and your food fools will love them!
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Of course there's a National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! The average American kid will eat 1,500 PB&J sandwiches before they graduate high school. That's probably because they're easy to make, portable and convenient, and a high calorie energy boost. But CDK can show you that PB&J is about so much more than sandwiches. We've got recipes for PB&J cookies, waffles, cheesecake, smoothies and more!
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You might wish you studied harder in your foreign language classes after learning about cordon bleu. It's a dish that means 'blue ribbon' in French. What is it, you ask? Traditionally, it's Wienerschnitzel (which sort of means 'Viennese chicken-fried steak' in German) rolled and filled with cheese and ham. We've got all sorts of variations on this recipe, including chicken, meatloaf, and flounder cordon bleu! Tres delicieux!
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How can something as delicious and distinctive-tasting as caramel be made with so few ingredients? Much of the caramel used in baking or cooking is just sugar that's been slowly heated to its melting point and browned. Many of our entree recipes also call for caramelization (especially those with sliced onions). Celebrate National Caramel Day here at CDK!
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Take me out to the ballgame; buy me some peanuts and, well, caramel popcorn (generically speaking). With baseball season upon us, and since National Caramel Day was yesterday, it's appropriate that today we apply what we learned about caramelizing sugar to make the delicious snack that debuted at Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, caramel popcorn!
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Educating people on the merits of coffee cake is what National Coffee Cake Day is all about. For example, many people assume that coffee cakes contain coffee as an ingredient. But instead the term signifies a class of often lightly sweetened, spongy cake that is meant to be served with a cup of coffee. With nearly 400 coffee cake (or 'coffeecake') recipes, CDK can help make your brunch, snack time, or afternoon social a success!
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From the Spanish word meaning 'to wrap,' empanadas are fried meat pies that can contain many different types of filling, from mincemeat to seafood to chorizo and more. Americanized versions of the recipe have introduced fruit or sweetened fillings and sweetened the flaky crusts to make them more of a dessert item. CDK has several dozen recipes for empanadas that exhibit a great diversity of flavors!
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You've tried these light, subtle cookies at the Chinese buffet. Now try making them at home with a CDK recipe that's sure to please. Show your family that you can tackle international cuisine by celebrating National Chinese Almond Cookie Day with your oven!
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The term licorice (or 'liquorice') originally referred only to anise-flavored black licorice. But most kids in this country prefer red licorice or one of the rainbow of colors and flavors other than black: chocolate, cherry, even watermelon! Whether you regard the spiced black variety as the only legitimate licorice candy or not, you can do the twist today, National Licorice Day!
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If you've wondered what Day of the Mushroom is, CDK has now confirmed that it is NOT the movie sequel to 'Dawn of the Dead!' Rather, this Fun Food Holiday spotlights that fun fungus that, with many varieties, seemingly springs up overnight. Why shouldn't the edible mushroom have a day to shine?
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The origin of Eggs Benedict is shrouded in mystery. It may be named after several individuals named Benedict who claim the recipe as their idea. Or it possibly came from a French recipe that translates as 'Benedictine Eggs.' Regardless of its namesake, the recipe for Eggs Benedict really came to light at the end of the 19th Century and has been a breakfast delicacy ever since. One thing's for sure: it ain't named after Benedict Arnold!
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Why should it be an insult to call someone 'a cheeseball' when these softened and rolled cheese snack-appetizers are so darn good, and usually only make their appearance at festive occasions like parties or holiday gatherings? Well, CDK is proud to proclaim itself a fan of cheese balls. We've got over a hundred delicious recipes to prove it, with or without the space in between!
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It's Good Friday, which foodies of all faiths know as National Hot Cross Bun Day! Did you know that Hot Cross Buns, since they originally were baked from the same dough as communion wafers, are purported to have curative powers? And buns baked today will last a year without spoiling? Sorry, we can't guarantee those results, but we can say that our recipes for hot cross buns are good any day of the year!
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Lions and tigers and bears--oh my! Kids have been wild for these wild animal-shaped mini-cookies since the late 1800s. In that time, 54 different animals have been represented in the leading brand's box, with the koala the most recent addition. Alert your kids; it's National Animal Crackers Day! But be prepared to make with the crackers after that or you'll be the one facing wild animals!
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Amaretto is an almond-tinged liqueur that can be served straight or in a number of delicious cocktails. But Amaretto also figures in a wide array of recipes for desserts, like tiramisu, and savory almondine entree dishes. Whether you plan to celebrate National Amaretto Day during happy hour or the dinner hour, CDK has lots of recipes that'll give you a reason to buy a bottle!
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Today you get at least two holidays in one! Did you know that every Easter is also National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day? A modern Easter tradition owing in part to the fact that a baked ham will feed a sizable group of people, the pineapple rings add sweetness and color to a nicely browned and salty ham. Search for baked ham on CDK and you'll find nearly a hundred recipes to choose from!
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If your child or spouse turns their nose up at lima beans, now's the time to tell them to have a little respect for such a beneficial food! Lima beans are high in protein and dietary fiber. They make a good red meat substitute for vegetarians, and they help fight heart disease. So have a heart, haters, it's Lima Bean Respect Day!
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If ice cream or sorbet is the dessert of summer, and pumpkin pie the dessert of fall, then it could be said that pineapple upside-down cake is the unofficial dessert of spring! This moist yellow cake, with a delicious 'topping' of caramelized brown sugar and juicy, sweet pineapple rings, will go over great at your picnic, potluck, or painting party. People flip over pineapple upside-down cake!
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After Thanksgiving and Christmas, Easter might be the next biggest food holiday in North America. Fittingly, CDK's Easter recipe section is a whopper, with thousands of recipes for items like Easter bread, candy, eggs, glazed ham, even Peeps cupcakes! Go on an Easter hunt right here at CDK for your entire Easter dinner menu!
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Okay, Easter's over and it's time to dispense with those leftover jelly beans, one way or the other! Jelly beans weren't really regarded as an Easter candy until the 1930s (their egg-shape probably led to the Easter association), though they go back considerably further than that. Whether your preference is for the spiced or fruity varieties, pack some jelly beans with your lunch today, National Jelly Bean Day.
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What's more pleasing about a picnic this time of year, dining al fresco with people dear to you or the fact that you actually can lunch leisurely outdoors without having to bring a snow shovel? Spring is already one-third complete, so it's prime time for picnicking. CDK has dozens of picnic-specific recipes for you to pick through too!
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As a kid, you might've thought pigs in a blanket sounded more like something you'd find in a barnyard than on the breakfast table. This dish can be prepared as a breakfast item, typically with breakfast sausages wrapped in biscuit dough or puff pastry. It also makes a delicious hors d'oeuvre, with small wieners or Vienna sausages baked in pastry or dough. Get your oink on, it's National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day!
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Everybody knows that zucchini is that versatile veggie that you can bake with. But when was the last time you made zucchini bread? This subtly sweet, moist loaf might remind you of banana bread, but it's got a flavor all its own. It's popular too; CDK's got several dozen recipes for your National Zucchini Bread Day celebration!
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Soft pretzels as big as your hand. Crunchy, salty bite-size pretzels. Both types are not merely snack foods, they also have a rich tradition in European baking. In fact, the knotted loops of a pretzel were long the identifying symbol of bakeries across Europe, similar to the well known barber pole of yesterday and today. Enjoy some today, National Pretzel Day!
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Many people regard prime rib as a gourmet cut of beef. But it's typically just a slice of the more prosaic standing rib roast, without necessarily coming from USDA prime grade beef. As red meat goes, it tends to be delicious and tender and a fine item to serve on special occasions. Today must be one of those occasions; it's National Prime Rib Day!
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Most types of blueberries used in cooking are native to North America. That's probably why there's a National Blueberry Pie Day in America! Used often in muffins and pancakes, blueberries really shine in that popular and delectable dessert, blueberry pie. CDK offers over four dozen blueberry pie recipes in which you can use fresh or canned blueberries, or pre-made commercial blueberry pie filling. Sweet!
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Be honest. Without raisins, would you be getting enough bran in your diet? These tiny dried grapes make a healthy yet sweet snack for kids and adults, and are used in many types of foods besides breakfast cereal. In fact, CDK has almost 3,000 recipes that have raisins in them! Increasingly popular are sultanas, raisins made from white grapes!
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