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Sue Spitulnik

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Sue Spitulnik

I am a retired grandmother that grew up in western New York State, left for 25 years, and am now back in the area. I happily live with my husband and two cats. I am pro-military, writing, food, family, and quilting. I am con-exercise, insulting commercials, and lack of common sense. I have met some great friends through this website.

National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Toasted Marshmallows go hand in hand with campfires, fires on the beach or around the back yard fire pit, and sometimes over the gas flame on the stove in the kitchen.  They are an age defying treat some like golden brown and others like charred black with a gooey white center.  But be careful, I have heard of a rule that if your burning delight falls in the fire, you don’t get another one!

Ghost or scary stories come to mind when I think back about marshmallows.  There was always that one camp counselor that could tell an animated tale that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  We called that fun, but now I’m not quite sure why.  Most of us knew there really wasn’t a boogeyman in the woods, but because of our age, there was always that niggling concern there might be.  Laughing as a group and walking back to our tents with marshmallow strings stuck to our chins made the hairs lay back down.

I would guess the statistics are pretty high that people who rent cottages for a time during the summer have marshmallows on their list of food items to take with them, or they make a quick trip to the nearest grocery store to get them before the bonfire is lit.  I’ve only been in a few RV camp registration offices that have essentials for sale, but  those essentials include marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars.  S’mores are not an optional item when camping; whatever your definition of camping might be.

If you don’t like your marshmallows toasted they are great in Ambrosia Salad, melting on the surface of a cup of hot chocolate, or as a swirl in chocolate ice cream.  The fluff form is used in making fudge, and mixed with yogurt it makes a great fruit dipping sauce.

There’s a way to make any form of marshmallows even better.  Enjoy them with friends or multiple generations.

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National Cherry Turnover Day

The only thing I can say for sure about cherry turnovers is there is never enough cherries and always too much crust.  I’d rather have a piece of cherry pie with the woven top crust, that way you can see up front, just how many cherries you are getting.  And then of course it’s always better with vanilla ice cream.

When I was a kid there was a great bakery in the town I went to school in.  I’ve mentioned in past posts that we did most of our own baking at home, but things like maple bars, apple fritters, fried cakes, salt rising bread and turnovers were left to the Fitzpatrick family.  I lived in a neighboring town and rode the bus to school so it was a real treat for me to be able to walk home with a classmate and stop at the bakery.  My favorite then, and now, is still the pudding filled, chocolate frosted doughnuts.

Let’s get back to cherries; these are some interesting facts: 

  • Related to plums, peaches and nectarines, cherries are drupes or stone fruits.
  • Cherries were brought to North America in the 1600s by the English colonists.
  • There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States.
  • There are an average of 44 cherries in one pound.

Do you know anyone with a cherry tree in their yard?  I’ve known a few people and the complaint is always the same; the birds get the cherries before the human can get out  to pick them.  So that leads me to question how an orchard keeps the birds away long enough to make it worth while to raise them.  I’m sure they have a trick or two, but I don’t know what they are.

In western Ney York state, especially along Lake Ontario, there are orchards that grow cherries, apples, peaches, pears and plums.  The state’s Finger Lakes region is well known for it’s grape vineyards and wineries. Strawberries and red and black raspberries are also plentiful.  To facilitate buying the fresh fruit easily there are public markets in a lot of the local cites, towns and suburbs.  It can be even be a fun family event if you are inclined to go pick your own.  When the fruit is in season, there are bargains and you eat your fill knowing fresh is best.  We wish the seasons lasted a little longer, but then the juicy unadulterated flavors wouldn’t be such a treat.

If you have a favorite cherry turnover memory I would love to hear about it.  And, just in case you are one of my regular readers, yes, I mixed up the chop suey date and cherry turnover date.  Sorry, not as precise as I used to be.  Today is really the 29th.

 

 

 

 

 

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National Chop Suey Day

I can’t say as I have any memory connected to chop suey, so I decided to share the information from the National Day of Calendar.  The myths are interesting.

“A prime example of culinary mythology” and typical with popular foods, there is a long list of colorful and conflicting stories of the origin of chop suey, according to food historian Alan Davidson.

It is believed, by some, that chop suey was invented in America by Chinese Americans. However, anthropologist E.N. Anderson concludes that it is based on tsap seui (miscellaneous leftovers) which is common in Taishan, a district of Guangdong Province.  Taishan is the home of many early Chinese immigrants to the United States.

Another account claims that chop suey was invented by Chinese American cooks that were working on the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century.

A prime example of culinary mythology. ~ Alan Davidson on the origin of chop suey.

A tale is told of chop suey’s creation stemming from the Qing Dynasty premier Li Hongzhang’s visit to the United States in 1896. According to the story, his chef wanted to create a meal that was suitable for both the Chinese and the American palates.  It has also been told that Li wandered to a local Chinese restaurant after the hotel kitchen closed, where the chef, embarrassed that he had nothing ready to offer, came up with the new “chop suey” dish using scraps of leftovers.

Another myth tells of an 1860s Chinese restaurant cook in San Francisco that was forced to serve something to the drunken miners after hours. To avoid a beating, having nothing fresh to offer, he threw leftovers in a wok and provided a makeshift meal to the miners.  The miners loved the dish, asked him what it was called to which he replied, “Chopped Sui.”

When I looked up recipes for chop suey I was very surprised to see pictures of American goulash.  I have to admit I don’t get the connection.  You know how sometimes a person will say they were born in the wrong century.  I think maybe I was born in the wrong country, or had a life before  this one and I lived in the Orient.  I could eat Chinese dishes five times a week and be happy about it.  I have never mastered making anything like it at home.  Maybe that’s what we’ll have for supper tonight.

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National Day of Just Because

Just because I can.  Just because I felt like it.  Just because I wanted to.  Just because I never had before.

Are there things on your bucket list you’ve never given yourself permission to do? Not the expensive trip, or the fly in a helicopter type; the silly ones, like dance in the rain, eat ice cream till you want no more, write a love poem (you don’t have to show it to anyone!), or stay in bed all day.  Today is the day!  Do it; Just Because!

Little kids are known for jumping in mud puddles just because they are there.  When my husband and I first started dating we went for a walk on a trail in a local park.  It was hot and there were mud puddles.  We jumped in them, just for fun, and enjoyed the fact we could laugh about it together.  Another time we were at a company party and it was raining.  We like to dance, and the music had the right beat; we danced in the rain.  It was fun. Everyone just stared at us.

Have you ever wanted to call in sick when you weren’t or visit every single store in the mall just to say you did.  Or send yourself flowers because you like to receive them. (Don’t tell who they are from!)  Maybe go try out an expensive sports car so you can say you have driven one, or spend the day riding horses.  According to the National Day of calendar today is the day to do it.  Just Because!

I will ask you to keep it positive.  I’m having thoughts of things I shouldn’t do, just because, like tell the neighbor he’s too nosey, or tell someone their perfume makes them smell like a skunk.  You get the picture.

So let your hair down, throw your cares to the wind, forget about what other people might think and go do it.  Whatever it might be.  Just Because.

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National Women’s Equality Day

The United States Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting women full and equal voting rights on this day in 1920.  Every year on August 26, we commemorate this right with National Women’s Equality Day.

Today is also National Webmistress Day, hence the picture.  There are all sorts of other categories women are still fighting/hoping for equality in.  Equal pay is an especially big one.  Being acceptable as the leader (with men taking orders), either as a company president or of the United States is another one.  I know some female professional athletes, like golfers and basketball players, that would love to make the money their male counterparts make.  I have a lady friend that is an anesthesiologist and when she tells people what she does, they sometimes blurt out, “But you’re a woman!”  She tells me it gets really old.

My husband is a big sports enthusiast so I at least recognize some of the big names on his favorite teams.  I have been known to offer a comment in a mixed group and invaribly one guy will look at me as if to say, “How would you know, you’re a girl?”  It makes me chuckle. (I only do it when I’m sure I’m right if we are in public!)

Currently women are now proving they can do some of the mlitary jobs that were always given to just men.  I’m glad they have the physical capability, but I’m old fashioned on this one: I sure wouldn’t want one of them to be captured by the enemy and find out the hard way they indeed, are not equal.

There’s one area of expertise that only a woman can do best and that’s being a Mom.  I applaud any man that has to fill both roles of Dad and Mom and I admit Moms don’t always get it right, but we do the best we know how at the time we do it.  Moms feel things differently, so express them differently than Dads and that’s a good thing.  Maybe wehn it comes to keeping a household going, we ladies should be more adamant about the guys having equality when it comes to chores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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National Banana Split Day

Two different people claim they invented the banana split, one in 1904 and the other in 1907.  Originally it was vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream settled between a  banana that had been cut in half lengthwise, with chocolate, pineapple and strawberry syrups ladled over the ice creams, then topped with whip cream, nuts and a cherry, served in a “boat” shaped dish.

These days, in my area anyway, you can pick your own ice cream flavors and toppings, it’s only the banana that is consistent.  At Bruster’s, on Thursdays, if you bring your own banana, you get your treat for half price.

In 1955 Tom Wahl’s opened in Avon, NY.  It was, and still is, a hamburger joint, serving fresh-made burgers, root beer made in-house and ice cream.  They ran a promotion that if you could eat two complete banana splits, they were free.  My uncle would have been about thirty at the time.  He got so many free banana splits they asked him nicely not to take advantage of the special any more.  He was building his landscaping business at the time, so after a day working outside, I imagine two banana splits would have made him a fine dessert.   Think of all that sugar!

Late update from my sister……the promotion was   Eat Three—Get them Free!!  They changed the sign to read “except Herb M.”

 

 

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