7 Ways Food Can Highlight National Good Neighbor Day

What is National Good Neighbor Day?

National Good Neighbor Day is a day that is celebrated every year on September 28th. This day was created to encourage people to be better neighbors and to build stronger communities. One great way to celebrate this day is by sharing food and fun with your neighbors. Below are seven ways food highlights National Good Neighbor Day to unite your community.

One of the 7 Ways You Can Highlight National Good Neighbor Day is by Having a Potluck Party

Organize a potluck party in your neighborhood where everyone can bring a dish to share. This is a great way to try different foods and get to know your neighbors. You can set up tables and chairs in a park or in your backyard and have a fun time with your neighbors.

Set Up a Neighborhood BBQ

A neighborhood BBQ is a classic way to bring people together. You can set up a grill in your backyard or a local park and invite your neighbors to come and enjoy some delicious food. You can serve burgers, hot dogs, chicken, or any other BBQ favorites.  If there is a diverse culture in your neighborhood, encourage people to bring a dish from their culture or heritage.  There is no better way to understand and enjoy a culture than to share food from that culture.

Celebrate by Having a Picnic in the Park

Pack a picnic basket with some delicious food and head to a local park with your neighbors. You can lay out a blanket and enjoy some sandwiches, fruit, and snacks while enjoying the beautiful weather. This is a great way to spend time with your neighbors and enjoy the outdoors.

Organize a Food Swap

Another way food can be used to Highlight National Good Neighbor Day  is to organize a food swap in your neighborhood where everyone can bring their favorite homemade dishes to share. This is a great way to try different foods and share recipes with your neighbors. You can also exchange produce from your gardens or fruits and vegetables from your local farmers’ market.

Put Together an International Food Festival

Organize an international food festival in your neighborhood where everyone can bring dishes from their culture. This is a great way to learn about different cultures and try new foods. You can set up tables and chairs and have a fun time with your neighbors.

Arrange a Baking Party

Put together a baking party in your neighborhood where everyone can bring their favorite baked goods to share. You can bake cookies, cakes, pies, or any other sweet treats. This is a great way to share recipes and enjoy some delicious desserts with your neighbors

Set up a Pizza Night for National Good Neighbor Day

And last but not least, another way food can be used to Highlight National Good Neighbor Day is one of my favorite ideas. Set up a pizza night in your neighborhood where everyone can make their own pizza. You can set up a table with different toppings and sauces and let everyone create their own pizza, or make unusual pizzas and bring them to share. This is a fun and interactive way to enjoy some delicious food with your neighbors.  I have a flatbread pizza recipe that I will share with you.  You can also follow the link to get the printable version of this recipe below.

Mushroom and Onion Flatbread Pizza

For the Flatbread
Ingredients
· 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water (105)
· 2 ½ teaspoons dry active yeast
· 1 Tablespoon sugar
· ¾ cups plain yogurt
· 2 Tablespoons olive oil
· 1 Tablespoon salt
· ½ Tablespoon whole rosemary leaves
· 1 teaspoon dehydrated onion
· 1 teaspoon dehydrated garlic
· 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
· ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
· ½ cup more olive oil for brushing

Method
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix the water, yeast, and sugar and set aside for 10 minutes until foamy. Whisk in the yogurt, first olive oil, salt, garlic, onions, and rosemary.
2. Add flour and parsley and stir everything with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together.
3. Sprinkle a generous amount of flour over your kitchen workstation or counter and set the dough onto the floured surface. Turn the dough to cover it with flour and knead for 4 or 5 minutes. Sprinkle more flour on the dough if the dough is still sticky.
4. With a pastry knife, cut the dough into 10 equal pieces and form each piece into a small ball. Lightly sprinkle each dough ball with flour, cover with a kitchen towel, and let stand for 15 minutes.
5. Preheat a frying pan or griddle over medium heat. Use a rolling pin to roll out each dough ball into 7-inch circles. Lightly brush each top of the formed dough with olive oil.
6. Fry each piece of rolled-out dough in the frying pan, oiled side down, for about 1 ½ minutes or until the top is full of bubbles. Brush that side with olive oil and flip, cooking for 1 more minute. The flatbread should be golden brown. Remove from pan, transfer to a plate, and continue cooking the rest.
7. Cover the flatbread with a clean kitchen towel while cooking the rest.

For the Caramelized Mushrooms and Onions
Ingredients
· 1 large onion
· ¼ cup olive oil
· 4 cups mixed mushrooms
· 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
· 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
· 3 large garlic cloves minced
· 3 Tablespoons sherry wine
· Salt and pepper as needed throughout the recipe

Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 425
2. Julienne the onion and add into a sauté pan, along with the thyme sprigs and olive oil, over low heat—Sauté for 30 minutes or until you get a lightly brown color. Fish out the thyme sprigs at this point, turn the heat to medium, add the minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, and sauté for another 5 minutes.
3. Turn the heat to high, add the sherry, and let simmer for about 5 more minutes before removing from the heat.
4. Place 4 of the flatbread onto a cookie sheet, drizzle a modest amount of salt and pepper with olive oil, and place in the preheated oven for 8 minutes or until it gets crispy.
5. Remove from the oven and spread the mushroom mixture evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
6. Remove from the oven and cut the flatbread into strips or triangles and enjoy!

In conclusion, National Good Neighbor Day is a great opportunity to bring your community together and strengthen your relationships with your neighbors. I hope you enjoy this recipe as well as you enjoyed this article on the seven ways food can highlight National Good Neighbor Day.  Its a great way to celebrate what makes us the same instead of celebrating what makes us different.