Sep 30, 2023
October is National Pizza Month
Important Pizza Holidays and Celebrations
Friends & family understand..
THIS is why my social calendar is so full
Pizza Holidays and Celebrations:
National Pizza Week
Second week in January
National Pizza Day
February 9th
National Deep Dish Pizza Day
April 5th
National Pizza Party Day
May 17th
Pizza Margherita Day
June 11th
National Cheese Pizza Day
September 5th
National Pepperoni Pizza Day
September 20th
National Pizza Month
October
National Beer & Pizza Day
October 9th
National Sausage Pizza Day
October 11th
World Pizza Makers Day
October 25th
Did I miss any? If so let me know and I'll add it to the list.
Sep 25, 2023
1975 Jack in the Box Bendable Buddies Fast Food Toys







There was a nice run of Jack in the Box items made throughout the 70s. I own a few more vintage Jack in the Box items and will make sure to showcase them very soon, so stay tuned. If you too were a fan of the old Jack in the Box characters, or had an affinity for other fast food icons of the era, let me hear about them in the comment section below.
Sep 22, 2023
Spooky Season Snacks and Treats
I tried to stay strong this week with my eating habits, but have waivered a bit. You see, this is traditionally the start of my eating season. Oktoberfest is near, fall and pumpkin beers are being released left and right, October is National Pizza Month, and Spooky Season brings with it a host of deliciousness. Here's the stuff that reeled me in and got me to open my wallet this week..
Sep 20, 2023
National Pepperoni Pizza Day - September 20th
That's right, it's once again National Pepperoni Pizza Day! I personally celebrated at lunch with a huge Sicilian Slice.
I dined on this monster slice at Pizza Ponte, located at Disney Springs. The slice was perfect as always, and of course hit the spot. Did you get a chance to celebrate National Pepperoni Pizza Day this year?
You still have time, or you can always celebrate later. In my book, it's always Pepperoni Pizza Day somewhere.
Sep 17, 2023
Oktoberfest Pizza
It's nearing that time of year again friends.. Oktoberfest! Want to incorporate some pizza into your Oktoberfest celebrations this year? It's easy to make German themed pizza, and you're only limited by your imagination.
Check out this little Oktoberfest inspired pizza I threw together. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but was quite surprised with the results.
Basically it's homemade dough with a 50/50 olive oil & stone ground mustard sauce for a base, mozzarella cheese, authentic beer bratwurst & knockwurst I found at ALDI. Finally, I added some Sauerkraut for the last two minutes of the bake.
The cheese actually toned down the sauerkraut a wee bit, softening some of its punch. It truly was an enjoyable pizza to eat. You get all of the flavors from eating grilled Brats w/sauerkraut, presented atop a nice light pizza crust.
Something else I may try in the future, is to add an egg wash to the crust for browning, and sprinkle some course salt to mimic a pretzel.
I also might try using a beer cheese for the sauce base. With a cheese base, I may even try using some sautéed shredded cabbage rather than Sauerkraut. Some strips of schnitzel may work nicely with the cheese sauce base as well.
It was fun making this pizza and I look forward to tweaking the recipe in the future. When I do, I'll make sure to share the results here.
Sep 15, 2023
Racoon and Possum running through my mind
Sometimes when there was a lull in the conversation, he would entertain me by yodeling, whistling, and singing old songs. Many of those songs are permanently burned into my brain, and often manifest themselves when I think of dear old granddad. However, there's one song in particular that I often whistle and hum to this very day.
Throw them 'simmons down
A "simmon" aka persimmon, is a wonderful fruit that somewhat resembles a tomato in color and shape. The varieties I remember eating, kind of mimicked a plum in flavor. My Grandfather used to sing a song about them that I used to love, and it went like this..
Possum in the 'simmon tree, Racoon on the ground..
Racoon shouts to the possum, throw them 'simmons down.
Throw them Simmons down.. throw them 'simmons down..
Racoon shouts to the possum, throw them 'simmons down.
That's all there was to it.. a catchy little tune that always made me giggle and laugh. Every last detail about the way my Grandfather used to sing it, is permanently housed in my data banks. I can still vividly recall the way we held his pitch, tone, and even the speed he sang it.
I never thought much about the origin of this song, but always assumed he picked it up somewhere in the south. I decided to do a little research on the song, as well as persimmon trees, and was amused at the info I came across online. It's apparently well documented that possums love persimmon trees and their ripened persimmon fruit, as do racoons. I was elated to find the title and full lyrics to the song my Grandfather used to sing to me. Here's the skinny..
Possum's tail goes bare,
Rabbit's got no tail at all
Just a little old bunch of hair.
He rambles through the dark,
You ought to see him hunt his den
When he hears Old Ranger bark.
Raccoon on the ground,
Raccoon says to possum,
"Won't you shake them 'simmons down."
'Coon in the holler,
Possum in the 'tater patch,
Fat as he can waller.
Raccoon's got a bushy tail,
Possum's tail goes bare,
Rabbit's got no tail at all
Just a little old bunch of hair.
Seeger. Seeger released 28 songs and stories about animals on two short LP
records in 1955. The only instrument played in the song was a banjo, which gives me some added insight as to why my Grandpa loved the song so much.
It doesn't surprise me that Grandpa's version of the song is so different from the official version above. Grandpa most likely sung the song as he remembered it, or wanted to remember it. He got a real kick out of singing it, so maybe it was his favorite verse. That's how old folk songs and stories are sometimes. Liberties are taken with them, and the changes end up sticking over the years. I'm just happy the verse Grandpa used to sing, was in tact enough for me to dig up some history on this song.
In the end I'm more partial to Grandpa's version, but it was very satisfying to learn the history behind the song that we both loved so much.
By the way.. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Smithsonian Folkways for providing me with some back history, and links to buy "Racoon's got a bushy tail" and many other great folk songs written by Pete Seeger.