Summer’s not over yet! Enjoy the best of summer with a huge hunk of watermelon. I can find many reference to August 3 being Watermelon Day, but no origin behind the holiday. I usually discount these types of holidays but who can resist a watermelon? Celebrate with this lovely recipe for Melon with Prosciutto Ham and Grilled Chicken from the Watermelon Promotion Board.

INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon raspberry vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh chopped mint leaves
Mix all ingredients and let chill for at least one hour.

For individual salad:
4 thin slices cantaloupe, rind removed
4 thin slices honeydew melon, rind removed
4 thin slices watermelon, rind and seeds removed
3 thin slices prosciutto ham
1 grilled chicken breast*, cut into thin slices
Salad greens in bite-size pieces

For grilled chicken breast:
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:
Grill chicken breast. While grilling, baste chicken with mixture of honey, oil and lemon juice.

Combine mustard, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper in a stainless steel bowl. Place bowl over a pot of boiling water and blend ingredients until sugar dissolves. Slowly whisk in oil. Dressing should be warm. Add watermelon, cucumber and onion to dressing and toss gently.

Arrange greens, melons, ham and chicken on a large salad plate and drizzle with vinaigrette

A relatively new holiday, Ka Hae Hawai?i day was first proclaimed by the governor of Hawaii in 1990. It celebrates the flag of the island state which is called Ka Hae Hawai?i. The flag has eight stripes representing the eight islands of Hawaii and the Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom. While this may seem strange in a US state flag, the design comes from an 1843 incident where a British navy took control of the islands and demanded that all Hawaiian flags be removed and the Union Jack put up in its place. This seems like it would not endear the Union Jack to Hawaiians but what happened next did. British Admiral Richard Thomas heard of the takeover and took action. He came to Hawaii and restored the kingdom of Kamehameha and said that all people of the Pacific Islands should be treated with respect and dignity. A ceremony was held on July 31, 1843 where all Hawaiian flags where raised to their rightful place.

Ka Hae Hawaii Chant (excerpt)

O ‘oe ho’i e ka Hae e welo nei
Thou art the Flag a-waving
Ka pua hanohano o Hawai’i e
The dignified symbol of Hawai’i
Ua kau ia mai e Kamehameha nui
Appointed by Kamehameha the Great
Me ka Ihe i ka lima, a me ka ikaika pu,
With spear in hand, with accompanying strength
E welo ‘oe ma Hawai’i me Ni’ihau e ho’omalu pu
Wave thou from Hawai’i to Ni’ihau and protect
Malo iho o kou mau eheu,
Under thy (spreading) wings
E ikea’i ka maluhia o Hawai’i nei,
That Hawai’i be peacefully known
E kona Mo’i a Maka’ainana pu
By her King and Common people

One of the great things about holidays is the interesting stories behind them. While many have a world-wide scope, some of the most interesting have a very local angle. Take Rain Day in Waynesburg, Pa., where a simple bet on the weather started a tradition that has lasted 134 years. It all started when farmer Byron Daly mentioned to the owner of Daly & Spraggs Drug Store that it always rained on his birthday, July 29. Mr. Daly was a betting man and started to take wagers on the probability of rain. The bet was normally for a new hat, and because it did normally rain July 29 he amassed a lot of hats. The betting tradition was handed down through Daly’s family where it continued to attract attention, and hats. Someone suggested that the hats be sold at auction for charity and a new event and holiday was born.

Christopher Columbus may have “discovered” Puerto Rico in 1493, but it took until 1952 for the island to ratify their own constitution. This gave the people of Puerto Rico some much deserved stability after long periods of strife and war. They were a main part of the Spanish-American War and were invaded by the United States on July 25, 1898. After the Spanish defeat in the war, the island was ceded to the US in a package deal along with Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam.

In 1947, the U.S. granted Puerto Ricans the right to democratically elect their own governor. In 1950, the U.S. Congress granted Puerto Ricans the right to organize a constitutional convention via a referendum. A Constitution was written and formally adopted on July 3, 1952, becoming effective on July 25. Today that date is celebrated as Constitution Day and is a state holiday. Celebrate with that most traditional Puerto Rican side dish, Tostones (Fried Plantains).
INGREDIENTS
1 cup vegetable oil for frying
3 plantains, peeled and sliced into 1-inch pieces
salt to taste
garlic powder to taste
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place a few plantain slices in the oil, and cook until lightly golden in color, about three minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining slices.
While the plantain slices are still warm, place them one at a time between two sheets of wax paper, and flatten by hand to 1/4 inch thick. Return flattened slices to the skillet, and continue frying until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and season with salt and garlic powder. Serve with a side dish of garlic sauce.

With all the controversy surrounding the Mormon Church this year, members are probably looking forward to July 24, the day they celebrate the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. All of Utah will celebrate in some way, as the day is a state holiday called Pioneer Day. The focus for many is on the establishment of the area by Young and his followers, who picked the location for its remoteness. His group was being forced to leave their eastern settlements and they wanted a place of peace to practice their religion.

Today the event is celebrated with the Days of ‘47 Parade, a three-hour extravaganza in Salt Lake City. According to the groups organizers, “This trek of the early Utah pioneers exemplifies the courage, foresight, and faith that continue to inspire modern-day pioneers.” after the parade many families celebrate with picnics and watch the fireworks at night.

Oh, those wacky math folks. We have mole day on Oct. 23, Pi Day on March 14 and now Pi Approximation Day on July 22, to celebrate the International version 22/7.

There are many ways to celebrate pie day, but let’s assume you’ll go with the time honored tradition of making a pie! I’ve stumbled across the easiest pie crust recipe yet, so here’s a great base for any fruit pie you can imagine.

2 cups flour
1 cup butter flavored Crisco
about 1/4 cup ice-cold water

Put the flour and Crisco in a food processor and mix until well blended. As the processor works, start adding the cold water until the dough forms a nice ball. You may need to add more flour to get the consistency you want. You can put this dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour and then roll out, or press into the bottom of a pie plate. I usually have enough for the bottom of a pie and strips for a crisscross top, perfect for fruit pies.

Trying to put the past behind them and mold a better future, the government of Singapore created Racial Harmony Day. The date was chosen in remembrance of racial riots that took place on July 20, 1964. That day was the start of a violent time in the area, with Chinese and Malaysian groups turning against each other. The riots exposed serious racial tension, leading to Singapore’s secession from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965.

Today, Singapore hosts many activities design to foster goodwill among various groups. Centering on schools and students, the Ministry of Education hopes to create a new generation of toleration.

Día del Amigo, or Friend’s Day, is a holiday held in the Spanish-speaking countries of Argentina and Uruguay. The date was chosen to honor the United States Apollo 11 space mission, which successfully landed the first man on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The holiday’s founder, Argentine teacher, musician, and dentist Enrique Febbraro, said the landing on the moon was a world-wide event and the astronauts made friends out of everyone. Though not a national holiday, it has gained popularity in recent years, so much so that many restaurants are filled with friends catching up and phone lines are jammed.

On July 18, 1936 the first Weinermobile rolled off the General Motors assembly line and right in the hearts of kitzsch lovers everywhere. It was first thought up by Karl G. Mayer, nephew of the company’s founder, who had the idea of introducing a 13 foot long hot dog on wheels. Soon, it was seen driving through the streets of Chicago, promoting OSCAR MAYER® “German Style Wieners”. Today there are six Weinermobiles on the road at various times.
Celebrate with Kraft’s own Summertime Spicy Hot Dogs.
INGREDIENTS:
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 CLAUSSEN Kosher Dill Pickle Spears, chopped
3 Tbsp. chopped onions
4 pepperoncini peppers, sliced
2 Tbsp. GREY POUPON Spicy Brown Mustard
5 OSCAR MAYER Wieners
5 hot dog buns, partially split

DIRECTIONS:
PREHEAT grill to medium heat. Mix all ingredients except wieners and buns until well blended; set aside.
GRILL wieners 7 to 9 min. or until heated through (160°F).
PLACE wieners in buns; top each with about 2 Tbsp. of the tomato mixture.

Vive la France! July 14 is Bastille Day, honoring those who stormed the same-named prison in 1789, triggering the French Revolution. There may have only been 7 prisoners on site that day, but capturing the Bastille was a signal to Louis XVI that the people would no longer tolerate his arbitrary power. In fact, the Bastille was a strong symbol of that power, as it was a prison that normally held inmates selected because the king did not agree with their political stance.

Bastille Day was a new beginning for the French and led to the country forming a new republic. Like the United State’s Independence Day, it features pride in country above all, with flags and celebrations centering on thing that are uniquely French (of course their are fireworks!) Other countries join in the fun with Bastille celebrations world-wide. In my area, which is near Philadelphia, Bastille Day is celebrated at the Eastern State Penitentiary, with Marie Antoinette declaring “Let them eat TastyKakes!” as they throw over 2,000 Butterscotch Krimpets from the prison’ medieval towers. Of course there’s a mock execution later, though it is a real, functioning guillotine. for more information on great things to do in Philly, go to GoPhila.com.

To celebrate with your family, try this extremely easy and very French Poulet Nicoise.

INGREDIENTS:
1 - 3 to 4 pound chicken, cut into serving pieces
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp. thyme
Salt
Black pepper
5 Tbl. olive oil
1/2 lb. chopped lean salt pork
2 onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled, minced
5 tomatoes, quartered
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup Nicoise olives
1/2 cup chopped parsley

DIRECTIONS:
Rinse and dry the chicken pieces. Sprinkle with lemon juice, thyme, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salt pork and sauté for 5 minutes. Push the salt pork to the side and add the chicken pieces. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove all meat with a slotted spoon. Add the onions and reduce the heat. Sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, and wine. Stir, and cook for 10 minutes, uncovered. Return the meat to the pan and cook for 40 minutes, basting frequently with pan juice.

Just before serving, remove the bay leaves and add the olives. Sprinkle with parsley.