So the festive holiday season (I’m talking about Christmas and New Year’s) has officially ended, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find excuses to celebrate and indulge in delicious food. Seriously, there’s no lack of food holidays in this country, where we celebrate anything from Nutella to tortilla chips because why not? Maybe when you’re finished with the last hurrah, you’ll even create your own holiday.
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February 1: National Baked Alaska Day
Baked Alaskas combine three amazing desserts: cake, ice cream and meringue. Of all desserts, this one is most rewarding when homemade. There are hundreds of recipes for beginner cooks and intermediate cooks, and just as many variations like meyer lemon baked Alaska. If you’re planning to have a baked Alaska party (why not?), consider making individual cakes to easily pass out.
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February 5: National Chocolate Fondue Day
More chocolate covered everything, please. On February 5, remember to go to a fondue restaurant or make some high quality chocolate fondue at home. If you’re feeling extra festive, go all out and make fondue out of different varieties of chocolate. Ever wanted to make fondue out of dark chocolate with chili? Now’s the time. While you’re experimenting with chocolate, toss up your fondue accompaniments with some non-traditional foods to dip it in. Think cheese, pretzels, and bacon.
Image from Eataly.com
February 5: World Nutella Day
On World Nutella Day, let’s pretend that Nutella is really healthy and indulge. There are tons of recipes on the Internet to get you through the day, so you can have Nutella everything (even risotto). But one thing to remember, it’s World Nutella Day, so don’t buy the knockoffs — splurge on the real thing. You can always make a copycat Nutella recipe on another holiday.
Photo by Dan Dao
February 7: Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
This holiday is the first Saturday of month, so it changes each year, but this year, it’s on the 7th. This is the easiest holiday to celebrate, just eat ice cream for breakfast. Go all out and build a sundae bar in the morning (no one is judging you, it’s Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day). And, if you’re feeling healthy, make one-ingredient banana ice cream. Bonus points if you try one of these crazy flavors of ice cream or make it yourself (without an ice cream maker).
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February 16: National Almond Day
Finally, a holiday that is associated with a healthy food. Bake some treats with almond flour, sip on almond milk, and add almond butter to everything. You can make tons of healthy meals with almonds, but if you want to treat yourself, make some almond butter chocolate chip cookies.
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February 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
On National Chocolate Mint Day, act like chocolate mints really do make your breath smell better and eat a 5-lb bag of them (not literally) or use it to garnish your desserts (or mint chocolate chip ice cream). Since it’s Girl Scout season, order as many boxes of thin mints as you can, and if you’re afraid that a girl scout will judge you for ordering 50 boxes, you can now order the cookies online.
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February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
Salsa is kind of healthy, right? Celebrate this holiday with a bowl of tortilla chips and your favorite dip. Maybe even do a taste test with different brands of tortilla chips and different types of dips. For lunch, make some delicious tortilla soup with homemade tortilla chips, and for dinner make some simple dips to pair with your chips.
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February 26: National Pistachio Day
If you got way too excited for National Almond Day and you’re sad to see it end, don’t worry because National Pistachio Day is another nutty holiday for you to celebrate. For lunch, make some pistachio grapefruit salad and on a sweet note with pistachio ice cream. Maybe even spend the day watching some pistachio advertisements from last year’s Super Bowl.