Today is...

Eat Outside Day

It's Eat Outside Day! Today is the last day of August, which makes this a very timely celebration. It's the perfect opportunity to take your breakfast, lunch, or dinner into the great outdoors and enjoy the last few days of warm summer weather.

Al-fresco dining first became popular in the 18th century. Patrons who enjoyed eating their meals in the open air could visit tea gardens, seashore resorts, or rooftop restaurants. Eating outside was considered a tourist activity up until the early 1900s. Around that time, the first sidewalk cafés appeared on the streets of Manhattan.

There are many ways that you can participate in Eat Outside Day. Eat at your favorite outdoor restaurant, enjoy a popsicle on your porch, organize a barbeque in your backyard, or have a picnic at a local park. Whatever you decide to do, just be sure to enjoy some time outside. Have fun!

Today is also National Trail Mix Day & College Colors Day

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 31   1950 - Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers hit four home runs in a single game off of four different pitchers. 1964 - California officially became the most populated state in America. 1974 - "The Partridge Family" television show ended. 1995 - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cleveland, OH. _________________________________________________________ "The art of living successfully consists of being able to hold two opposite ideas in tension at the same time; first, to make long-term plans as if we were going to live forever; and, second, to conduct ourselves daily as if we were going to die tomorrow." --George Harris

Today is...

National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day! With summer coming to a close, today is the perfect opportunity to invite friends and family to gather around a campfire and toast up some marshmallows.

The history of the marshmallow dates all the way back to Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians harvested the sweet gooey extract of the mallow plant and used it to make candy. It was a very special treat reserved exclusively for gods and royalty. The modern-day marshmallows we know and love today emerged during the 19th century.

To celebrate National Toasted Marshmallow Day, grab a stick and a bag of marshmallows, and head outside to toast some marshmallows over the fire. Enjoy the last few weeks of the summer season!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 30   1645 - American Indians and the Dutch made a peace treaty at New Amsterdam. New Amsterdam later became known as New York. 1780 - General Benedict Arnold secretly promised to surrender the West Point fort to the British army. 1905 - Ty Cobb made his major league batting debut with the Detroit Tigers. 1963 - The "Hotline" between Moscow and Washington, DC, went into operation. 1965 - Thurgood Marshall was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a Supreme Court justice. Marshall was the first black justice to sit on the Supreme Court. 1984 - Beatles fans paid $271,180 for memorabilia at an auction in London, England. 1993 - Billy Joel became the first musical guest on CBS-TV's "The Late Show with David Letterman" when the show debuted. 1996 - An expedition to raise part of the Titanic failed when the nylon lines being used to raise part of the hull snapped. _________________________________________________________ "Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t." --Richard Bach

Today is...

Chop Suey Day

Today is Chop Suey Day! No one really knows where this Chinese-American dish originated. Some say that Chinese immigrants created the dish after arriving in America, while others insist that the dish is traditionally Chinese. Either way, chop suey is now a staple on many Chinese restaurant menus across the country.

So, what exactly is chop suey? It is a stir fry made with a hodgepodge of ingredients like egg, meat, and vegetables. In fact, the name "chop suey" comes from a Cantonese word meaning “odds and ends.” The dish is traditionally served with rice or noodles to soak up all the delicious flavors.

Today, head to your favorite Chinese restaurant and order some delicious chop suey to celebrate Chop Suey Day. Enjoy!

Today is also Lemon Juice Day

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 29   1842 - The Treaty of Nanking was signed by the British and the Chinese. The treaty ended the first Opium War and gave the island of Honk Kong to Britain. 1886 - Chop suey was invented in New York City by visiting Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-chang. 1964 - Roy Orbison's single "Oh, Pretty Woman" was released. The song was Orbison's second #1 hit. 1970 - The Kinks' single "Lola" was released. 1983 - The anchor of the USS Monitor, from the U.S. Civil War, was retrieved by divers. 1986 - The former "American Bandstand" studio was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The studio is in Philadelphia, PA. _________________________________________________________ "We do not have the right to be unhappy with our life. If it seems to us that we are not satisfied with life, we should see this as a reason to be unsatisfied with ourselves." --Leo Tolstoy

Today is...

National Cherry Turnover Day

It’s National Cherry Turnover Day! Turnovers are a delicious pastry that can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert. They originated in ancient times and are classified as "portable pies." Other dishes in this culinary family include pasties, empanadas, and spring rolls.

A traditional cherry turnover recipe calls for puff pastry, which is stuffed with a gooey cherry filling and then baked until golden brown. There are many variations on this classic treat though. Some recipes call for cream cheese, extra lemon juice, or even ice cream.

To celebrate National Cherry Turnover Day, bake your own homemade cherry turnovers to share with friends and family! Bon appétit!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 28   1830 - "The Tom Thumb" was demonstrated in Baltimore, MD. It was the first passenger-carrying train locomotive. 1916 - Italy's declaration of war against Germany took effect during World War I. 1963 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I Have a Dream" speech at a civil rights rally in Washington, DC. More than 200,000 people attended. 1964 - The Beatles appeared on the cover of "LIFE" magazine. _________________________________________________________ "Be patient with all that is unresolved in your heart, and try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek for the answers that cannot be given, for you wouldn't be able to live with them, and the point is to live everything. Live the questions now, and perhaps without knowing it, you will live along someday into the answers." --Rainer Maria Rilke

Today is...

Banana Lovers Day

It's Banana Lovers Day! Today we celebrate one of the most popular fruits in the world. Did you know that the average person eats about 33 pounds of bananas a year? That's approximately 100 individual bananas per person!

Bananas are high in fiber and potassium. These properties can help prevent calcium loss, ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain kinds of cancer. Although bananas are often pictured as growing on trees, the banana “tree” is actually an herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.

To celebrate Banana Lovers Day, grab a bunch of bananas to share with family and friends. Fry them, grill them, add them to a s'more, or just enjoy them plain. Have fun!

Today is also Global Forgiveness Day

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Burning Man

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 27   1858 - The first cabled news dispatch was sent and was published by "The New York Sun" newspaper. The story was about the peace demands of England and France being met by China. 1859 - The first oil well was successfully drilled in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, PA. 1912 - Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan of the Apes" was published for the first time. 1962 - Mariner 2 was launched by the United States. In December of the same year the spacecraft flew past Venus. 1984 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced that the first citizen to go into space would be a teacher. The teacher that was eventually chosen was Christa McAuliffe. She died in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. 1986 - Nolan Ryan, while with the Houston Astros, earned his 250th career win against the Chicago Cubs. _________________________________________________________ "Life is a petty thing unless it is moved by an indomitable urge to extend its boundaries." --Jose Ortega y Gasset

Today is...

National Waffle Day

It’s National Waffle Day! On this day in 1869, a man named Cornelius Swartwout received the first U.S. patent for a waffle iron. Waffles are a delightful breakfast food and can be paired with almost any topping. Butter and maple syrup, fruit and whipped cream, a big scoop of ice cream, or even a helping of fried chicken—the choice is yours!

Did you know that the first waffles originated in Ancient Greece? It’s true! The Greeks would cook flat cakes called “obelios” between two metal pans held over a fire. Today, all you need is a waffle iron and a yummy recipe for waffle batter.

To celebrate National Waffle Day, cook up some homemade waffles and have breakfast-for-dinner tonight! Enjoy!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 24   1867 - Johns Hopkins died. The railroad millionaire left $7.5 million in his will for the founding of a new medical school in his name. 1869 - A patent for the waffle iron was received by Cornelius Swarthout. 1932 - Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the U.S. non-stop. The trip from Los Angeles, CA to Newark, NJ, took about 19 hours. 1968 - France became the 5th thermonuclear power when they exploded a hydrogen bomb in the South Pacific. 1975 - Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers set a major league baseball record when he stole his 38th consecutive base. _________________________________________________________ "Whatever you can do, or think you can, begin it. Boldness had genius, power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today is...

National Sponge Cake Day

Today is National Sponge Cake Day! Sponge cake is the perfect dessert to enjoy at the end of a warm summer day. It is light and fluffy and has just enough sweetness to cleanse the palette after a meal.

Traditional sponge cake recipes call for three very basic ingredients: sugar, eggs, and flour. The key to the perfect sponge cake is in the technique. The batter must be beaten thoroughly in order to create volume. There are many varieties of this dessert including the Victoria Sponge Cake. This version is loaded with jam that is spread between several layers of the cake. The dessert was named after Queen Victoria who enjoyed having a slice of it with her afternoon tea.

To celebrate National Sponge Cake Day, bake a homemade sponge cake to share with friends and family, or buy one from your local bakery! Enjoy!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 23   1839 - Hong Kong was taken by the British in a war with China. 1914 - Tsingtao, China, was bombarded as Japan declared war on Germany in World War I. 1939 - Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty. 2000 - Richard Hatch was revealed as the winning castaway on CBS' "Survivor." Hatch won $1,000,000 for his stay on the island of Pulau Tida in the South China Sea. _________________________________________________________ "Great works are performed not by strength but perseverance." --Samuel Johnson

Today is...

Be An Angel Day

It’s Be An Angel Day! This day was established by Jayne Howard Feldman in 1993. Its purpose is to encourage people to perform random acts of kindness and to help those in need.

Every act of generosity can make a difference. Today, take the time to be an angel to someone. Whether you choose to do a favor for a friend or volunteer your time to assist others in your community, be sure to celebrate this occasion. Extend a helping hand, offer a kind word, or show someone your gratitude. Enjoy Be An Angel Day!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 22   1762 - Ann Franklin became the editor of the Mercury of Newport in Rhode Island. She was the first female editor of an American newspaper. 1865 - A patent for liquid soap was received by William Sheppard. 1906 - The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, NJ, began to manufacture the Victrola. The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, sold for $200. 1911 - It was announced that Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" had been stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting reappeared two years later in Italy. 1956 - Elvis began work on his first movie, "Love Me Tender." The film was originally entitled "The Reno Brothers." 1984 - The last Volkswagen Rabbit rolled off the assembly line in New Stanton, PA. _________________________________________________________ "The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he hoped to make it." --James M. Barrie

Today is...

National Senior Citizens Day

It’s National Senior Citizens Day! Today we celebrate the people who are part of the fastest-growing demographic in the world. According to the traditional definition, a senior citizen is anyone older than 60 years of age, but this seems laughable in today’s society. When it comes to new technologies, adults above the age of 55 represent 65% of all “early adopters.” This demographic is also the most politically engaged segment of the population. Almost 80% of all senior citizens vote in a presidential election, while the overall voter turnout is usually around just 50%.

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Senior Citizens Day in 1988. In his explanation he wrote that, “Older citizens are reinforcing their historical roles as leaders and as links with our patrimony and sense of purpose as individuals and as a Nation.” Now there’s something worth celebrating!

In honor of National Senior Citizens Day, spend time with your favorite relatives or make a commitment to volunteer at a retirement home sometime in the next year. If you are a senior citizen yourself, check for special promotions and giveaways at your favorite restaurants and shops!

Today is also National Spumoni Day

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 21   1878 - The American Bar Association was formed by a group of lawyers, judges and law professors in Saratoga, NY. 1912 - Arthur R. Eldred became the first American boy to become an Eagle Scout. It is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. 1971 - Laura Baugh, at the age of 16, won the United State's Women's Amateur Golf tournament. She was the youngest winner in the history of the tournament. 1976 - It was announced by RCA Victor records that the sales of Elvis Presley records passed the 400 million mark. 1986 - In Cameroon, a nation in West Africa, toxic gas erupted from a volcanic lake. The gas killed more than 1,700 people. _________________________________________________________ "Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself." --Samuel Butler

Today is...

National Lemonade Day

Today is National Lemonade Day! Lemonade originated in the Mediterranean region in the 13th century and the recipe eventually made its way to Europe and then to America. The beverage was sold as an everyday refreshment and as a tonic, used to treat colds and other ailments. In France, you could purchase a glass from street vendors known as “lemoadiers.”

To celebrate National Lemonade Day, make your own homemade lemonade to share with friends and family. Dissolve 2 cups of sugar in 1 cup of hot water. Then stir in 2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 gallon of cold water. Pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint. Enjoy!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month


images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 20   1741 - Danish navigator Vitus Jonas Bering discovered Alaska. 1866 - It was formally declared by U.S. President Andrew Johnson that the American Civil War was over. The fighting had stopped months earlier. 1882 - Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" debuted in Moscow. 1940 - France fell to the Germans during World War II. 1945 - Tommy Brown of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the youngest player to hit a home run in a major-league ball game. Brown was 17 years, 8 months and 14 days old. 1953 - It was announced by the Soviet Union that they had detonated a hydrogen bomb. 1985 - The original Xerox 914 copier was presented to the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History. Chester Carlson was the man who invented the machine. _________________________________________________________ "The secret of success is constancy of purpose." --Benjamin Disraeli

Today is...

National Vanilla Custard Day

Today is National Vanilla Custard Day! Vanilla custard is a sweet pudding-like dish made with vanilla, eggs, sugar, and milk. It can be enjoyed on its own or as a topping for other desserts.

Vanilla custard has been around since the Middle Ages, and was traditionally used as a pie filling. (A very simple custard tart was a popular dessert during that time period.) Today, custard is an important component in many dessert recipes including éclairs, trifle, and Boston cream pie.

To celebrate National Vanilla Custard Day, whip up your favorite homemade custard dessert to share with friends and family. Enjoy!

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Elvis Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 17   1815 - Napoleon began serving his exile when he arrived at the island of St. Helena. 1835 - Solyman Merrick patented the wrench. 1894 - John Wadsworth of Louisville set a major league record when he gave up 28 base hits in a single game. 1903 - Joseph Pulitzer donated a million dollars to Columbia University. This started the Pulitzer Prizes in his name. _________________________________________________________ "If we’d only stop trying to be happy we’d have a pretty good time." --Edith Wharton

Today is...

Bratwurst Day

Today is Bratwurst Day! Bratwurst is a heavily spiced sausage, usually enjoyed on a roll with mustard or by itself with a side of sauerkraut. The term “bratwurst” is a compound of two German words—“braten,” which means “to fry” and “wurst,” which means “sausage.”

Bratwursts originated in Germany and have been around since the 14th century. These sausages are generally made from pork, veal, or beef. Truly dedicated fans can attend the annual Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in Ohio to celebrate this historical dish.

Today, grab a “brat” in honor of Bratwurst Day. Don’t forget to wash it down with some beer!

Today is also National Rum Day

 August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

This week is Elvis Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for August 16   1829 - The "Siamese twins," Chang and Eng Bunker, arrived in Boston, MA. They had come to the Western world to be exhibited. They were 18 years old and joined at the waist. 1954 - Sports Illustrated was published for the first time. It was claimed that 250,000 subscriptions had been sold before the first issue came off of the presses. 1960 - The free-fall world record was set by Joseph Kittinger. He fell more than 16 miles (about 84,000 feet) before opening his parachute over New Mexico. 1966 - The Monkees' first single, "Last Train to Clarksville," was released. 1975 - Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving the group Genesis. Phil Collins would be the new lead singer after the group auditioned more than 400 potential musicians. _________________________________________________________ "Though there are exceptions, bigger is not always better, and louder is not always more true. There is much good to be found in ordinary days, even when they appear to be ho-hum and routine. So for inner health, seek deliverance from addictions to the spectacular. Cherish the ordinary. Woe to us who are so deafened by the whirlwind that we cannot hear the whisper." --Neil B. Weisman