Chuck's Chat-Welcome to June 2021!

We sloshed and splashed our way through the merry month of May. And now, not any too soon, comes the eventful month of June.

June 1st starts us off with World Milk Day, and appropriately so as June is designated as National Dairy Month. While not every country and culture drinks milk, the vast majority enjoy dairy and many have made it a key element of their cuisine. Some of the countries where milk is most popular include Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden, while milk is not a widespread beverage in North Korea or Liberia.

National Egg Day on June 3 finds eggs finally breaking out of their shell. The American Heart Association says healthy adults can enjoy an egg per day and easily remain within the daily cholesterol limit. Also, a single egg has only 75 calories, which is great for those looking to lose weight. And the seven grams of protein in an average egg almost makes this a superfood with a great calorie-to-protein ratio.

June 4 is National Cheese Day. History tells us that cheese has been around since livestock were first domesticated. Mozzarella is the most popular cheese and was first created near Naples from the rich milk of water buffalos. At the time, it rarely left the area as a lack of refrigeration meant it had a very short shelf life. As both cheese technology and refrigeration systems advanced, this delicious cheese left the southern region of Italy and found itself traveling around the world. There are seven types of cheese: Fresh, Aged fresh, Soft white rind, Semi-soft, Hard, Blue, and Flavor added. I’m not sure where PepperJack falls, but it’s certainly my favorite.

June 7 is dubbed National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. The earliest ice cream flavors were modeled after drinks, so chocolate came before vanilla because hot chocolate was very popular in 17th-century Europe. In fact, the first frozen chocolate recipe was published in 1692 Naples in the book “The Modern Steward”. The first chocolate covered ice cream was Eskimo Pie in 1934. Good luck finding one today, as the name was dropped last year after being deemed “derogatory”.

Here’s a few of which I hope to participate in one way or another: June 10-National Iced Tea Day, June 11-National German Chocolate Cake Day, June 12-National Peanut Butter Cookie Day, June 16-National Fudge Day, June 22-National Onion Ring Day, and June 26-National Chocolate Pudding Day.

June 20 is the first day of summer, Fathers’ Day and National Vanilla Milkshake Day. Coincidence? Sounds like a great combination to me!

God Bless America

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker