She read the fancy recipes,
Each one a tempting winner;
Then dashing to her kitchen,
Fixed Ham and Eggs for dinner
There are so many monthly food events for the month of March, I've decided to once again break them up into two posts. If you are looking for the monthly food celebrations, or the weekly food celebrations for that matter, they are below this post.
Daily Food Celebrations
March 1st
National Pig Day; Ellen Stanley, a Texas art teacher, and Mary Lynne Rave of North Carolina created National Pig Day in 1972. They wanted people to recognize and appreciate a pigs intelligent and best qualities as domestic animals.
Peanut Butter Lover's Day
I was really looking forward to sharing some recipes from a few of the Dinah Shore Cookbooks I have but, alas, they are all in Pennsylvania. Dinah Shore was born on March 1, in 1917. Just in case you don't know who Dinah Shore was, I was barely a child myself, she was a wonderful singer who hosted her own show. She once prepared a meal on her show with Frank Sinatra. What was it? I guess I will have to wait until next year and give her a post of her own:)
St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales. In times past, and in some regions today, men wear a leek in their hat in tribute to St. David and women wear daffodils the national flower of Wales. I hope to be sharing some recipes from a Welsh recipe book on St. David's Day @ Months of Edible Celebrations. In the mean time, here is a recipe for Welsh Rabbit Stew and more information about St. David's Day. You may prefer a recipe for Welsh Cakes from the same site.
March 2nd
Today is Read Across America in honor of the beloved children's writer and illustrator Theodore Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss. Would you believe, his first children's book was And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was turned down by 27 publishing houses before being published by Vanguard Press. I celebrated!
National Banana Creme Pie Day is also on March 2nd. Did you see my daughter's recipe for Prize Winning Banana Pudding Pie?
March 3rd
George Mortimer Pullman was born on March 3 1831. He is best known for inventing the Pullman Sleeping Car which revolutionized train travel and eating on the move. This lead to the development of the first dining car. Did you know it was an Pullman Porter who invented the first biscuit cutter. His name was Rufus Estes. I touched on the subject of other African Americans who invented kitchen gadgets for Black History Month in February.
It's Time for a Party! Once again, the Peach Blossom Festival welcomes spring with the Japanese Doll Festival. When the Doll Festival or Hina-Matsuri arrives, family and friends are invited for tea, and the dolls are the hosts and hostesses for friends who visit the girls in each family. I posted recipes from a charming Swan's Down Cake flour booklet with all the trimmings. Follow the above link:)
On March 3, 1925, Norman A. Henderson patented the cream top milk bottle. I hope to be posting about this event this year. In the mean time, you can check out Dating Milk Bottles for more information.
March 4th
The Washburn-Crosby Company’s (later General Mills) radio station, "WCCO," went on the air March 4, 1925. Betty Crocker, made her debut as the voice of the "Gold Medal" station promoting Gold Medal Flour, (remember March is also Flour Month:) helpful hints and recipes on her program the "Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air." Here's the link.
Ephraim Wales Bull the inventor of the Concord Grape was born on March 4, in 1806. In 1853, Bull's grape won first place at the Boston Horticultural Society Exhibition. However, it wasn't until Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch developed the first 'Concord' grape juice in 1869 that Welch's was on its way to becoming a house whole name. Have you ever tried Purple Meatballs?
March 5th
Charles Goodnight said to have devised the first 'chuck wagon' was born on March 5, 1836. Here is some info from wiki. I won't be posting about him this year, I don't think:)
In case you missed the monthly food celebrations, (they're below this post:) let me remind you. March is National Noodle Month. March 5th may just be the day to celebrate because...Momofuku Ado, the Taiwanese-Japanese inventor of world's first instant noodles and cup noodles was born today in 1910. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 96!
March 6th
Happy Birthday to the Oreo Cookie! Need I say more...
We already know, March is National Frozen Food Month but did you know March 6, 1930 is the official date of the birth of retail frozen foods? And, National Frozen Food Day. Clarence Birdseye, The "father" of the frozen food industry was influenced by the diet and preservation techniques of the Inuit. (Eskimos) Brr...the last thing I need today is frozen Arctic recipes. However, they are much appreciated come the dog days of summer.
March 7th
Not only is March 7th the birthday of Luther Burbank, the determined plant breeder, it is also National Cereal Day and National Crown Roast of Pork Day. It says so right here.
March 8th
According to this article by David Wilkening, Oscar Michel Tschirky, (Oscar at the Waldorf) first created his infamous Waldorf Salad on March 8, 1893 for the opening day of New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Maybe today should be called Waldorf Salad Day!
March 9th
Celebrate Purim with some Purim Goodies.
March 12th
Today is the birthday of Christian K. Nelson. Why should you care? Actually, you could consider it just another day in food history or, should you consider it just another day in food history because, Nelson invented the Eskimo Pie!
According to Mrs. Beeton's website, Isabella Beeton author of the comprehensive Book of Household Management was born today in 1836.
March 13th
Today is the birthday of Lorenzo Delmonico, Meet me @ Dell's and we'll all have tea. Why? Because March 13th is also the birthday of Charles Grey, the 2nd as in Earl Grey Tea.
Distinguished food writer Jane Grigson was born today in 1928. I hope to be posting about her this year but just in case, follow the link to wikipedia.
March 14th
On this day in 1794 Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin, cookbook author Hannah Glasse was baptized in 1708 (no birthdate available, yet) and the potato chip celebrates, National Potato Chip Day!
On March 14, 1938, Sylvan Nathan Goldman applied for a patent titled, Folding Basket Carriage for Self Service Stores. He was issued patent number 2,196,914 on April 9, 1940. Why does this matter? Well, with the assistance of a mechanic named Fred Young, Sylvan Goldman constructed the first grocery shopping cart.
March 15th
Coenraad Johannes van Houten was born on March 15, 1801. We celebrated Van Houten's Cocoa on Chocolate Milk Powder Day.
March 16th
St. Urho's Day. St. Urho is the Patron Saint of Finland. His day is sometimes celebrated in Minnesota with a St. Urho's Day Cook-Off.
Cross Creek, Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's first major book after The Yearling, was published on March 16, 1942. I celebrated by Exploring Cross Creek Cookery on the author's birthday and recipes from Cross Creek Kitchens in 2009.
March 17th
Not only is March 17th St. Patrick's Day, it is also the birthday of sugar chemist and inventor Norbert Rillieux.
March 18th
National Biodiesel Day takes place on March 18, the date of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday.
18-March 18th has been popularly celebrated as the Doughboy's birthday but according to what I could uncover, as much as we would all LOVE to celebrate the character of Poppin' Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy, the company does not have a firm date for his creation other than the year of 1965. Doesn't mean we can't still celebrate, now does it!
March 19th
They may be celebrating Poultry Day @ Holiday Insights! but, March 19th is also St. Joseph's Day. In Sicily, St. Joseph's Day is celebrated with St. Joseph's Day Cream Puffs!
March 20th
On the first day of Spring, which thankfully, just happens to be Today! we celebrate National Agriculture Day and National Ravioli Day!
March 21st
Forrest E. Mars, the creator of everyone's favorite candy, M&Ms® was born on March 21, 1904. He also patented his candy in March in 1941.
March 22nd
It's Mothering Sunday in the UK (something like our Mothers' Day:) and the inventions of carbonated water my England's native son Joseph Priestly and Englishman Orlando Jones who patented corn starch on this day. Whew! Today is also World Water Day. In 2009, the focus of World Water Day on March 22 will be on "transboundary waters: sharing water, sharing opportunities."
March 23rd
Often credited as "the mother of level measurements" or, "the pioneer of the modern recipe", Fannie Merritt Farmer was born on March 23, 1857 in Boston Massachusetts. Follow the link for my Fannie Farmer celebration and recipes!
March 25th
There seems to be much controversy over International Waffle Day, National Waffle Day and Pecan Day. When in doubt, celebrate Chicken & Waffle Day, just add pecans:)
March 26th
Today is the birthday of Esther Bradford Aresty and Duncan Hines. I posted about Esther Bradford Aresty last year. This year I hope to be posting about Duncan Hines. We'll see. Here's Duncan Hines @ wiki.
March 29th
Celebrate Pearl Bailey's birthday, today, with Pearl Bailey's Chicken. I served it up last year @ Months of Edible Celebrations.
March 31st
Today is Bunsen Burner Day. Why? Bunsen Burner Day celebrates the birth date of German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen who invented the Bunsen Burner.
Resources1. March Food Holidays @
The Nibble2. National
Food Holidays in March