Today is...

National French Fries Day

Today is National French Fries Day! French fries are the ultimate feel-good food, and there are dozens of different ways to enjoy them. Whether you prefer your fries Cajun-style and spicy, sweet, crinkle-cut, curly, waffle, or covered in chili and cheese, today is the day to celebrate this American classic.

Although the exact origin of French fries is unknown, one theory suggests that they date back to 17th century Belgium. The inhabitants of this region often cooked small fried fish to accompany their meals. When weather conditions made it too dangerous to go fishing, they cut up potatoes in long, thin strips (to resemble the fish) and fried them!

Today, French fries are a global phenomenon. Whether it’s “pommes frites” in France, “patatas fritas” in Spain, or “chips” in the UK, French fries are a worldwide favorite. Grab an order of fries today to celebrate National French Fries Day!

Today is also Barbershop Music Appreciation Day

 
July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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History for July 13  1585 - A group of 108 English colonists, led by Sir Richard Grenville, reached Roanoke Island, NC. 1832 - Henry Schoolcraft discovered the source of the Mississippi River in Minnesota. 1835 - John Ruggles received patent #1 from the U.S. Patent Office for a traction wheel used in locomotive steam engines. All 9,957 previous patents were not numbered. 1896 - Philadelphia’s Ed Delahanty became the second major league player to hit four home runs in a single game. 1941 - Britain and the Soviet Union signed a mutual aid pact, which provided the means for Britain to send war material to the Soviet Union. 1968 - Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" was released. _________________________________________________________ "Nothing seems so tragic to one who is old as the death of one who is young, and this alone proves that life is a good thing." --Zoe Atkins

Today is...

Pecan Pie Day

It’s Pecan Pie Day! This sweet delight has the best of both worlds—a smooth filling and a crunchy top. Traditional recipes for pecan pie call for ingredients like roasted pecans, butter, eggs, and brown sugar, but there are many different variations. Some people even choose to add special ingredients like chocolate or bourbon.

Most Americans consider pecan pie to be a Southern specialty, but this type of pie is actually French in origin. French immigrants living in New Orleans baked the first American pecan pies. Many years later, the Karo company popularized the dessert with recipes that called for the company’s corn syrup.

Even though it’s not Thanksgiving, today is a great day to eat a slice of pecan pie! Pick up a pie at your local bakery or grocery store to share with friends. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!

Today is also Simplicity Day

 
July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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History for July 12  1931 - A major league baseball record for doubles was set as the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs combined for a total of 23. 1933 - A minimum wage of 40 cents an hour was established in the U.S. 1941 - Moscow was bombed by the German Luftwaffe for the first time. 1946 - "The Adventures of Sam Spade" was heard on ABC radio for the first time. 1962 - The Rolling Stones made their performance debut at the Marquee Club in London. 1982 - "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" broke all box office records by surpassing the $100-million mark of ticket sales in the first 31 days of its opening. _________________________________________________________ "Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out." --Edwin Markham

Today is...

World Population Day

Today is World Population Day! There are billions of people who live on this planet, but the growth of the Earth’s population has caused many social and environmental problems. Poverty and hunger are two of the key issues.

The UN established World Population Day to raise public awareness about the challenges we face. The goal is to get people around the world to help those who are negatively affected by population growth. It’s hard for one person to bring about a solution that will influence the entire world, but if every individual tries to make a difference in his or her local community, worldwide change is attainable.

Today, volunteer your time at a soup kitchen, donate to your local food pantry, or talk to your friends about the problems at hand. To find out more about World Population Day, visit the official website. You can make a difference!

Today is also National Blueberry Muffin Day

 
July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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History for July 11  1798 - The U.S. Marine Corps was formally re-established by "An Act for Establishing a Marine Corps" passed by the U.S. Congress. The act also created the U.S. Marine Band. The Marines were first commissioned by the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775. 1914 - Babe Ruth debuted in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox. 1918 - Enrico Caruso recorded "Over There" written by George M. Cohan. 1985 - Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the first major league pitcher to earn 4,000 strikeouts in a career. 2000 - Lars Ulrich (Metallica) was the first witness to testify at a U.S. Senate hearing over copyright law issues concerning free sharing of music files on Web sites such as Napster and MP3.com. _________________________________________________________ "I believe that the ultimate in self-actualization is when a person is confused about the difference between employment and recreation." --Ken Blanchard

Today is...

National Piña Colada Day

It’s Piña Colada Day! You don’t need to be on a beach to enjoy this refreshing tropical cocktail. No matter where you are in the world, a piña colada is a great way to sit back, relax, and enjoy a little taste of the summer.

Did you know that piña coladas originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico? The term, "piña colada" means "strained pineapple" in Spanish, which makes perfect sense. A traditional recipe calls for pineapple juice, light rum, and coconut cream poured over crushed ice.

If you like piña coladas (“and getting caught in the rain!”) fix yourself an ice cold drink, top it with a mini umbrella, and celebrate National Piña Colada Day!

Today is also Teddy Bear Picnic Day

 
July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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History for July 10  1913 - The highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. was 134 degrees in Death Valley, CA. 1925 - The official news agency of the Soviet Union, TASS, was established. 1940 - The 114-day Battle of Britain began during World War II. 1962 - The Telstar Communications satellite was launched. The satellite relayed TV and telephone signals between Europe and the U.S. 1985 - Coca-Cola resumed selling the old formula of Coke, it was renamed "Coca-Cola Classic." It was also announced that they would continue to sell "New" Coke. 1991 - Boris Yeltsin took the oath of office as the first elected president of the Russian republic. _________________________________________________________ "It is not in doing what you like, but liking what you do that is the secret of happiness." --James M. Barrie

Today is...

National Sugar Cookie Day

It’s National Sugar Cookie Day! Today, we honor a cookie that is simple and straightforward, but totally delicious. Traditional sugar cookie recipes call for just six ingredients: sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and baking powder.

Although sugar cookies by themselves can be quite plain, they are incredibly versatile. Use cookie cutters to create shaped sugar cookies, and top them with frosting or sprinkles. You can also make cookie sandwiches with two sugar cookies and fillings like marshmallow, melted chocolate, or jam.

To celebrate National Sugar Cookie Day, make a batch of homemade sugar cookies to share with friends and coworkers. Provide a variety of interesting decorations and let everyone personalize their bite-sized dessert!

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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History for July 9  1540 - England's King Henry VIII had his 6-month-old marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled. 1776 - The American Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington's troops in New York. 1816 - Argentina declared independence from Spain. 1872 - The doughnut cutter was patented by John F. Blondel. 1878 - The corncob pipe was patented by Henry Tibbe. 1968 - The first All-Star baseball game to be played indoors took place at the Astrodome in Houston, TX. 1985 - Joe Namath, signed a five-year pact with ABC-TV to provide commentary for "Monday Night Football." _________________________________________________________ "The tragedy of life is not in the fact of death. The tragedy of life is in what dies inside a man while he lives--the death of genuine feeling, the death of inspired response; the death of awareness that makes it possible to feel the pain or the glory of other men in oneself....No man need fear death: he need fear only that he may die without having known his greatest power--the power of his free will to give his life for others." --Albert Schweitzer

Today is...

National Fried Chicken Day

It’s National Fried Chicken Day! Today we honor a finger-licking American favorite. To make this flavorful delight, smother a piece of chicken in batter and fry it. The result is a savory treat that’s crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Yum! 

American fried chicken has its roots in the Southern United States, but Europeans have been eating fried chicken since the Middle Ages! During that time period, cooks discovered that covering meat in flour and spices before cooking it helped seal in the flavor and made it more portable.

National Fried Chicken Day is a great time to try out a new recipe or to visit your local KFC. Better yet, get your friends in on the fun and plan a backyard picnic! Corn, mashed potatoes, and biscuits are all great accompaniments for fried chicken. Dig in!

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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History for July 6  1885 - Louis Pasteur successfully tested his anti-rabies vaccine. The child used in the test later became the director of the Pasteur Institute. 1923 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established. 1928 - "The Lights of New York" was previewed in New York's Strand Theatre. It was the first all-talking movie. 1933 - The first All-Star baseball game was held in Chicago. The American League beat the National League 4-2. 1945 - Nicaragua became the first nation to formally accept the United Nations Charter. 1964 - The Beatles' first film, "A Hard Day's Night," premiered in London. 1984 - The Jacksons began their Victory Tour in Kansas City, MO. 1985 - Martina Navratilova won her 4th consecutive Wimbledon singles title. _________________________________________________________ "For people to live, they must learn to kneel." --Fyodor Dostoevsky

Today is...

Workaholics Day

Today is Workaholics Day! By definition, a “workaholic” is a person addicted to their work. While dedication is certainly an admirable trait, a healthy work-life balance is also important.

For all the workaholics of the world, today is the day to step back and take it easy. If you fall into this category, take an afternoon nap, read a book, or spend a few hours watching videos on YouTube. You’ll have plenty of time to finish your work tomorrow!

For everyone else, today is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the workaholics in your life and to recognize all they have accomplished. To celebrate Workaholics Day, arrive at the office a little earlier than usual and tackle a project that you’ve been avoiding. Happy Workaholics Day!

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


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

History for July 5  1811 - Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain. 1865 - William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London. 1941 - German troops reached the Dnieper River in the Soviet Union. 1946 - The bikini bathing suit, created by Louis Reard, made its debut during a fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris. Micheline Bernardini wore the two-piece outfit. 1950 - U.S. forces engaged the North Koreans for the first time at Osan, South Korea. 1954 - Elvis Presley's first commercial recording session took place in Memphis, TN. He recorded "That's All Right (Mama)" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." 1975 - Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title when he defeated Jimmy Connors. _________________________________________________________ "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’" --Hohn Greenleaf Whittier