August 29, 2021 – National Chop Suey Day | National Lemon Juice Day

Have You Ever Tried Using Lemon Juice For This…?

Welcome to August 29th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate odds and ends and all the ways we love lemon.

Alan Davidson calls the origin of chop suey a prime example of culinary mythology.  It is believed that the name means “assorted pieces” and this name fits the hodge podge of myths surrounding its creation.  Though the Chinese don’t claim the dish, they are usually at the heart of its stories, which go back as far as the 1860s.  A Chinese chef in San Francisco was reportedly called upon to serve something to drunken miners after hours.  He had nothing fresh to offer, so he combined leftovers and served a makeshift meal.  It went over so well that the customers demanded a name for this dish and he supposedly replied, “chop suey,” which means odds and ends.  On National Chop Suey Day, celebrate the delicious combination of flavors that piece together our love of Chinese cuisine.

The sunny yellow citrus fruit that brightens our ice tea and drinks turns out to be mighty useful around the house.  Did you know that lemon juice freshens your garbage disposal and takes the stains out of your sink?  Of course we know that it prevents apples from browning, but did you know it works on veggies too?  Try the same trick on cauliflower or give wilted lettuce a lift by soaking it in water with the juice of a lemon.  It can also brighten hair and fingernails and can be used in place of deodorant.  Of course it still tastes great in lemonade, which is probably the best use of all.  On National Lemon Juice Day, celebrate the multipurpose wonder of this mighty little fruit. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.


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