NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
National Pickle Day recognizes the tart, sometimes sweet, and even spicy pickle. Each year on November 14th, pickle lovers pop open pecks of their preferred preserved pickle. It may be a Dill, Gherkin, Cornichon, Brined, Kosher Dill, Polish, Hungarian, Lime, Bread and Butter, Swedish and Danish, or Kool-Aid Pickle. No matter your choice, eat them all day long.
#NationalPickleDay
The term pickle comes from the Dutch word pekel, meaning brine. In the United States, the word pickle typically refers to a pickled cucumber. However, just about any fruit or vegetable can be pickled.
The process typically starts with a blanching process, depending on the fruit or vegetable. Then the product is packed into jars with seasonings that will give the pickles their flavor. They can be spicy, tart, or sweet. However, the tartness and sweetness come from the brine. A basic brine includes vinegar and water. Various amounts of sugar adjust the level of sweetness in the brine.
Pickle Facts
We consume a phenomenal 5,200,000 pounds of pickles each year in the United States. While pickles can be high in sodium, they are a good source of vitamin K. In moderation, they make a great snack.
Food vendors sometimes serve pickles on a stick at fairs or carnivals. They are known as stick pickles.
A rising trend in the United States is deep-fried pickles. The pickle is wrapped in dough or dipped in breading and deep-fried.
The popularity of the pickle dates back thousands of years to 2030 B.C. At that time, traders imported cucumbers from India to the Tigris Valley. Here the people first preserved and ate the cucumbers as pickles.
Cleopatra attributed her good looks to her diet of pickles.
Even Julius Caesar craved the benefits of pickles. He believed pickles lent physical and spiritual strength and gave them to his troops.
Snack on a pickle to celebrate, but don't stop there. This snack is multipurpose. They make delicious additions to salads and sandwiches. Grind them up and make a relish. Experimenting with pizza? Top it with some pickles. If your Sloppy Joe is missing a little zing, add some pickles. While not everything is better with pickles (ice cream?), a little experimentation goes a long way with pickles.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
Try tasting pickled carrots, cauliflower, or watermelon. Even some proteins are pickled, such as eggs. What's your favorite kind of pickle? Sweet, spicy, dill? Let us know by using #NationalPickleDay and posting on social media.
(https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-pickle-day-november-14)
Pickle Song!