🔥 The Weekly Sizzle: Food, Fun, & Festivities
September 6 – September 12, 2025
From frosty shakes to sizzling schnitzel, this week’s food holidays are a skillet-lover’s dream. Let’s fire it up.
🍨 National Coffee Ice Cream Day (9/6)
Origin: Coffee ice cream has been around since at least the 19th century, with early recipes appearing in European cookbooks. This day celebrates the perfect marriage of bold coffee flavor and creamy sweetness.
Cast Iron Connection: While you won’t churn ice cream in a skillet, you can make a warm brownie or blondie base in cast iron, then crown it with a generous scoop of coffee ice cream for a hot-and-cold dessert that wakes up your taste buds.
💬 What’s your ultimate hot-and-cold dessert combo?
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🍂 National Acorn Squash Day (9/7) / National Salami Day (9/7) / National Beer Lover’s Day (9/7)
Origin:
Acorn Squash Day honors the sweet, nutty winter squash cultivated in North America for centuries.
Salami Day began in 2006 thanks to a Virginia-based salami appreciation club.
Beer Lover’s Day tips a pint to one of the world’s oldest beverages, dating back over 7,000 years.
Cast Iron Connection: Roast halved acorn squash cut-side down in a cast iron skillet for caramelized edges. For salami, crisp slices in the skillet to top flatbreads or salads. And for beer lovers—use a malty brew to deglaze your skillet after searing brats or pork chops.
💬 Which pairing wins—squash & butter, salami & cheese, or brats & beer?
🍞 National Date Nut Bread Day (9/8)
Origin: Popularized in the U.S. during the 1920s and ’30s, date nut bread became a tea-time staple thanks to its natural sweetness and hearty texture.
Cast Iron Connection: Bake it in a cast iron loaf pan for even heat and a golden crust. Serve warm with salted butter—or go bold and griddle slices in your skillet for a caramelized breakfast treat.
💬 Nuts in bread—love it or leave it?
❤️ National “I Love Food” Day (9/9) / National Wiener Schnitzel Day (9/9) / International Box Wine Day (9/9)
Origin:
I Love Food Day is a catch-all celebration for culinary joy.
Wiener Schnitzel Day honors Austria’s iconic breaded veal cutlet.
Box Wine Day nods to the 1965 Australian invention that made wine more portable and affordable.
Cast Iron Connection: Pan-fry schnitzel in a shallow cast iron skillet for even browning. Pair with a crisp white wine—boxed or bottled—and maybe finish with a skillet dessert to keep the “I Love Food” theme going strong.
💬 What’s your go-to “I Love Food” meal?
đź“ş National TV Dinner Day (9/10) / National Ants on a Log Day (9/10)
Origin:
TV Dinner Day marks the 1953 debut of Swanson’s frozen meals, which revolutionized weeknight dining.
Ants on a Log Day celebrates the kid-friendly snack of celery, peanut butter, and raisins.
Cast Iron Connection: Recreate a “TV dinner” from scratch—roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans—all in separate cast iron pieces for a nostalgic but elevated meal. For ants on a log, toast the celery briefly in a dry skillet for a warm twist before filling.
đź’¬ What was your childhood TV dinner favorite?
✝️ National Hot Cross Bun Day (9/11)
Origin: Traditionally eaten on Good Friday in many countries, hot cross buns date back to at least the 14th century in England. This day gives them a second spotlight outside of spring.
Cast Iron Connection: Bake them in a cast iron baking dish for a soft interior and golden crust. Brush with a spiced glaze while still warm for maximum aroma.
💬 Glaze before or after baking—what’s your move?
🥤 National Chocolate Milkshake Day (9/12)
Origin: Milkshakes began as alcoholic eggnog-like drinks in the late 1800s, evolving into the ice cream-based treat we know today by the early 20th century.
Cast Iron Connection: While the shake itself is blender territory, you can make a skillet-baked cookie or brownie to serve alongside—or crumble into the shake for texture.
💬 Thick shake or thin shake—where do you stand?
Closing Thoughts
From the cool creaminess of coffee ice cream to the frothy joy of a chocolate milkshake, this week’s lineup is a reminder that food holidays are invitations to play with flavor. Your cast iron can roast, sear, bake, and caramelize its way through every one of them—turning simple observances into memorable meals.
📸 Show us your skillet magic: Tag @castironskilletguy on Instagram and let’s see how you celebrate.
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