{"id":5494,"date":"2020-05-14T13:44:57","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T17:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thinknts.com\/?p=5494"},"modified":"2020-05-14T13:44:57","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T17:44:57","slug":"may15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/may15\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s a Trifecta Holiday Today!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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International Day of Families<\/h1>\n
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Families\u2014both traditional and non-traditional\u2014are the foundation of society. Some of the most formative years of our lives are spent growing up with our families, so they should be celebrated! And today we do just that. Founded by the United Nations in 1994, The International Day of Families is observed on May 15 every year to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world. It\u2019s been around since 1994, with a different family-focused theme each year (past themes have included \u201cBuilding Families Based on Partnership\u201d and \u201cFamilies, education and well-being\u201d). So celebrate with us this year, and learn about some of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families around the world!<\/p>\n

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How to observe International Day of Families<\/h1>\n

Volunteer with your family –\u00a0<\/strong>Join in on the global celebration by working together with your family on a project to benefit the community. Need a suggestion? Try Habitat for Humanity: it’s an organization that builds houses for those in need. Build a house for a family while bonding with yours.<\/p>\n

Reflect on just what family means to you –\u00a0<\/strong>Family isn\u2019t always blood. It\u2019s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who love you no matter what. So take today to think critically about what family really means to you, and how you can get closer to the people you love. At the end of the day, family is family\u2014no matter what.<\/p>\n

Organize a community family picnic –\u00a0<\/strong>There might be many families in your neighborhood that would love to get to know one another but just haven\u2019t figured out the best way to. A picnic is the perfect occasion to bring people together! Plan icebreaker activities to get to know one another better and then enjoy a delicious potluck meal.<\/p>\n

Why International Day of Families is important<\/span><\/p>\n

It highlights the importance of family in society<\/strong> – If we have stronger families, we will have stronger schools and stronger communities. A strong family unit can help each member feel more fulfilled and better about themselves and the world. It also provides a real-life example of how the human family can work together to create a better world.<\/p>\n

It reminds you that all families don\u2019t look alike<\/strong> –\u00a0Every family is different\u2014family can be defined many different ways, and International Day of Families recognizes that. Some families consist of children; some do not. Some consist of one parent; others more than one. International Day of Families is about more than just celebrating those who share DNA with you\u2014it\u2019s about celebrating all of the people you love.<\/p>\n

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It’s an opportunity to have critical conversations<\/strong> –\u00a0International Day of Families is a time of celebration, but it’s also a time for serious conversations about some of the challenges that families around the world face. Many families are dealing with issues like poverty, lack of health care, employment, and child rearing. And today, we promote awareness and a better understanding of some of these challenges. Which one will you talk to your family about today?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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National Chocolate Chip Day<\/h1>\n

We might not know which came first \u2014 the chicken, or the egg \u2014 but when it comes to chocolate chips and their namesake cookie, the history is well-documented, and it might not be what you think. Chocolate chips actually came after the chocolate chip cookie, and despite their ubiquity, are likely younger than your grandmother (they were first marketed in 1940!). Legend has it that the chocolate chip cookie was a happy accident, born when baker ran out of baker\u2019s chocolate and opted for semi-sweet instead.<\/p>\n

The recipe spread like wildfire, and after a few years of selling their semi-sweet chocolate bars with a chopping tool (for easy chunking of the bar), Nestl\u00e9 went one step further by introducing chocolate \u201cmorsels\u201d to the world. With such a history, and with so much mass appeal, it\u2019s no surprise that this kitchen delight deserves celebration, and that\u2019s why, on May 15, we\u2019ve got National Chocolate Chip Day.<\/p>\n

National Chocolate Chip Day activities<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack the Kitchen:\u00a0Chocolate for dinner<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Most chefs know how to use tried-and-true flavor combinations to great effect, but the best chefs create new combinations altogether. Try using chocolate chips in a dinner recipe for a real challenge. If you\u2019re looking for a place to start, you might consider trying the mole recipe in the section below!<\/p>\n

How big can you bake it?\u00a0<\/strong>You probably won\u2019t approach the world record, but National Chocolate Chip Day is the perfect occasion to try your hand at baking the biggest chocolate chip cookie possible.<\/p>\n

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Art you can eat<\/strong> –\u00a0With a mix of chocolate chips, M&Ms, and some other similarly-sized chocolate candies, you\u2019re well on your way to a kid-friendly edible art project! This can get messy, though, so it\u2019s probably a project best suited for the kitchen!<\/p>\n

Why we love National Chocolate Chip Day<\/span><\/p>\n

Chocolate chips are everywhere<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0They might have been created with one purpose in mind, but chocolate chips have branched out since their early days as cookie-fillers. Nowadays, it\u2019s hard to think up a confection that hasn\u2019t donned a chocolate chip cap, whether they be pancakes, muffins, or ice cream sundaes.<\/p>\n

The choices…oh, so many choices!\u00a0<\/strong>The chocolate chips that eventually found their way into the classic chocolate chip cookie are made of semi-sweet chocolate, but in keeping with the times, they now come in a plethora of options \u2014 ranging from white chocolate, to dark chocolate, and all the way to caramel \u2014 ensuring that, no matter what you\u2019re baking, there\u2019s a place for a chip!<\/p>\n

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Big or small – We’ll eat them all.\u00a0<\/strong>Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies, no matter the size. They could be small (so long as there\u2019s enough to have more than one!), or they could be massive, as in the case of Immaculate Baking\u2019s 40,000 pound Guinness Record breaker, but regardless of size, they\u2019re sure to draw a crowd. The fact that chocolate chips were used to break the record of world\u2019s largest cookie is only a testament to their universality, and it\u2019s safe to say that they\u2019ll always have a space on the shelf of any baker.<\/p>\n

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National Pizza Party Day<\/h1>\n

Having a blast on National Pizza Party Day is no pie-in-the-sky idea. Pizza\u2019s the very definition of a good time and your May 15 options are plentiful. Whip up something at home or head out to a wild pizza place for food and fun on the third Friday in May.<\/p>\n

Although mainly thought of as an Italian dish, pizza has seemingly existed forever. The ancient Greeks used to flavor their flatbread with oils, herbs, and cheese, while Persian soldiers used to bake their own pizzas on the hot surfaces of their shields. Traditional pizza is also known as Neapolitan pizza, and it originates\u2014as the name suggests\u2014from Naples, around the middle of the 16th century.<\/p>\n

Italian immigrants later introduced the dish to their new American compatriots, and eventually, pizza became the savory crowd-pleaser we know it to be today.<\/p>\n

National Pizza Party Day activities<\/span><\/p>\n

Throw your own pizza party<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0What better way to bond with your friends and meet new people than by inviting them to your place and feeding them pizza? You can decorate your place with pizza-themed decorations \u2014 after all, you\u2019re celebrating a national holiday \u2014 and put together pizza-themed party games. If you\u2019d like to serve other food in addition to pizza, that\u2019s entirely up to you.<\/p>\n

Make your own pizza<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Haven\u2019t you ever wanted to make your own pizza crust? To knead the dough into a circle and toss it into the air, just like the pros do? You can either buy ready-made pizza dough or you can mix your own\u2014there are plenty of recipe books to help you. Don\u2019t stress if you don\u2019t get the spin right the first time. All the best things in life \u201cknead\u201d practice.<\/p>\n

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Do a “pizza crawl”<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0If you\u2019ve ever wondered where to find the best pizza in town, today is the perfect day to do it. Gather up a group of friends or go solo. Find out where you can get a pizza in your area, and go out on the town. You can carry a notebook or you can freewheel it, but the most important thing is to have a good time and eat some great pizza.<\/p>\n

Why we love National Pizza Party Day<\/span><\/p>\n

Pizza is\u00a0<\/strong>delicious<\/b><\/span><\/span>\u00a0–\u00a0There is something about the combination of standard flavors\u2014sauce, cheese, spices and herbs\u2014that is fundamentally appealing to us. At the same time, the recipe is so basic that it allows for endless experimentation and innovation. (Whatever your stance on whether pineapple should belong on pizza or not, you have to give folks points for creativity).<\/p>\n

Pizza complements a party perfectly <\/strong>–\u00a0Pizza is a finger-food by default, which has the effect of making any atmosphere feel more easy and comfortable. People tend to have the most fun when they feel comfortable around others, so pizza can help create the perfect atmosphere for any party. And if that party happens to be a pizza party\u2026well, that\u2019s just a bonus.<\/p>\n

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Its the ultimate multicultural food <\/strong>– John Green once said that \u201cfor almost all of human history, pizza was impossible.\u201d Pizza as we know it today requires ingredients from very disparate corners of the world. As we mentioned before, tomato sauce wasn\u2019t used on pizza until trade routes were established between Europe and the Americas. Modern pizza requires creativity and collaboration between people of very different backgrounds\u2014and the result is delicious.<\/p>\n

Original International Day of Families article can be found here<\/a><\/p>\n

Original National Chocolate Chip Day article can be found here<\/a><\/p>\n

Original National Pizza Party Day article can be found here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

International Day of Families Families\u2014both traditional and non-traditional\u2014are the foundation of society. Some of the most formative years of our lives are spent growing up with our families, so they should be celebrated! And today we do just that. Founded … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsroom"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5494"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5551,"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5494\/revisions\/5551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keyweb1.com\/nts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}