National Something on a Stick Day (March 28)
Check out the weird holiday National Something On a Stick Day on March 28. Learn the history of this holiday & get ideas on how to celebrate.
One weird holiday on March 28 is National Something on a Stick Day. Check out the other weird March holidays!
March 28th is a day like no other on the culinary calendar—it’s National Something on a Stick Day. On this whimsical and delicious day, we celebrate the ingenious idea of skewering various foods onto sticks, transforming them into portable, flavorful delights. From savory kebabs to sweet treats, National Something on a Stick Day invites us to embrace the fun and creativity of eating on a stick.
In this gastronomic journey, we’ll explore the origins of this delightful holiday, discover the diverse world of foods on sticks, uncover the cultural significance of skewered delights, and offer delectable ideas for celebrating this unique occasion.
The Origins of National Something on a Stick Day
While the specific origins of National Something on a Stick Day are unclear, it’s safe to say that this whimsical holiday emerged as a celebration of the creative and convenient concept of skewering food onto sticks. Skewering food has been a culinary practice in various cultures for centuries, making it a tradition that transcends time and borders.
Skewers were likely one of the earliest cooking tools used by humans. Historically, they were made from materials such as wood, bamboo, or metal and served a practical purpose in roasting meat over open flames. Over time, skewering food became an art form, with different cultures infusing their unique flavors and cooking techniques into this culinary practice.
National Something on a Stick Day falls on March 28th each year, providing the perfect opportunity to explore the world of foods on sticks and embrace the delightful simplicity of this dining experience.
The Diverse World of Foods on Sticks
One of the remarkable aspects of National Something on a Stick Day is the sheer variety of foods that can be skewered and enjoyed. From appetizers to desserts, here are some of the delicious options that grace our tables on this day:
Savory Delights:
- Kebabs: Perhaps one of the most iconic skewered dishes, kebabs feature marinated meat (such as chicken, beef, or lamb) and vegetables cooked to perfection.
- Satay: A Southeast Asian favorite, satay consists of skewered and grilled meat, typically served with a flavorful peanut sauce.
- Corn Dogs: A beloved fairground classic, corn dogs are hot dogs coated in a cornmeal batter and deep-fried to golden perfection.
- Shish Tawook: A Middle Eastern delight, shish tawook includes marinated and grilled chicken chunks, often served with garlic sauce and pita bread.
- Anticuchos: Hailing from Peru, anticuchos are skewered and marinated beef hearts, grilled to smoky perfection and served with spicy sauce.
- Vegetable Skewers: Vegetarians can delight in skewered vegetables, often accompanied by flavorful marinades and dips.
Sweet Indulgences:
- Cake Pops: These bite-sized treats feature crumbled cake mixed with frosting, shaped into balls, and coated in chocolate or candy.
- Fruit Kabobs: A healthy and refreshing option, fruit kabobs showcase an array of colorful fruits, making them visually appealing and delicious.
- Marshmallow Kebabs: Perfect for roasting over a campfire, marshmallow kebabs offer a fun and gooey treat.
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: Plump strawberries dipped in luscious chocolate make for a decadent and elegant dessert.
- Ice Cream Bars: Frozen treats on a stick, such as ice cream bars and popsicles, provide a cool and satisfying way to indulge in sweet delights.
- Churros: These deep-fried dough sticks are dusted with sugar and cinnamon, creating a crispy and irresistible treat.
Cultural Significance of Skewered Delights
Skewered foods hold cultural significance around the world, reflecting the diverse culinary traditions of different regions. Here are a few examples of how skewered delights are celebrated in various cultures:
- Japanese Yakitori: In Japan, yakitori consists of bite-sized pieces of chicken skewered and grilled to perfection. It’s a popular street food and izakaya (Japanese pub) dish.
- Brazilian Churrasco: Brazil’s churrasco tradition involves skewering various cuts of meat and grilling them over an open flame. It’s a central element of Brazilian barbecue culture.
- Indian Seekh Kebabs: Seekh kebabs are a beloved Indian dish featuring minced meat (often lamb or chicken) mixed with spices and herbs, molded onto skewers, and cooked in a tandoor or on a grill.
- Thai Moo Ping: Moo ping is a Thai street food favorite consisting of skewered and grilled marinated pork, often served with sticky rice.
- Greek Souvlaki: Souvlaki is a Greek classic, featuring small pieces of marinated meat (usually pork, chicken, or lamb) skewered and grilled, then served in pita bread with toppings and sauces.
- Turkish Döner Kebabs: Döner kebabs involve skewering seasoned meat (typically beef or chicken) onto a vertical rotisserie. The meat is thinly sliced as it cooks and served in sandwiches or over rice.
Ways to Celebrate National Something on a Stick Day
National Something on a Stick Day offers a delightful opportunity to get creative in the kitchen, experiment with flavors, and indulge in skewered delights. Here are some ways to celebrate this culinary adventure:
- Host a Skewer-Making Party: Invite friends or family over for a skewer-making party. Provide an array of ingredients and marinades, and let everyone create their skewer masterpieces. Grill or bake them to perfection and enjoy the delicious results.
- International Skewer Night: Explore global flavors by creating a diverse menu of skewered dishes from different countries. Sample satay from Southeast Asia, yakitori from Japan, and shish tawook from the Middle East, among others.
- Family-Friendly Fun: Get kids involved in the kitchen by preparing kid-friendly skewers. Consider creating fruit kabobs, marshmallow kebabs, or colorful vegetable skewers.
- Skewer-Style Desserts: Experiment with dessert skewers by assembling cake pops, chocolate-covered strawberries, or frozen banana pops.
- Outdoor BBQ: Fire up the grill for an outdoor barbecue featuring savory skewers. Whether it’s classic kebabs or exotic variations, grilling adds a delightful smokiness to skewered dishes.
- Food on a Stick Buffet: Set up a “food on a stick” buffet with a variety of skewered foods, dips, and sauces. Guests can assemble their ideal skewer combinations.
- Visit a Food Festival: If possible, attend a local food festival or fair where you can savor a wide range of skewered delights, from corn dogs to churros.
- Cooking Class: Take a cooking class focused on skewered dishes to learn new techniques and recipes. It’s an opportunity to expand your culinary skills and knowledge.
National Something on a Stick Day invites us to embark on a culinary adventure filled with flavors, creativity, and delightful surprises. Whether it’s savoring savory kebabs from the Mediterranean, relishing sweet cake pops at a birthday party, or enjoying any of the countless foods on sticks from around the world, this day encourages us to embrace the fun and convenience of eating on a stick.
As we celebrate National Something on a Stick Day, let us savor the diverse and delectable world of skewered delights. Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a novice in the kitchen, this day is a reminder that culinary exploration can be both delicious and imaginative. So, pick up a skewer, assemble your favorite ingredients, and embark on a culinary journey that’s bound to be both flavorful and fun.
Ideas for National Food on a Stick Day
Sliced Caramel Apples on a Stick
Sliced Caramel Apples on a Stick: Such a fun and easy way to make caramel apples for more variety and an easy way to enjoy a caramel apple pop on National Food On A Stick Day.
Easy Antipasto Wreath - Festive & Tasty!
This easy Antipasto Wreath is made with ready-to-eat ingredients and is simple to customize for National Food On A Stick Day using your favorite Italian snack foods!
Spanish Gildas Recipe: The Original Basque Pintxo
If you want to travel to San Sebastian on National Food On A Stick Day without leaving your kitchen, then this Spanish gilda recipe is for you! The original pintxo (a Basque-style tapa), it is so-called after the Rita Hayworth movie of the same name because it of its “spicy” nature.
Frozen Banana Fudge Pops
Both kids and adults will LOVE these frozen banana fudge pops on National Food On A Stick Day! Frozen bananas are coated in melted dark chocolate and sprinkled with your favorite toppings.
Tofu Satay Recipe
Make your own tofu satay on National Food On A Stick Day with this easy recipe! This is the most delicious tofu ever and the magically rich and delicious peanut dipping sauce pushes this high protein vegan appetizer to epic status.
Watermelon Feta Salad Skewers are easy and refreshing.
These Watermelon Feta Skewers are an amazing mix of sweet and salty. They are a perfect party appetizer for National Food On A Stick Day and whip up quickly and deliciously to serve friends and family.
Fruit and Waffle Kabobs
Fresh fruit shish kabobs with delicious Kellogg’s Eggo Thick & Fluffy Blueberry Waffles and an easy to make blueberry syrup. Everyone loves fresh fruit especially paired with Eggo Thick & Fluffy Waffles, you will have a beautiful and tasty National Food On A Stick Day breakfast!
Turkish Lamb Shish Kebab Recipe
A delicious, tender and flavoursome lamb shish kebab that tastes just like your local Turkish takeaway! This easy recipe for National Food On A Stick Day can be made in the oven or grill.
Corn Pops Treats
This Corn Pops treats recipe is a fun twist on classic Rice Crispy treats. Try making this easy marshmallow snack on National Food On A Stick Day with your favorite cereal!
Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs
Here’s a recipe for simple Grilled Lamb Kofta Kebabs made with onion and spices and then shaped and skewered. They are a grain-free and paleo entree for National Food On A Stick Day!
Greek Yoghurt Ice Pops with Cherries and Lavender
These ice pops are refreshing, delicious, healthy, with no preservatives or additives, without any artificial colour or aroma and only 61 calories each. The perfect healthy treat for National Food On A Stick Day!
Air Fryer Chicken Kabobs
Chicken kabobs in air fryer are a quick and wonderful appetiser or main course on National Food On A Stick Day. They taste just like grilled skewers and are done much faster.
Chef Salad on a Stick Appetizers
Chef salad on a stick turns your favorite salad into gluten free appetizers! For a National Food On A Stick Day picnic, lunchbox, or a fun party food, put away the bowls and forks and enjoy your Chef Salad on a Stick.
Red Velvet & White Chocolate Cake Pops
Red velvet cakes are noted and loved for their moist texture and eye-catching color. The creamy icing on top creates a taste and texture like no other. Made with buttermilk, vinegar and a bit of cocoa powder for National Food On A Stick Day, this cake’s flavor hovers somewhere between vanilla and chocolate, but fully in the tasty category.
Moroccan Beef Kebabs
Moroccan beef kebabs may just become your new favorite dinner for National Food On A Stick Day! They’re perfect for a summer dinner, straight from your grill. Flavored with earthy spices, this is a dinner to love.
Easy Candy Apples
These easy candy apples make a delicious treat for National Food On A Stick Day. This recipe makes the BEST candied applies. If you have always wanted to know how to make candy apples on a stick, this is for you!
Easy Chicken Skewers Appetizer
Easy chicken skewers appetizers are soaked in a jerk seasoned mix and served with delicious herb dipping sauce. Make them in the oven year round or cook them on the grill in the summer. They’re perfect for an appetizer party or dinner party.
Grilled Scallop Skewers in Citrus Garlic Smoked Butter Sauce
Perfect for National Food On A Stick Day, these grilled scallop skewers are elegant and delicious. The delicate scallops are flavoured with garlic, cilantro and orange for maximum taste and they’re served with a delectable citrus garlic smoked butter sauce. This is a great recipe for your pellet smoker or Traeger grill. You will love making these tasty BBQ seafood kebabs on the grill.
Pancake Skewers
Silver Dollar Pancake Skewers are a fun way to serve up the breakfast classic on National Food On A Stick Day! Because pancakes are great, but pancakes on sticks are even better.
Paneer Satay (Air Fryer, Baked, and Grill Instructions)
If you're looking for something different to try for dinner on National Food On A Stick Day, then this Paneer Satay with Peanut Sauce is it!! Flavorful paneer cheese is tossed in a tasty, easy, seasoning mix, then cooked to crispy golden perfection and served with the tastiest peanut sauce for dipping.
The Best Grilled Beef Kofta Kebab Recipe
A simple, yet flavorful Beef Kofta Kebab, perfect for National Food On A Stick Day, grilling outdoors, and sharing with family and friends. A healthy and filling meal when served with some rice pilaf, and fresh salad.
Shrimp Corn Dogs with Creamy Chipotle Dip
Shrimp Corn Dogs with Creamy Chipotle Dip are a seafood twist on the regular corn dog. Served with a creamy dipping sauce that complements the ‘dog’ perfectly. Your National Food On A Stick Day menu is taken to a whole new level with this fun food. If you love fried shrimp, these will blow your mind, they are so good!
Yogurt Dipped Frozen Banana on a Stick
Yogurt Dipped Frozen Banana on a Stick is covered with Greek yogurt then sprinkled with some favorite dessert toppings. Frozen bananas are easy and super fun to make for National Food On A Stick Day with your kids.
Mexican Grilled Chicken Hearts With Citrus Marinade
A simple and delicious way to serve meaty, iron-rich hearts on National Food On A Stick Day... Mexican Grilled Chicken Hearts With Citrus Marinade soaks in Mexican spices and orange, lime, and lemon juices, and spends only a few minutes on the grill!
Tandoori Paneer Tikka - 3 Different Cooking Methods
This is the best Tandoori Paneer Tikka you’ll ever make at home! Same restaurant style taste, but making them in the Air Fryer .These spiced, marinated paneer cheese skewers are flavor packed treat you’ll love as a snack or for National Food On A Stick Day, the upcoming Super bowl, or any get-togethers. A delicious vegetarian appetizer perfect for entertaining.
Cakesicles
These cakesicles are a cute and fun treat for National Food On A Stick Day and are surprisingly easy to make. Perfect for birthdays or change them up to suit your special occasion.
Pinchos (Puerto Rican Chicken Skewers)
Pinchos are just your simple meat-on-a-stick meal for National Food On A Stick Day, but these tender bites are super delicious. Get ready to grill one of the most popular street foods out of Puerto Rico… Pinchos De Pollo!!
Shish Kebabs {Beef or Chicken Marinade}
Get a load of how easy these Shish Kebabs are to whip up with tremendous flavors, slow marinated into the meat – beef, chicken or pork! The catch? They need to hang out in the marinade, but that is what makes entertaining on National Food On A Stick Day so easy: make ahead dishes!
Filipino Barbecue Pork Skewers
These succulent Filipino Pork Barbecue grilled pork skewers are marinated in a delightful blend of sweet and savory ingredients. The addition of lemon-lime soda adds a unique twist to the recipe that makes it both tender and delicious! Perfect for National Food On A Stick Day and sure to please everyone.
Loaded Tot Kabobs Appetizer Recipe
Are you ready for some football? Or maybe just a fun meal on a stick for the kids on National Food On A Stick Day? These loaded tot kabobs will fill both of those needs.
Easy Grilled Steak and Potato Kabobs
Simple to make Steak and Potato Kabobs are a wonderful quick and easy dinner option. They can be ready in a flash on the grill. Succulent and juicy steak and flavorful caramelized potatoes are perfect for National Food On A Stick Day or any night dinner, they are for the meat and potatoes lover!
Easy Chicken Satay Recipe with Homemade Peanut Sauce
This easy Chicken Satay recipe features tender, juicy, and flavorful marinated grilled meat paired with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. No worries if you don’t have a grill or grill pan; you can also cook the chicken in the oven or in an air fryer for National Food On A Stick Day!
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple
You need just one word to describe succulent bites of Bacon Wrapped Pineapple: Irresistible. Fresh chunks of pineapple are dipped in maple syrup with a spicy kick of cayenne pepper, then coated in brown sugar, wrapped in bacon and roasted until the bacon is crispy and the pineapple is hot and caramelized. Tangy, sweet, smoky, and salty, your poor taste buds won’t know what to focus on first when you give them a try on National Food On A Stick Day.
Grilled Mango Skewers
Cubed mango is marinated in honey and dark rum for some Caribbean flair and then lightly charred on the grill for National Food On A Stick Day. With these grilled mango skewers, you get a hit of that warm, fruity, tropical mango flavor with a touch of spice from the ginger and sweetness from the rum and honey. The grill marks turn out crispy and caramelized, adding an extra depth of flavor and texture.
No Bake Cake Pops
These healthy No Bake Cake Pops are melt in your mouth good with a creamy white chocolate shell, sprinkles, and no oven or cake mix required. You'll love these no bake cake pops for National Food On A Stick Day, birthdays, spring parties, or a fun treat that will easily in the freezer for a couple months.
PB&J Pinwheel Sandwich Kabobs
These PB&J Pinwheel Sandwich Kabobs are such a cute kids’ lunch idea for National Food On A Stick Day! Classic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are reinvented as easy roll-ups, then skewered together with gorgeous fresh fruit. A creative school lunch box recipe they’ll love.
Take-Along Watermelon Skewers with Feta and Mint Pesto
These take-along watermelon skewers with feta and mint pesto dressing are a quick and easy appetizer or snack for your next National Food On A Stick Day outdoor gathering, BBQ or picnic! Enjoy these delicious and healthy watermelon skewers on a hot summer day!
Mediterranean Antipasto Skewers
Mediterranean Antipasto Skewers are always a crowd pleaser at a National Food On A Stick Day party. They are colorful and offer your guests a wide variety of flavors and textures; from the turkey to the olives, to the fresh mozzarella balls. These are sure to brighten up any holiday spread!
Rainbow Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
These Rainbow Grilled Vegetable Kabobs are totally beautiful and are perfect for company on National Food On A Stick Day because they look so impressive.
Magic Wand Rice Krispie Treats
Brace yourselves for a snack that’s as magical as it gets – introducing Magic Wand Rice Krispie Treats! These fun treats are like something straight out of your favorite fairy tale or an out-of-this-world outer space adventure. Whether you’re planning a National Food On A Stick Day party, a wizard themed party, or a cosmic journey through the galaxy for someone who loves outer space, these treats are here to sprinkle a little edible magic into your celebrations.
Bacon on a Stick - Snack Appetizer Dessert Low Carb Keto Gluten Free
Salty, crunchy, delicious and so very simple. Bacon on a stick! Is it street food? Is it a snack? An appetizer? A dessert? Or maybe it is just a little slice of Heaven for National Food On A Stick Day. This quick and easy snack is a sure way to please a crowd.
Greek Salad Kabobs Appetizer
These healthy kabobs are perfect for your next party! Grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese are skewered and drizzled with a delicious greek salad dressing. These kabobs are easy to make and sure to be a hit with your guests! So if you're looking for a healthy appetizer for National Food On A Stick Day that is sure to please, look no further than this Greek Salad Kabobs Appetizer!
Spaghetti and Meatballs on a Stick
Makes 40 spaghetti and meatballs on a stick for National Food On A Stick Day.
"Caramel" Apple Skewers
These “Caramel” Apple Skewers are a healthier version of caramel apples since the drizzle serves as a source of healthy fats and protein, and they are much easier to make too! You could even set up a DIY caramel apple bar and customize the toppings! Such a cute, fun and healthy appetizer or snack, perfect for those National Food On A Stick Day parties and gatherings!
Grilled Cheese on a Stick Recipe
Get the list of the 20 best grilling cheeses out there for a healthy snack or a summer bbq and learn more about all things cheesy and charred. From halloumi cheese to queso fresco, find out about the ins and outs of grilling cheeses on National Food On A Stick Day with a bonus recipe for grilled cheese on a stick at the end!
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