Did you know that today, June 22nd, is National Onion Rings Day? Yep, I’m not making that up; there’s even a Facebook Like Page for it, so you know it’s gotta be official. And you thought the Summer Solstice was the big news today. Yeah, yeah, 24 hours of daylight at the North Pole, big wup. Of course, summer solstice at Stonehenge is kinda cool.
Back to the onion rings…Where did onion rings even come from? Who first came up with the idea? It’s kind of odd, if you think about it, although everything nowadays is fair game for the batter-and-fry treatment.
Below is a segment from The Farmer’s Almanac, which describes the origins of that greasy-spoon fave:
…food historians report the onion ring initially entered the purview of American consumers around 1933, when a Crisco ad in The New York Times Magazine featured a recipe for onions dipped in milk, dredged in flour, and of course fried in their product. Prior to that, the 1802 cookbook “The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined,” by John Mollard, featured a recipe entitled “Fried Onions with Parmezan Cheese.” Cutting onions into half-inch rings, cooks were then advised to dip them in flour, cream, salt and pepper, and Parmesan cheese, ultimately deep frying in boiling lard. Serving suggestion was with a sauce made of mustard and melted butter. Kind of like a delicious triple bypass on a plate.
Don’t you love it? “a delicious triple bypass on a plate.” I can’t think of a better phrase. So, basically, a company wanted to sell more lard and invented onion rings in the process. I’m not sure what to say about that.
Moving on to dessert…
June 22nd is also National Eclair Day. Squee! Oblong pastry, filled with custard and topped with chocolate icing…I may need a break from writing this post to go buy some eclairs. Who knew this day was going to be so delicious?
No one really knows why the French called the pastry an eclair, which translates to “lightning flash.” Food historians believe it originated in the mid-nineteenth century, and was first called pain a la duchesse. I call it yummy.
What food would you nominate to have its own “national day”? I’d love to hear from you.
However you celebrate June 22nd – dancing at Stonehenge, or feasting on onion rings or eclairs, I hope you have an enjoyable day!
~Kathy
Mmm….eclairs and onion rings on the same day! There goes my diet…. 😉 Thanks for the delicious post, Kathy!
You bet, Margot! So glad you could stop by. 😀
What a yummy post, Kathy! I can take or leave onion rings but OMG I love those eclairs! I especially like the mini ones you can eat in one bite. No mess, just awesomeness for your taste buds!
Those mini-eclairs are terrific! Sometimes I don’t even wait for those to defrost. As to onion rings…sometimes I’m in the mood for them, and sometimes not. I hate it when you bit one, and all of the onion comes out. Onion straws – the bite-sized version of onion rings – are absolutely heavenly. 😀
Oooh, yes, they’re so good frozen!
I think there should be a national day to celebrate fresh home-baked bread. And on that day all the kiddies should be taught how to bake their own bread so when they grow up they’re not dependent on over-processed supermarket bread, bred (hurhur, sorry) for longevity rather than taste.
Great idea, Deborah! No yoga mats in our bread!
Love me some onion rings! Yum. And now I’m hungry Kathy. Thanks a lot. lol. 🙂
Yep, I know…I was drooling while writing the post (especially when loading the pics). I finally caved and bought eclairs for dessert for hubby and me! 😉
Coca-Cola Day. Liquid poison, but it goes great with everything!
LOL, Perry, I’m sure the company would love THAT. Coca-Cola also cleans battery acid from corroded terminals. Here are more non-edible uses: http://cleanmyspace.com/7-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-clean-with-cola/ Kind of makes you wonder why we drink it, don’t you think? 😉
I know why I drink it — nothing else has that zip! And it’s too late for me to leave an attractive corpse anyway.
😀
I don’t like onions, but I am favor of frying vegetables…as a rule.
Sadly, I apparently missed National Wine Day (May 25) and National Shrimp Day (May 10). I can’t think what else there should be…
Interesting stuff, Kathy!
Rats. How did I miss National Wine Day? 😉 I’ll have to mark that on my calendar. Thanks for stopping by, Julie!
There already HAS to be a National Mashed Potato day, right?
Salted caramel day. Peanut Butter Snickers day.
I AM digging the notion of those Parmesan cheese onion rings.
Why do I have an urge to skedaddle to the grocery store?
LOL, Gloria – you notice how it’s always the foods that are bad for us? Where’s National Brussels Sprouts Day? 😉
Okay, I’ll take the lightning flashes, but you can keep the triple by-pass on a plate. I am not a fan of onions.
Love the Stonehenge picture.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Thanks Patricia! I was going to say that everyone loves eclairs, but can you believe it – my youngest doesn’t! Something’s not quite right with that one… 😉
Oh, just great. It’s 1am and now I want eclairs and onion rings. Good thing it’s now June 23 and these food days are over!
That never stopped me, Phil… 😉
Love love the books
When is number three out??
Former educator
Brenda, thank you – I’m so glad you’re loving the books! You’ve made my day. 😉 I’m polishing #3 right now to send off to the beta readers. Just some edits after they give me feedback, and it will be out!
Also. I’ve nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. No obligation to accept, but the details are in my latest post if you’re interested. I’m always on the lookout for what you’ll post about next!
Thank you so much, Deborah! 🙂