National Stuffing Day: Vegan Cornbread Stuffing, A classic Thanksgiving side—made fully plant-based. Food Safety

Vegan Cornbread Stuffing 

A classic Thanksgiving side—made entirely plant-based. Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, this familiar holiday favorite is now completely vegan. The deep cornbread flavor anchors the dish, while poultry seasoning (which contains no poultry!) delivers that nostalgic Thanksgiving aroma without chicken broth or turkey stock.

This high-fiber recipe is perfect for serving a crowd, and the cornbread can be made ahead for easy holiday prep.

Vegan Cornbread. 
Servings: 12

Yield: 6 cups

Nutrition Profile:

Nut-Free Dairy-Free High-Fiber Vegan Vegetarian Egg-Free Low-Calorie

Ingredients

• 5 Tbsp water

• 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal

• 1 ¼ cups whole-grain cornmeal

• ¾ cup white whole-wheat flour

• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• ¾ cup unsweetened plain soymilk

• 3 Tbsp avocado or canola oil

Stuffing

• 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 ½ cups chopped onion

• 1 ½ cups chopped celery

• 1 ½ tsp poultry seasoning

• ½ tsp ground pepper

• 5 cups crumbled day-old Vegan Cornbread

• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

---

Instructions

Make the Cornbread

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

2. In a small bowl, stir together water and flaxseed meal; let sit 3–5 minutes to thicken.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

4. In another bowl, whisk soymilk, oil, and the flax mixture. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

5. Pour batter into the baking dish and smooth the top.

6. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Loosely cover and let sit 1 day to dry slightly (ideal for stuffing).

---

Make the Stuffing

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring often, until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

3. Remove from heat; stir in poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.

4. Add crumbled cornbread and broth, mixing gently to moisten.

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.

6. Cover and bake 25 minutes.

7. Uncover and bake another 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp.

To make ahead

Store Vegan Cornbread, well-wrapped, at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Fillers

Almost anything can serve as stuffing. Many popular Anglo-American stuffings contain bread or cereals, usually with vegetables, herbs, spices, and eggs. Middle Eastern vegetable stuffings may be based on seasoned rice, on minced meat, or a combination. Other stuffings may contain only vegetables and herbs. Some stuffing types include sausage meat, while vegetarian stuffing sometimes contains tofu. Roast pork is often accompanied by sage and onion stuffing in England; roast poultry in a Christmas dinner may be stuffed with sweet chestnuts. Oysters are used in one traditional stuffing for Thanksgiving. These may also be combined with mashed potatoes for heavy stuffing. Fruits and dried fruits can be added to stuffing, including apples, apricots, dried prunes, and raisins. In England, a stuffing is sometimes made of minced pork shoulder seasoned with various ingredients, such as sage, onion, bread, chestnuts, dried apricots, dried cranberries, etc. The stuffing mixture may be cooked separately and served as a side dish. This may still be called stuffing, or it may be called dressing.

Food Safety

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that cooking animals with a body cavity filled with stuffing can present potential food safety issues. These can occur because when the meat reaches a safe temperature, the stuffing inside can still harbor bacteria (and if the meat is cooked until the stuffing reaches a safe temperature, the meat may be overcooked). For turkeys, the USDA recommends cooking stuffing/dressing separately from the bird and not buying pre-stuffed birds. (Stuffing is never recommended for turkeys to be fried, grilled, microwaved, or smoked). The turkey's internal temperature must reach a safe minimum of 165 °F. Check the temperature in the thigh, the innermost part of the wing, and the thickest part of the breast.

Resources
1. Stuffing, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes, EatingWell

World Children's Day - Resources from Around the World

2025 Theme:   "My day, my rights"

with an emphasis on amplifying children's voices to ensure their rights are heard and respected. This theme, promoted by UNICEF, highlights the importance of children's self-expression and participation in decisions that affect them.

World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places today, children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded, or even denied and attacked.

Upholding children’s rights is the path to a better world today, tomorrow, and in the future.

Join us on this World Children’s Day and listen to the future.

By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world, and incorporate their priorities into our actions today.

Discover what’s happening and take part.

The future of tomorrow is the children of today.

A review of organizations dedicated to improving the quality of Children's lives. Presented through songs, news reports, mission statements, and children.

UNICEF, World Children's Day
WHO (World Health Organization)

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kids Eat Right 
We Day

Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring

Listen to the future.

Stand up for children’s rights.

 152 million children are trapped in child labor. Most of them are in agriculture. #Childlabour is depriving millions of girls and boys of their childhoods. Every child has the right to a childhood. #StopChildLabour @FAO

Love Is All | Playing For Change

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It suggested that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way that each considers appropriate. The date, 20 November, marks the day the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

In 2000, world leaders outlined Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date 2015. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children.

WHO 10 Facts On Nutrition

1. Malnutrition is a significant contributor to disease and early deaths for mothers and children. Undernutrition, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, contributes to about one-third of all child deaths and impairs healthy development. At the same time, growing rates of overweight are linked to a rise in chronic diseases. The result is a double burden of malnutrition.

2. An indicator of chronic malnutrition is stunting. This is when children are too short for their age group. About 165 million children globally are stunted, resulting from not enough food, a vitamin-mineral poor diet, inadequate child care, and disease. As growth slows down, brain development lags, and stunted children learn poorly.

3. Wasting and bilateral edema are severe forms of malnutrition - resulting from acute food shortages and compounded by illness. About 1.5 million children die annually due to wasting. Rising food prices, food scarcity in conflict areas, and natural disasters diminish household access to appropriate and adequate food, all of which can lead to waste.

4. Essential vitamins and minerals in the diet are vital to boost immunity and healthy development. Vitamin A, zinc, iron, and iodine deficiencies are primary public health concerns. About 2 billion people are affected by inadequate iodine nutrition worldwide. More than one-third of preschool-age children globally are vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children.

5. Maternal undernutrition leads to poor fetal development and a higher risk of pregnancy complications. Maternal and child undernutrition accounts for more than 10 percent of the global disease burden.

6. For healthier babies, WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, introducing age-appropriate and safe complementary foods at six months, and continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. Worldwide, about 20% of deaths among children under five could be avoided if these feeding guidelines are followed. Appropriate feeding decreases rates of stunting and obesity and stimulates intellectual development in young children.

7. Nutritional problems in adolescents start during childhood and continue into adulthood. Anemia is a critical nutritional problem in adolescent girls. Preventing early pregnancies and assuring adequate intake of essential nutrients for developing girls can reduce maternal and child deaths later and stop cycles of malnutrition from one generation to the next. Globally, anemia affects 42% of pregnant women.

8. The rise in overweight and obesity worldwide is a significant public health challenge. People of all ages and backgrounds face this form of malnutrition. As a consequence, rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diet-related conditions are escalating worldwide. These are very difficult to treat in places with limited resources and already overburdened health systems. About 43 million children under age five are overweight, according to 2011 figures. 

9. Nutrition information is required to identify the areas where assistance is most needed. WHO released international child growth standards that provide benchmarks to compare children's nutritional status within and across countries and regions. 

10. Public education is another way to improve nutritional health. Starting in China during the Beijing Olympics and continuing in other countries, WHO and the Member States will promote the "5 keys" to a healthy diet:

a. give your baby only breast milk for the first six months of life

b. eat a variety of foods

c. eat plenty of vegetables and fruits

d. eat moderate amounts of fat and oils

e. eat less salt and sugars

Resources

Kids Eat Right

In November 2010, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and ADA Foundation officially launched their first joint initiative, Kids Eat Right. The two-tiered campaign aims to mobilize ADA members to participate in childhood obesity prevention efforts and to educate families, communities, and policymakers about the importance of quality nutrition.

Mission: The Kids Eat Right campaign was launched to support public education projects and programs that address the national health concern of obesity among our children. 

To learn more about the Kids Eat Right Campaign, visit:

Website. Kids Eat Right

Facebook.  Kids Eat Right

"Raffi" (Raffi Cavoukian), C.M., O.B.C. 

Founder and Chair 
Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring

"Imagine a new idea as vital as a democracy.
Now imagine helping it spread
quickly throughout the world!
Child Honouring is one such idea,
an idea whose time has come.

 - Raffi

He is known to millions as "Raffi,"" a beloved songwriter and performer, author, ecology advocate, and founder of the Centre for Child Honouring. Child Honouring is a vision for creating a humane and sustainable world by addressing the universal needs of children.

Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring and join "the compassion revolution."

Young People Marching

Turn This World Around

Raffi's tribute to humanity's hero sprang from Mandela's call to global leaders in 2000 to turn this world around for the children. In 2001, Raffi sang this for Nelson Mandela at Toronto's Ryerson University. The song expresses the essence of Raffi's Child Honouring philosophy, a children-first paradigm for societal change. A child-friendly world enriches all of us and offers the best chance to create sustainable cultures. All children want to live in peace and to follow their dreams.

World Food Programme

As the most significant humanitarian provider of school meals worldwide, the World Food Programme ( WFP), along with governments and partners, supports education, reduces malnutrition, and promotes development, especially during crises and emergencies.

Nearly all countries worldwide have a school meals program, and about 368 million children from kindergarten to secondary school receive daily food. Governments recognize school meals as an essential tool for developing and growing children, communities, and society.

WFP provides school meals to more than 20 million children every year. But many more children do not benefit from school meals, and in countries with the highest poverty rates where school meals would make a big difference, the reach of school meal programs is far smaller. 

Schools are critical in WFP's efforts to create a world where educational and nutritional opportunities reach the hungry poor. It's where we lay the foundation for future generations to grow and thrive.

November 18, National Vichyssoise Day

Vichyssoise is a thick soup made of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and a soup stock (usually chicken). It is traditionally served cold but can be eaten hot.

Serves: 5

Ingredients
1 teaspoon canola oil
3 cups diced leek (about 3 large)
3 cups diced peeled baking potato (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1 (16-ounce) can fat-free, low-sodium vegetable (or chicken) broth
2/3 cup half-and-half
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Directions
1. Heat the canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. 

2. Add the diced leek; cover and cook for 10 minutes or until soft. 

3. Stir in the diced potato and broth and boil. 

4. Cover the potato mixture, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potato is tender. 

5. Place the potato mixture in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. 

6. Cool the potato mixture in a large bowl to room temperature.
7. Stir in the half-and-half and black pepper.
8. Cover and chill. Sprinkle soup with minced chives.

Nutrition Information

Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate, cost-effective nutritional analysis for your recipes with an extensive research database and 35 years of experience. A great service for the Recipe Bloggers, Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, and Recipe Websites. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com

954-294-6300

November 15, America Recycles Day and Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

November 15, America Recycles Day, and  

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

America Recycles Day is dedicated to promoting recycling programs in the United States. Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on November 15th to celebrate America Recycles Day.

Keep America Beautiful believes each of us holds an obligation to preserve and protect our environment. Through our everyday choices and actions, we collectively have a significant impact on our world. Keep America Beautiful takes a practical approach that unites citizens, businesses, and government to find solutions to prevent litter, reduce waste, and beautify communities.

America Recycles Day.
The four “R”s: Refuse, Reuse, Recycle, Reduce.
Get involved to help reach Zero Waste.   https://kab.org/recycling/

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

According to the U.S. EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency), recycling:
*Conserves natural resources to help sustain the environment.
*Reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.
*Saves energy and prevents pollution.

Recycle Guys in the Supermarket

How You Can Help

1. Each community has different standards for what can be recycled and how to do it. Visit Keep America Beautiful and enter your zip code for your local information and resources.

2. Plastic. Look for the recycling symbol on plastic packaging or containers. #1 and #2 plastics should be accepted by almost every recycler.

3. Cans. Aluminum and steel cans are always welcome at recycling facilities, and most metals can be recycled infinitely with no loss of quality.

4. Recycling and Traveling. Keep two trash bags in your vehicle - one bag for garbage, and one for recyclables. Pre-sorting makes it easier to transfer your recyclables to the proper container once you’ve reached your destination.

5. Recycle your wireless phone. Millions of out-of-service phones are waiting to be reused or recycled. Find a local charity with a phone recycling program, or visit http://www.kab.org/  to download a postage-paid mailing label and return your unused phones.

6. Paper. In addition to newspaper recycling, most communities will accept corrugated cardboard, and some will even accept junk mail, catalogs, and phone books.

7. Electronics. Never throw old computers, monitors, TVs, printers, or other electronics in the landfill. Instead, donate them to a local charity for reuse, or find out about your local e-cycling programs.

8. Reduce the amount of trash you throw away and reuse products before you throw them out or recycle them. This creates the least impact on the planet and our resources.

Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
Before food goes bad, consider preparing meals in advance and freezing them for later use. The food will last longer - Less Waste.

National Pickle Day - Nutrition and Pickling

                      Quick Pickles - Everyday Food with Sarah Carey

Nutrition

Cappuccino: A Taste of Art and History

Cappuccino: A Taste 

of Art & History

A cappuccino is an Italian coffee drink traditionally prepared with a double espresso and steamed milk foam. Variations of the drink involve using cream instead of milk and flavoring with cinnamon or chocolate powder. Wikipedia.

Chocolate Cappuccino, modified
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup chocolate liqueur

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 cup hot brewed espresso

3/4 cup scalded milk, 1%

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Chocolate shavings (optional)

Directions

1.         Combine liqueur and syrup in a microwave-safe dish.

2.         Heat on HIGH for 30 seconds.

3.         Divide the liqueur mixture among 4 mugs

4.         Add 1/4 cup espresso to each.

5.         Froth milk; pour about 1/4 cup milk into each mug.

6.         Top with ground cinnamon; garnish with chocolate shavings, if desired. 

Celebrate National Nachos day with Two-Cheese Veggie Nachos

Two-Cheese Veggie Nachos Recipe |

Recipe by Michelle Klug We love the double-cheese contrast here: Shredded cheese melts into a bubbly blanket over the tortillas, while crumbly queso fresco covers the veggies with a salty kick. It's an impressive dish for coffee table dining--it's fun to

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cup chopped red onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup fresh corn kernels
2 tablespoons thinly sliced jalapeño pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (14.5-ounce) can of organic black beans, rinsed and drained
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into wedges
Cooking spray
2 ounces shredded reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese (about 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup diced peeled avocado (about 1 small)
2 ounces crumbled queso fresco (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 medium tomato, diced
4 lime wedges

Instructions

• Preheat broiler to high.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add zucchini and next 5 ingredients (through salt); cook 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add beans; cook for 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
• Arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on a large jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat tortilla wedges with cooking spray. Broil 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and crisp. Sprinkle shredded Mexican cheese evenly over tortillas. Broil 1 minute or until cheese melts.
• Top chips evenly with bean mixture, avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and tomato. Serve with lime wedges.

November 1 to 7, National Fig Week Figs, Civilizations Oldest Fruit

   The Fig

      How to Plant a Fig Tree

        Nutrition Information

        Edible Recipe Art

        Fig Art
        Side Effects 

        Resources

Selection. Look for figs that are soft and smell sweet. Handle carefully, as their skin bruises easily. 
Storage. Fully ripened figs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; bring to room temperature before serving.

How to Plant a Fig Tree

Nutrition Information

Figs are rich in fiber, potassium, phytonutrients, and antioxidants, such as carotene, lutein, tannins, and chlorogenic. 

Recipe: Peach & Fig Yogurt Flower

Dried figs can be used as a substitute for fat in baked goods. When using dried figs in baking to replace shortening or oil, do not over-mix or over-bake. In a recipe, use half the normal amount of shortening, margarine, butter, or oil when using dried puree. 

Fig Art

Side Effects from WebMD
Avoid prolonged sun exposure when taking fig leaf because it can cause the skin to become extra sensitive to the sun. Wear sunblock outside, especially if you are light-skinned. 

Skin contact with fig fruit or leaves can cause a rash in sensitive people.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Fresh or dried fig fruit is safe in amounts found in food, but there’s not enough information to know if it’s safe in the larger amounts used as medicine.

Surgery: Fig might lower blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using fig as medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Resources
1. California Figs
2. Figs, Fresh, Fruits and Veggies More Matters 

3. Figs, Wikipedia® 

Sandwich Day - Use Your Creativity

 November 3rd is National Sandwich Day. The sandwich was named after John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich. In the 1700s, John Montagu created the sandwich because he wanted to eat his meal with one hand.

Resource: Build a Better Sandwich, @Healthyfamprj

 

Greatest Movie Sandwiches

November Wellness News

Current News, Resources, and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety, and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers, and Health Professionals. 

Celebrate November Produce! @produceforkids 

Monthly Events

American Diabetes Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
National Healthy Skin Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Hospice Palliative Care Month
National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
Family Stories Month
Native American Heritage Month
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
National Pet Diabetes Month
Military Family Appreciation Month
Vegan Month
National Roasting Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
Greens and Plantains Month
National Pepper Month
National Pomegranate Month
Peanut Butter Lovers Month
Raisin Bread Month
Spinach and Squash Month
Sweet Potato Awareness Month
Teff and Millet Month
PTA Healthy Lifestyle Month  

Weekly Events

1-7           National Fig Week
8-14         World Antibiotic Awareness Week
7-13         Dear Santa Letter Week 
9-15         National Split Pea Soup Week
11-15       National Young Readers Week
16-22       National Hunger & Homeless Awareness
16-23       International Fraud Awareness Week
21-27       National Farm City Week
23-29       GERD Awareness Week
23-29       National Family Week
23-29        National Game & Puzzle Week

Daily Events

1 World Vegan Day;  National Cook for your Pets Day; National Calzone Day; National Cinnamon Day; National Vinegar Day; Sausage and Kraut Day; World Chili Day; Bison Day   

2 National Deviled Egg Day; North Dakota, 39th State; South Dakota, 40th State; Daylight Saving Time Ends

3 Sandwich Day; Job Action Day

4 National Candy Day; National Easy-Bake Oven Day, Election Day

5 Medical Cannabis Day, National Stress Awareness Day  

6   National Nachos Day; Men Make Dinner Day   

7 Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

8  Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day; Montana, 41st State; National Cappuccino Day 

9  National Scrapple Day; World Freedom Day; National Greek Yogurt Day

10 Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day; Birthday; Sesame Street Premiere; National Vanilla Cupcake Day

11  National Sundae Day;  Washington, 42nd State; Veterans Day

12 National Pizza with the Works Day, except anchovies; Chicken Soup for the Soul Day; National French Dip Day; World Pneumonia Day; National Young Readers Day

13  National Indian Pudding Day; World Kindness Day, NutritionDay

14  Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day; International Girls Day; National Pickle Day; National Spicy Guacamole Day; UN World Diabetes Day

15  America Recycles Day; Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day; National Bundt Day;  National Raisin Bran Cereal Day; National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day

16  National Fast Food Day;  Oklahoma, 46th State; Intl Day for Tolerance; World COPD Day;  Pressure Ulcer Awareness Day `

17  World Prematurity Awareness Day; National Baklava Day; Homemade Bread Day; National Take a Hike Day; Homemade Bread Day; National Butter Day

18  National Vichyssoise Day, Mickey Mouse Birthday; National Apple Cider Day

19  Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day; American Made Matters Day; International Men's Day

20  National Peanut Butter Fudge Day; UN Universal Children's Day, Use Less Stuff Day

21  National Gingerbread Cookie Day; National Stuffing Day

22  National Cranberry Relish Day

23 National Cashew Day; National Espresso Day; National Eat a Cranberry Day; Family Volunteer Day

24   National Sardines Day; Mother Goose Day

25   National Parfait Day

26 National Cake Day; National Olive Tree Day; National Milk Day  

27 National Bavarian Cream Pie Day, Thanksgiving Day, Turkey-free Thanksgiving;

28  National French Toast Day; Black Friday; National Leftover Day; Flossing Day; Maize Day; National Native American Heritage Day  

29   Electronic Greetings Day

30  National Mousse Day; National Mason Jar Day: Joy of Cooking Published, 1931

	Months
	January	July
	February	August
	March	September
	April	October
	May	November
	June	December