Celebrate Fall Holidays with Melissa’s!
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Back-to-school is going to be a little different this year. Because of COVID-19 and the new Delta variant, some schools are postponing in-school classes and opting for online home-schooling. With summer vacation officially ending and the school year starting, parents and kids are adapting to this new way of learning. Teachers are preparing for online lessons, and those who may be going back to their classrooms are getting social distancing rules in place. Face masks, six feet apart and partitioning has become the new norm. Most kids get ready for school with a special class supply list, a backpack, and new clothes to start the new school year. This may or may not happen, depending on the school. With kids and families eating at home more often, nutritious homemade snacks and lunches will help get kids through the day.
One of our favorite snack trends is our bite-size CLEAN SNAX®. These are delicious, wholesome bites that are gluten-free, low-fat, low-sodium and contain no artificial ingredients. All ten flavors are also vegan! They come in several addicting flavors, perfect for lunch boxes or after-school snacks! Some favorite flavors are: Peanut Butter, Almond, Banana and Cacao, Matcha, Hatch Pepper and Holiday Spice! All delicious!
Edamame is gaining popularity as a lunchbox favorite. We offer these delicious and nutritious peas in the pod or out. Fresh carrots and light ranch dip are also a favorite, along with sugar snap peas, broccoli florets and teardrop tomatoes. Try slicing some fresh baby cucumbers; they are refreshing and low-calorie, too. Fresh fruit cut into cubes makes a perfect addition to lunch, plus it adds natural energy to fuel your child’s day. Sliced apples with low-fat cheese or even low-fat caramel are also a perfect snack.
Get creative with polenta, quinoa or couscous by adding fresh vegetables and a light balsamic vinaigrette for a filling, healthy and nutritious lunch. Whatever you prepare and send to school, make sure you pack it well and make it fun and appetizing so your child will eat it!
LABOR DAY
Labor Day originated in 1894 with President Grover Cleveland. Labor Day began as a protest with the railroad workers back in the day, because the workers wanted better pay. Since this was an election year, President Cleveland believed making Labor Day a holiday would help win him votes — even though he was not re-elected. The holiday is still celebrated today.
Today, Labor Day is a nationwide holiday; generally, there is no school and the banks and post office are closed! This year, Labor Day is Monday, September 6. With social distancing rules coming and going, family get-togethers may or may not take place, but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the day at home with your immediate family. Fall is very near, and, in some areas, the weather is already turning. If you are lucky enough to have barbecuing weather, be sure to try some of our favorite grilling items. Fresh peppers, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables make wonderful grilling items to enhance your family barbecue.
FIRST DAY OF FALL
September 22, 2021 is the first day of fall. For many of us, that means trees turn beautiful colors and the season of pomegranates, fresh apples and squash is upon us. Halloween is right around the corner and cold weather recipes will be popular. Some of the most popular fall vegetables are Melissa’s Pearl Onions and Winter Squash.
Cold weather cooking ingredients like our Steamed Lentils or Steamed Red Kidney Beans are perfect for soups and stews. Use our Cleaned & Sliced Leeks to add a mild onion flavor to any dish. Make your favorite chili recipe our Six-Bean Medley in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Be sure to check out some of our favorite fall recipes for soups and stews here.
JEWISH HIGH HOLY DAYS
The Jewish High Holy Days are observed during the 10-day period between the first day (Rosh Hashanah) and the 10th day (Yom Kippur) of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most important of all Jewish Holidays, and the only holidays that are purely religious, as they are not related to any historical or natural event.
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri. This year, it begins September 6 at sundown and concludes September 8 at sundown. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet-tasting foods. Rosh Hashanah begins a 10-day period, known as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im, a time of penitence and prayer that ends with Yom Kippur. Jews worldwide are given these 10 days to repent for their sins and ask G-d for forgiveness.
Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Year’s Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning: it is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. This year, it is September 15 at sundown and concludes September 16 at sundown. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers.
"May you be inscribed in the Book of Life" is the common greeting during this period, as it is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by G-d in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur, the Book is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year.
High Holy Day Fruits and Vegetables
Most of the foods eaten during Rosh Hashanah represent a sweet future: Carrots, Raisins, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Pomegranates, Prunes and Honey.
These are some of the more popular items eaten, as nothing should be sour or bitter: Leeks, Onions, Beets, Turnips, Quince, Gourds, Anise, Pumpkins and Zucchini.
Some other items used in preparing traditional Rosh Hashanah dishes are: Squash, Yams, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Nuts, Grapes, Plums, Lemons, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Herbs, Pineapples and Apricots.
Some convenient holiday essential ingredients in ready-to-go packages are our Beets, Leeks, Lentils and Potatoes. These will save you time and make your recipes delicious!
Back-to-school is going to be a little different this year. Because of COVID-19 and the new Delta variant, some schools are postponing in-school classes and opting for online home-schooling. With summer vacation officially ending and the school year starting, parents and kids are adapting to this new way of learning. Teachers are preparing for online lessons, and those who may be going back to their classrooms are getting social distancing rules in place. Face masks, six feet apart and partitioning has become the new norm. Most kids get ready for school with a special class supply list, a backpack, and new clothes to start the new school year. This may or may not happen, depending on the school. With kids and families eating at home more often, nutritious homemade snacks and lunches will help get kids through the day.
One of our favorite snack trends is our bite-size CLEAN SNAX®. These are delicious, wholesome bites that are gluten-free, low-fat, low-sodium and contain no artificial ingredients. All ten flavors are also vegan! They come in several addicting flavors, perfect for lunch boxes or after-school snacks! Some favorite flavors are: Peanut Butter, Almond, Banana and Cacao, Matcha, Hatch Pepper and Holiday Spice! All delicious!
Edamame is gaining popularity as a lunchbox favorite. We offer these delicious and nutritious peas in the pod or out. Fresh carrots and light ranch dip are also a favorite, along with sugar snap peas, broccoli florets and teardrop tomatoes. Try slicing some fresh baby cucumbers; they are refreshing and low-calorie, too. Fresh fruit cut into cubes makes a perfect addition to lunch, plus it adds natural energy to fuel your child’s day. Sliced apples with low-fat cheese or even low-fat caramel are also a perfect snack.
Get creative with polenta, quinoa or couscous by adding fresh vegetables and a light balsamic vinaigrette for a filling, healthy and nutritious lunch. Whatever you prepare and send to school, make sure you pack it well and make it fun and appetizing so your child will eat it!
LABOR DAY
Labor Day originated in 1894 with President Grover Cleveland. Labor Day began as a protest with the railroad workers back in the day, because the workers wanted better pay. Since this was an election year, President Cleveland believed making Labor Day a holiday would help win him votes — even though he was not re-elected. The holiday is still celebrated today.
Today, Labor Day is a nationwide holiday; generally, there is no school and the banks and post office are closed! This year, Labor Day is Monday, September 6. With social distancing rules coming and going, family get-togethers may or may not take place, but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the day at home with your immediate family. Fall is very near, and, in some areas, the weather is already turning. If you are lucky enough to have barbecuing weather, be sure to try some of our favorite grilling items. Fresh peppers, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables make wonderful grilling items to enhance your family barbecue.
FIRST DAY OF FALL
September 22, 2021 is the first day of fall. For many of us, that means trees turn beautiful colors and the season of pomegranates, fresh apples and squash is upon us. Halloween is right around the corner and cold weather recipes will be popular. Some of the most popular fall vegetables are Melissa’s Pearl Onions and Winter Squash.
Cold weather cooking ingredients like our Steamed Lentils or Steamed Red Kidney Beans are perfect for soups and stews. Use our Cleaned & Sliced Leeks to add a mild onion flavor to any dish. Make your favorite chili recipe our Six-Bean Medley in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Be sure to check out some of our favorite fall recipes for soups and stews here.
JEWISH HIGH HOLY DAYS
The Jewish High Holy Days are observed during the 10-day period between the first day (Rosh Hashanah) and the 10th day (Yom Kippur) of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most important of all Jewish Holidays, and the only holidays that are purely religious, as they are not related to any historical or natural event.
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri. This year, it begins September 6 at sundown and concludes September 8 at sundown. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet-tasting foods. Rosh Hashanah begins a 10-day period, known as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im, a time of penitence and prayer that ends with Yom Kippur. Jews worldwide are given these 10 days to repent for their sins and ask G-d for forgiveness.
Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Year’s Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning: it is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.
-
It is the Day of Judgment:
As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and ask for forgiveness for their sins. -
It is the Day of Shofar Blowing:
The Shofar (the ram’s horn) is blown in the temple to herald the beginning of the 10-day period known as the High Holy Days. -
It is the Day of Remembrance:
As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel. -
And of course, it is New Year's Day:
Celebrated with its holiday greeting cards, special prayers and festive, sweet foods to ensure sweetness in the New Year.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. This year, it is September 15 at sundown and concludes September 16 at sundown. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers.
"May you be inscribed in the Book of Life" is the common greeting during this period, as it is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by G-d in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur, the Book is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year.
High Holy Day Fruits and Vegetables
Most of the foods eaten during Rosh Hashanah represent a sweet future: Carrots, Raisins, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Pomegranates, Prunes and Honey.
These are some of the more popular items eaten, as nothing should be sour or bitter: Leeks, Onions, Beets, Turnips, Quince, Gourds, Anise, Pumpkins and Zucchini.
Some other items used in preparing traditional Rosh Hashanah dishes are: Squash, Yams, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Nuts, Grapes, Plums, Lemons, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Herbs, Pineapples and Apricots.
Some convenient holiday essential ingredients in ready-to-go packages are our Beets, Leeks, Lentils and Potatoes. These will save you time and make your recipes delicious!
