17 February

NATIONAL CABBAGE DAY  (I like cabbage any way it's prepared.) 

National Cabbage Day on February 17th recognizes a delightful garden staple that provides some of the best recipes for the Celtic holidays coming up next month. It's an excellent day to test your corned beef and cabbage skills alongside other delicious seasonal dishes. 

National Cabbage Day

From the French caboche, meaning head, cabbage comes in a variety of forms. The cabbage family is quite varied  and includes Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, kohlrabi and kale. Cabbage is an ancient food with origins in Asia Minor (Turkey today) and the eastern Mediterranean.

French explorer Jacques Cartier was the first to bring cabbage to the Americas.

When selecting a cabbage, the head should be firm and dense. The fibrous leaves of a healthy cabbage should be shiny and crisp with no browning or bruising.

Cabbage is versatile and can be eaten raw, steamed or sautéd.  A popular ingredient in Asian, German, Irish and Latin recipes, it's a culturally diverse food. Having low calories (6 per leaf) makes cabbage a popular diet food as well.  It has no fat or cholesterol, is low in sodium and carbs, and is a good source of Vitamin C.

How to Observe National Cabbage Day

• Bring out your favorite cabbage recipes.
• Wrap up pigs in a blanket or eat cabbage fresh.
• Make some delicious soup or vegetable wraps.
• In some areas of the country, you may be able to start planning your garden. Will you be planting cabbage this year? It's time to decide on the variety you want to plant. Imagine all the goodness you can then make in your kitchen!
• No matter how you celebrate, be sure to invite someone to join you. Share your delicious creations with friends and family. If you don't have a recipe to share, we've found several tasty ones to try.

National Cabbage Day History

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this vegetable holiday. We have yet to find the creator of the day under any cabbage leaf, newspaper article or proclamation. 

Cabbage FAQ

Q. Can cabbage be eaten raw?
A. Yes. Cabbage can be eaten raw. The leaves are much denser than lettuce giving it a nice crunch. It has a peppery flavor that is also satisfying.

Q. Do lettuce and cabbage go well together in a salad?
A. Yes. You can combine a variety of lettuces with cabbage to make a salad.

Q. Can I freeze cabbage?
A. Yes. The best process is to blanch the leaves first. Once cooled, seal in an air-tight container. Frozen cabbage is best in cooked meals such as soups and casseroles.

Q. How many calories are in cabbage?
A. One cabbage leaf contains about 6 calories.

If you love cabbage, you'll love celebrating National Corned Beef & Cabbage Day in March.

 Also

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Presidents' Day

 

Today's Thought

Find people who will make you better. ~ Michelle Obama

 

 

31 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain