Celebrate sardines on Nov. 24. Photo: Photos in the Sunset, Flickr.
Excuses for culinary celebrations range from tame (National Sunday Day, Nov. 11), to obvious (National Turkey Day -- you guessed it, Thanksgiving Day), to practical (National Leftovers Day follows Turkey Day), to downright bizarre (Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day, Nov. 9). So get cooking -- if only for the holidays that you can stomach.
Notable national food holidays for the month of November, after the jump...
- National Deep-Fried Clams Day, Nov. 1: Not exactly sure how this summer treat more associated with beach ventures and flip-flops came to get shoved into this chilly month, but we're happy to savor the battered seafood of summer year-round.
- National Candy Day, Nov. 4: They were presumably outbid by National Candy Apple Day to stake their claim on Halloween. It's suspected parents are keeping the holiday under wraps from sugar-grubbing kids everywhere.
- National Nachos Day, Nov. 6: Celebrate National Nachos Day with some chile con queso -- or go with the ever-successful TexMex Rotel - Velveeta combo, heaped with cilantro, red onion, black beans and radishes.
- National Scrapple Day, Nov. 9: Though the Pennsylvania Dutch may cherish the meaty monster that is scrapple, it's unlikely that this hog-offal holiday garners national appeal.
- Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day, Nov. 9: It's presumed the folks behind this one may have paired with scrapple to monopolize the date, but it's good that Americans fearful of scrapple are offered other culinary options.
- National Pizza With Everything Day (Except Anchovies), Nov. 12: Not sure why anchovies were targeted with such animosity, but we'll take pizza with all the toppings any day of the week.
- National Indian Pudding Day, Nov. 13: With the approach of Thanksgiving, we'll give thanks for the nod to the Native American treat that involves molasses and cornmeal.
- National Fast Food Day, Nov. 16: Although a quarter of Americans eat fast food every day, we're OK with indulging once in a while -- though fast food chains hardly need the promotion.
- Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day, Nov. 19: This is another one that's arguably celebrated daily by most Americans, who on average consumer 597 cans of soda a year.
- National Sardines Day, Nov. 24: Alas, this one will probably never hit the big-time -- sardines are a tough sell. But if anyone can market them it's Mario Batali with these Stuffed Sardine Sausages.
- National Stuffing Day, 4th Thursday of the month: It has yet to be determined if this celebration refers to the bread-melee in the turkey or the voracious gluttony of the day; but it's fair to assume both are indulged in with popularity on this day.
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