Posted on 02/25/2025 5:50:01 AM PST by Red Badger
NATIONAL CLAM CHOWDER DAY
Each year on February 25th people across the nation have a bowl and spoon ready to be filled with clam chowder as they prepare to participate in National Clam Chowder Day.
#NationalClamChowderDay
A clam chowder in its simplest form is a soup or stew containing clams or fish. The most common type of chowder includes milk or cream as well as potatoes, though the Manhattan clam chowder has tomatoes.
The origin of the word "chowder" is up for a little bit of debate. The French word for cauldron is "chaudiere." The English word "jowter" means fish peddler. Both are on the hook for possible origins.
In chowder, along with the clams, it is common to find diced potatoes, onions (often sautéed with pork or bacon drippings) and celery.
Following is a list of the basic clam chowder variants:
New England clam chowder
Manhattan clam chowder
Rhode Island clam chowder
Delaware clam chowder
New Jersey clam chowder
Hatteras clam chowder
Minorcan clam chowder
Long Island clam chowder
Puget Sound clam chowder
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CLAM CHOWDER DAY
Make your region's best clam chowder. Better yet, have a clam chowder taste-off!
Invite friends and family to cook up a variety of chowders from all over the country and try them all.
Let us know which one you liked best. Maybe you'll find a new appreciation for chowders.
Use #NationalClamChowderDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL CLAM CHOWDER DAY HISTORY
While we dig for the origins of this piping hot holiday, we don't mind if we have another serving or two to keep us warm. How about you?
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Notable Birthdays for February 25
Emma Catherine Embury (1806-1936) - A pioneer of American women in literature who wrote under the pen name "Ianthe."
James Bowen 91808-1886) - Major General for the Union Army.
George Washington Cullom (1809-1892) - Brevet Major General for the Union Army.
Zeppo Marx (1901-1979) - Comedian and one of the five famous Marx Brothers.
Perry Miller (1905-1963) - Historian author and academic who was a co-founder of the field of American Studies.
Howard Zahniser (1906-1864) - Environmental activist who is considered the father of Wilderness Act.
Mary Locke Petermann (1908-1975) - Biochemist who helped discovery the molecular complexes that carry out protein synthesis in animal ribosomes.
Jim Backus (1913-1989) - Actor fondly remembered for his character as Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island.
Ralph Stanley (1927-2016) - Banjo player and lead singer of the country band The Stanley Brothers.
Larry Gelbart (1928-2009) - Creator and producer of M*A*S*H and the Broadway hit City of Angels.
Bob Schieffer (1937-Still Living) - Political author and journalist.
Karen Grassle (1942-Still Living) - Actress who is best remembered as Caroline Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie.
Lee Evans (1947-2021) - Olympic gold medalist who set world records in the 400 meters and the 4 × 400 meters relays.
Sean Astin (1971-Still Living) - Actor who played Mikey Walsh in The Goonies and Samwise in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Memorable Events for February 25
1751 - The first performing monkey exhibit is held in NYC.
1836 - Samuel Colt is granted a patent for his revolver firearm.
1862 - The First Legal Tender Act 1862 passes putting the $1 bill into circulations.
1870 - Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS) becomes the first Black to sit in Congress.
1879 - Congress passed the first Timberland Protection Act.
1901 - The U.S. Steel Corporation is organized under J. P. Morgan.
1957- Buddy Holly and the Crickets record That'll Be the Day.
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NATIONAL CHOCOLATE-COVERED NUT DAY
National Chocolate-Covered Nut Day on February 25th recognizes the delicious and crunchy snack drizzled, covered, dunked, or smothered in chocolate. The possibilities are endless with so many different types of nuts and chocolate combinations.
#ChocolateCoveredNutDay
For thousands of years, nuts have been a staple of the human diet. The walnut was a favorite of the ancient Greeks and Romans, while Native Americans favored pecans.
Both chocolate and nuts can be good for you. Dark chocolate possesses a substantial amount of antioxidants, while the nuts contain essential fatty acids and linolenic acids. For the most part, the fats in nuts are unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated fats. Nuts also provide arginine, a substance that may help make the walls of the arteries more flexible and less prone to blockage from blood clot formation. Many nuts are good sources of vitamins E and B2 and are rich in protein, folate, fiber, and essential minerals, such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium.
The first chocolate-covered peanut candy was Goobers, originally sold in 1925. The word “Goober” was a common slang word for peanut.
One of the more recognized chocolate-covered nuts is the M & M. These chocolate-covered peanuts or chocolate-covered almonds have become a favorite of many. The peanut M & M was introduced in 1954. They were tan until 1960 when the colors red, yellow, and green were added to production.
HOW TO OBSERVE CHOCOLATE-COVERED NUT DAY
Eat a chocolate-covered nut.
Visit your favorite candy or chocolate shop and pick up some chocolate-covered nuts.
Make chocolate-covered nuts at home.
Give a gift of chocolate-covered nuts.
Have a taste test using different nuts and different chocolates.
Use #ChocolateCoveredNutDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE-COVERED NUT DAY HISTORY
While we continue to seek the origins of this day, we're not withholding any reward. Chocolate, with or without nuts, is a staple snack in the National Day Calendar offices. That doesn't mean we won't stop looking for the founder of the day. It just means, it might be helpful if the answer was at the bottom of a bag of Brach's chocolate-covered peanuts.
Chocolate-Covered Nut FAQ
Q. Do nut clusters count on this holiday?
A. Yes. Nut clusters are chocolate-covered nuts in small patty or clusters. They sometimes include other ingredients like caramel or nougat.
Q. What other kinds of food get covered in chocolate?
A. Many goods taste delicious covered in chocolate. For example:
Pretzels
Potato Chips
Fruit
Coffee Beans
Cookies
Bacon
Caramel
Donuts
Graham Crackers
Ice cream
Marshmallows
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February 25th Celebrated History 1836 William Austin Burt received patent no. 9,428 for the invention of the solar compass. While surveying iron-rich land that would soon become the Wisconsin Territory, the American innovator and surveyor continually had troubles with his magnetic compass. His invention of the solar compass solved the problem. Also known as an astronomical compass would become the standard of the surveying trade.
1857 Among the rules and regulations adopted by the Convention of Base Ball Clubs, it is agreed that a game consists of nine innings to each team. A tie score continues the game, granting an equal number of innings to each team until one earns a majority of runs, thus concluding the game. Before the 1857 rules, play continued until 21 "aces" or runs were attained.
1870 Hiram Rhodes Revels is sworn into the United States Senate representing Mississippi. He is the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress.
1930 Do you have that on file? Thanks to George Lewis McCarthy's invention the Checkograph, patent no. 1,748,489, banks made photographic records of checks before returning them to their customers. Kodak would later purchase McCarthy's patent and apply the product to other archival systems such as libraries and newspapers, beginning with the New York Times. And so began the era of microfilm.
1940 The New York Rangers toppled the Montreal Canadiens at home in Madison Square Gardens during the first televised hockey game. NBC won the honors to air the 6-2 win on the ice.
1951 Buenos Aires hosted the opening ceremonies of the first Pan American Games.
1964 In a technical knockout, Cassius Clay claims the world heavyweight boxing title from Sonny Liston in the seventh round.
February 25th Celebrated Birthdays
Pierre Auguste Renoir - 1841
The French Impressionist painter was known for his real-life scenes in Paris. He also worked along with other accomplished Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet.
Ida Lewis - 1842
Lighthouses hold a fascinating charm for many people. They collect them, plan vacations so they can tour as many of them as possible. A lighthouse carries a wealth of history and symbolism. From the day it was erected, it stands as a torch lighting the way and protecting ships from the shores. Idawalley Lewis was the lighthouse keeper at Lime Rock Light in Newport, Rhode Island, for 32 years, and before that, she lived there with her parents who were the lighthouse keepers before her. Throughout her lifetime, even as a child, she kept an alert eye on the sea and those in danger. As a result, Ida rescued 36 people from the ocean's depths and her rescues began at the young age of 12 years old.
Ida Noddack - 1896
In 1925, the German chemist and physicist along with her husband Walter Noddack and Otto Berg discovered rhenium, atomic symbol Re. In 1925, the German chemist and physicist along with her husband Walter Noddack and Otto Berg discovered rhenium, the atomic symbol Re. Since the silvery-white metal withstands corrosion, it's used industrially for electrical contact material and filaments for a variety of uses such as flash photography, ovens, and medical imaging.
Anthony Burgess - 1917 The prolific British author and playwright is best known for his dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange. However, Anthony Burgess also dabbled in fantasy, historical fiction, comedy, short stories, and more. Some of the titles include The Pianoplayers, Any Old Iron, Abba Abba, and Nothing Like the Sun: A story of Shakespeare's Love Life.
Bob Schieffer - 1937
With a broadcast career spanning more than 6 decades, Schieffer has reported under 13 presidents. His Washington D.C. experience made him an ideal choice as moderator for several presidential debates. He's also served as an anchor for the long-running CBS broadcast Face the Nation.
George Harrison - 1943
The quiet Beatle was the lead guitarist with the Fab Four. In 1964, they successfully invaded the United States and in 1970, they parted ways. Harrison, like the other Beatles, pursued a solo career. During his career as a Beatle, Harrison wrote "Here Come's the Sun," and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
Notable Mentions
Lesya Ukrainka - 1871
Carrot Top - 1965
Sean Astin - 1971
A TWO-FER! .....................
It’s Chowder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaQKHakrVyg
Thanks for the idea. I’m going to make a Manhattan chowder today.
Great minds. That’s exactly the recipe I’m going to use.
You had me at, ‘Chocolate Covered Clams!’ *BLECH*
I’m more of an Oyster Stew Gal. We love Emeril Lagasse’s recipe for that!
https://www.emerils.com/120395/oyster-stew
I miss a LOT of things about Beau’s BFF, Randy, now having passed, but Randy would always bring me fresh Oysters in season that he got through some ‘Secret Oyster Network’ he knew about in the Midwest. He also knew when ‘The Fruit Wagon’ was coming to town and brought us Georgia Peaches in season. He’d also bring me the BEST Wild Rice whenever they were in northern MN, hunting.
The best produce Is always found the farthest away....................
New England Clam Chowder/ famous Boston restaurant, Skipjack's, recipe
Ing 1 lb. russet potatoes, peeled, cut into ½" pieces 3 8-oz bottles clam juice 2 Tbl unsalted butter 3-4 bacon slices, fine-chp 2 medium onions, or leeks, fine-chp (about 2 cups) 2 lge celery stalks, fine-chp (about 1¼ cups) 2 gar/cl, fine-chp 1 bay leaf ¼ cup flour 6 6.5-oz. cans chopped clams, drained, juices reserved 1¼ cups half-n-half 1 tsp. hot sauce K/s/p
Prepare BTB 1 lb peeled russet potatoes in ½" pieces, and three 8-oz. bottles clam juice. Reduce heat to med-low, cover/simmer til potatoes are fork-tender, 8–10 min. Remove from heat. Melt 2 Tbl unsalted butter on med. Cook/stir bacon slices til some fat has cooked out and bacon is beginning to brown, 6–8 min. Add onions or leeks, celery stalks, garlic cloves, and bay leaf. Cook/stir til onions are softened, 5–7 min. Sprinkle ¼ cup flour over; whisk to a paste. Cook, whisking often, 2 min (do not let flour brown). Whisking constantly, gradually pour in reserved clam juices. Add potato mixture, chopped clams, drained, half-n-half, hot sauce. Bring to a simmer til flavors are melded, about 5 min; offheat k/s/p.
Can do day ahead. Cool; cover and chill. Reheat on med-low, add splash of water to thin as needed.
Will take clam chowder any day, especially in a sourdough bread bowl! White or red, either one is great.
Just got some chocolate covered macadamia nuts as a gift, hard not to eat all of them at once.
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And even more important than all of that stuff; today is MY BIRTHDAY!!
Let us not forget Rhode Island Clam Chowder - not white, not red, CLEAR.
It was mentioned...............
Rhode Island Clam Cakes / go to a "RI clambake" for the best
Mix 1 1⁄2 c flour 1 1⁄2 tsp salt 1⁄2 tsp pepper 2 tsp b/powder 2 eggs, beaten 1⁄2 c milk lots of fresh-dug RI quahogs (or 6 oz can minced clams, undrained) 1⁄4 cup dried onion flakes. Fry in 325 deg oil, drain, salt and serve.
National nut chowder and chocolate-covered clam day?
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