Groundhog Day - Sustenance
Phil: "Do you ever have deja vu, Mrs. Lancaster?"
Mrs. Lancaster: "I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen."
Choosing your menu will depend on how you want to celebrate the day. Dinner and a movie? Party nibbles? Dinner party? Here are a few ideas for a Groundhog Day themed menu.
Food from the movie Groundhog Day
What do groundhogs eat? Make some goodies that Phil would gobble up.
Serve up some warm and cozy comfort food.
Sick of winter? Make some winter dishes that feel like spring.
In honor of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where the largest Groundhog Day event occurs.
Based on the Movie
Breakfast for Dinner
Breakfast is at the heart of Groundhog Day’s depiction of small-town life. Not only is Phil staying at a Bed and Breakfast, a lot of the scenes take place in the Tip Top Diner.
When Phil realizes he's re-living the same day, he throws caution aside and pretty much orders everything on the menu.
He stuffs himself with pancakes, muffins, doughnuts, bacon, and eggs.
Try the Pancake Muffin with Bacon and a Coffee-Maple Glaze from Marissa Rothkopt-Bakes.
During breakfast, Rita comments that "...these sticky buns are just heaven."
During one of the diner scenes, you can hear the waitress telling the customers about the special of the day, blueberry waffles
Serve up a buffet with all your friends and families
favorites.
Fast Food
After a particularly rough night on the town, Phil, Gus, and Ralph are pulled over by the local Sheriff.
Phil, being the prankster that he is, places a fast food order when the officer arrives at his window, “3 cheeseburgers, 2 large fries, 2 chocolate shakes, 1 large coke”, and Ralph adds “and some flapjacks”
Pizza
In one of the scenes, Rita and Phil share a pizza while waiting for the clock to strike midnight.
In Honor of the Groundhog
Since groundhogs are vegetarians, with a sweet tooth for berries and human food crops when available, a suitable menu for a Groundhog Day Party would include mostly vegetables, and may look something like this: (from cookbookpeople.com)
from eatingwell.com
A variety of nuts, a groundhog favorite.
Fresh, frozen or canned, sweet corn would be a great addition.
Honoring Punxsutawney Phil’s origins in eastern Pennsylvania.
Pork sausages. Although not vegetarian, you may want to offer a meat option.
Befitting the theme, the sausages should be made of ground pork, aka “hog” instead of beef, chicken, or turkey.
And you can't forget Phil's wit...
Phil: "You know, people like blood sausage, too. People are morons."
Warm and Cozy 'cause it's Still Winter
Most of the country is still in the depths of winter on February 2. Serve up some warm comfort foods during your Groundhog Day festivities.
Make a big pot of chili and pair with all your favorite toppings.
Make a soup bar with a few varieties.
Can't go wrong with good ole mac 'n cheese!
Looking forward to Spring
Sick of winter? Make these 'winter' recipes from Southern Living and Epicurious that will remind you of spring.
Citrus Shrimp Rice Bowls
from Epicurious
Broccoli, Grape and Pasta Salad
from Southern Living
Asparagus and Goat Cheese Quiche
from Southern Living
Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw
from Southern Living
Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing
from Southern Living
Pulled Mushroom Tacos with Salsa Guille
from Epicurious
Radish, Avocado and Citrus Salad
from Southern Living
Baked BBQ Chicken
from Southern Living
Ham Salad Sandwiches
from Southern Living
Freeform Chicken Meatballs with Carrots and Yogurt Sauce
from Epicurious
Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter
from Southern Living
Pan Seared Salt and Pepper Fish
from Epicurious
Pennsylvania Cuisine
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is where the Groundhog Day festival happens every year. Try some of these dishes that Pennsylvania is famous for.
Traditional Philly Cheesesteak
from Simply Recipes
It was Pat Oliveri, who had a hot dog cart in south Philadelphia in the 1930s, who is credited with inventing the cheesesteak, according to VisitPhilly.com. He made a steak sandwich on an Italian bun for himself one day when he was in the mood for steak.
Philly Style Hoagie
from Baker By Nature
In 1953, the Philadelphia Bulletin reported that Italians working at the World War I–era shipyard known as Hog Island, introduced the sandwich by putting various meats, cheeses, and lettuce between two slices of bread.
This became known as the "Hog Island" sandwich; shortened to "Hoggies", then the "hoagie"
Chipped Ham Sandwich
from Food.com
Chipped ham is similar to SPAM, but more flavorful. It became widely known by the public during World War II.
This is a recipe originally published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for a regional favorite using local products, Heinz ketchup and Isaly's chipped ham.
Tomato Pie
from Mad About Food
Tomato pie fist appeared in the United States in Philly in 1910 when Iannelli’s Famous Brick Oven Bakery opened.
Since then Philly tomato pie has spread to bakeries and pizza shops all over the city and surrounding suburbs.
Scrapple
from Key Ingredient
Scrapple is a famous Pennsylvania food. It is commonly called Pannhaas (a German name) in Pennsylvania.
It is a dish made from scrapes of pork combined with cornmeal and buckwheat flour with spices, then formed into a loaf and sliced for frying.
Scrapple was made as a result of people trying to avoid waste of food. It is usually eaten as breakfast or lunch.
Pierogis
from Bunnys Warm Oven
Pierogis are popular in Slavic countries and arrived with immigrants who came to the state to work in the anthracite coal fields.
Pierogis are dumplings that have the shape of a half-moon. It is stuffed with potatoes puree, fried onions, meat, or other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, and cheese.
Pittsburgh Salad
from The Kitchn
Pittsburgh salad is a layered salad mostly made with lettuce, salad dressing, French fries, vegetables, grilled meat, and shredded cheese. In Pittsburgh, it is usually called Steak salad or Chicken salad.
Mushroom Strudel
from King Arthur Flour
Mushroom strudel is made into long cylinders and smaller triangles with filo pastry and are reminiscent of strudel dessert rolls. The shape depends on if it will be eaten as an appetizer or main dish.
Herr's Chips
Herr’s chips is a brand of potato chips based in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was established by Jim Herr in 1946 and later became a family business passed from one generation to the next.
You can buy them directly from their website, or at stores like Amazon and Walmart.
Soft Pretzels
from Sally's Baking Addition
German immigrants brought the soft pretzel to Pennsylvania.
Shoofly Pie
from Taste of Home
Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner.
Burnt Almond Torte
from Share Recipes.net
Burnt almond torte was first created by Henry Prantl at Prantl’s Bakery in Pittsburgh and he never knew that it would become a famous creation.
Irish Potato Candy
from Sugar and Soul
In Eastern PA, the spring means Irish potato candy season.
These tasty little treats are sold in the weeks leading up to Easter and are an annual tradition.
And no, they aren’t actual potatoes.
Water Ice
Water ice which is also known as Italian ice, is a traditional summer treat in Philadelphia. It is called Sorbet in French and called Granita in Italian.
It is a frozen treat containing water, sugar, juice or puree and flavoring, usually fruit.
Whoopie Pie
from Amish Heritage.org
Whoopie pie is an Amish traditional food. It can be in the form of a cake, sandwich, pie, or cookie.
They originated in Lancaster County, and they are one of PA Dutch country's best known and most loved sweet comfort foods for locals and visitors alike.
Tastykake
Tastykake is a snack food brand from the City of Brotherly love and is one of the most iconic foods in Philadelphia.
Some of the best known Tastykake products include donuts, Kreamies, Krimpets, mini pies, Kandy Kakes, and cupcakes of various flavors.
Find them using their product locator.
TWIZZLERS Twists were first produced in 1929 by Young and Smylie in Lancaster Pennsylvania. The company changed its name in 1968 to Y&S Candies before being acquired by The Hershey Company in 1977.
Pennsylvania Dutch, Birch Beer
Birch beer is a sweetened carbonated soft drink made from the sap of birch trees.
The taste is similar to root beer.
In the dairy country of southeastern and central Pennsylvania, an ice cream soda made with vanilla ice cream and birch beer is called a "birch beer float", while chocolate ice cream and birch beer makes a "black cow".
Pick some up from Amazon.
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