Tag cachaca

NATIONAL CANDY CANE DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 24 Comments

National Candy Cane Day on December 26th gives candy lovers a day to celebrate the red and white striped candies found abundantly during the holidays. 

In 1844, a recipe for a straight peppermint candy stick, which was white with colored stripes, was published. However, some stories tell of all-white candy sticks in much earlier times. Folklore tells of the origin of the candy cane, yet no documented proof of its real beginning. Literature begins mentioning the candy cane in 1866, and it was first known to be mentioned in connection with Christmas in 1874. As early as 1882, candy canes have been hung on Christmas trees.

Fun Candy Cane Facts:
  • The average candy cane is 5 inches tall.
  • While most candy canes are not sugar or calorie-free, they do not have any fat or cholesterol.
  • Striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900.
  • The first machine to make candy canes were invented in 1921 by Brasher O. Westerfield. Until then, they were made by hand.
  • Bob McCormack and his brother-in-law & priest Gregory Keller brought the candy cane to the masses. What started out as candy making for McCormack’s friends and family turned into mass production when Keller invented the machine that enabled Bob’s Candies to go big time.
  • Traditionally the flavor for candy canes is peppermint, but there are a variety of flavors.
  • Alain Roby, Geneva pastry chef, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest candy cane, measuring 51 feet long.

Candy canes are one of my favorite candies check out these candy celebrations too…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCandyCaneDay

Do you have candy cane traditions? Enjoy one from your stocking or pluck one from the tree. Share a candy cane with your sweetheart, neighbor or child in your life. However you celebrate, be sure use #NationalCandyCaneDay when posting on social media.

Christmas Candy Canes Classic Red and White Peppermint Flavor for Holiday Family Indulgement - Bulk Candy Canes Individually Wrapped for Kids and Adults, Great Candy Cane Gift Set - 36 Pack #NationalCandyCaneDay
Christmas Candy Canes Classic Red and White Peppermint Flavor for Holiday Family Indulgement – Bulk Candy Canes Individually Wrapped for Kids and Adults, Great Candy Cane Gift Set – 36 Pack
Brach's Red and White Peppermint Candy Canes, 12 ct #NationalCandyCaneDay
Brach’s Red and White Peppermint Candy Canes, 12 ct
SweeTarts Mini Holiday Candy Canes, Holiday Candy, Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Kids, 4.8 oz Box #NationalCandyCaneDay
SweeTarts Mini Holiday Candy Canes, Holiday Candy, Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Kids, 4.8 oz Box
Starburst, Skittles, and Airheads Candy Cane Mixed Pack 3s #NationalCandyCaneDay
Starburst, Skittles, and Airheads Candy Cane Mixed Pack 3s

NATIONAL CAPPUCCINO DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Cappuccino Day on November 8th whips up a frothy, hot cup of cappuccino. It’s a perfect drink on a frosty morning, meeting with friends or just to enjoy a creamy cuppa.

Traditionally prepared with espresso, hot milk, and steamed milk foam, a cappuccino is an Italian coffee drink.

Grove Square Cappuccino Pods, Variety, Single Serve #CappuccinoDay
Grove Square Cappuccino Pods, Variety, Single Serve
Victor Allen's Coffee Sweet and Salty Caramel Flavored Cappuccino Mix, 42 Count, Single Serve K-Cup Pods for Keurig K-Cup Brewers Brewers #CappuccinoDay
Victor Allen’s Coffee Sweet and Salty Caramel Flavored Cappuccino Mix, 42 Count, Single Serve K-Cup Pods for Keurig K-Cup Brewers Brewers
Gevalia Frothy 2-Step Cappuccino Espresso Keurig K-Cup Coffee Pods & Froth Packets Kit #CappuccinoDay
Gevalia Frothy 2-Step Cappuccino Espresso Keurig K-Cup Coffee Pods & Froth Packets Kit
Caffe D'Vita Mocha Cappuccino Mix - Delicious Hot, Iced or Blended, Great in Coffee, Gluten Free - 4 LBS #CappuccinoDay
Caffe D’Vita Mocha Cappuccino Mix – Delicious Hot, Iced or Blended, Great in Coffee, Gluten Free – 4 LBS

The word cappuccino comes from the Capuchin friars and is the diminutive form of cappuccio in Italian, meaning hood or something that covers the head. This popular coffee beverage got its name not from the hood on their habits but from the color of the hooded robes that the friars wore.  (The Capuchin friars is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans.)

  • In 1945 Achille Gaggia invented the modern espresso machine which further popularized the cappuccino.
  • The Mid 1990s – Cappuccino was made more widely available to North Americans as upscale coffee houses sprang up.
  • Late 1990′s to Early 2000′s – Cappuccinos became popular in the United States concurrent with the boom in the American coffee industry.
  • The start of the 21st Century – A modified short-cut version of the cappuccino started being served at fast-food chains.
  • While steaming the milk you must pay close attention to attain the correct ratio of foam, thus making the cappuccino one of the most difficult espresso-based beverages to make properly.
  • A skilled barista may create artistic shapes while he/she is pouring milk on top of the espresso coffee.

HOW TO OBSERVE #CappuccinoDay

Visit your favorite coffee shop to enjoy a nice hot and delicious cup of cappuccino. While you’re there, give them a shout out using #CappuccinoDay to post on social media. Read up on your coffee history while enjoying a delicious cup.

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel #CappuccinoDay
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
De'Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine, Latte & Cappuccino Maker, 15 Bar Pump Pressure + Milk Frother Steam Wand, Black / Stainless #CappuccinoDay
De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine, Latte & Cappuccino Maker, 15 Bar Pump Pressure + Milk Frother Steam Wand, Black / Stainless
SOWTECH Espresso Coffee Machine Cappuccino Latte Maker 3.5 Bar 1-4 Cup with Steam Milk Frother Black #CappuccinoDay
SOWTECH Espresso Coffee Machine Cappuccino Latte Maker 3.5 Bar 1-4 Cup with Steam Milk Frother Black
Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve K-Cup Coffee, Latte and Cappuccino Maker, Dark Charcoal #CappuccinoDay
Keurig K-Cafe Single Serve K-Cup Coffee, Latte and Cappuccino Maker, Dark Charcoal

NATIONAL CASHEW DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

A favorite snacking and party nut is recognized each year on November 23rd during National Cashew Day.

The cashew nut is a seed harvested from the cashew tree. The tree originated in Northeastern Brazil. However, it is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew apples and nuts.

With leaves arranged spirally and a leathery texture, the evergreen cashew tree grows as tall as 32 feet high and often has an irregularly shaped trunk. The flowers are small, starting out pale green then turning reddish, with each one having five slender, acute petals.

The largest cashew tree in the world covers about 81,000 sq. ft. and is located in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Cashew Facts
  • The cashew tree has a fruit called the “cashew apple.”  Its fragile skin makes it unsuitable for transport.
  • Latin Americans make a fruit drink from the cashew apple. 
  • The Cashew causes fewer allergic reactions than other nuts or peanuts.
  • Native to northeast Brazil, the Portuguese took the cashew plant to Goa, India, between 1560 and 1565.  From Goa, it spread throughout Southeast Asia and, eventually, Africa.
  • We often see peanuts, pecans, walnuts, and other nuts sold in the shell.  Due to the toxic nature of the cashew nut’s shell, this is not possible. 
  • Speaking of the shell, the Cashew is not a true nut. They do not develop a hard wall around the seed as hazelnuts or walnuts do. Cashews instead have a lining around the seed that is filled with a caustic fluid.
  • This nut is an excellent source of antioxidants.
  • It’s also a source of dietary trace minerals: copper, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorous.
  • Cashew oil is a dark yellow oil for cooking, or salad dressing pressed from cashew nuts.
  • Many parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.

There are so many ways to enjoy this fabulous nut. How will you be celebrating?

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCashewDay

Cashews inspire several ways to celebrate. You can begin by breaking out the cookbook. Whether you make cookies, bars or another baked good, you won’t go wrong. You can also top your salads and soups with cashews. But that’s only the beginning. May we suggest these other ideas to help you celebrate the day?

  • Bundle up cashews to give as gifts for the holidays. Friends and family will thank you. These make great Christmas gifts too.
  • Top your pasta dishes with chopped cashews. They will add texture and crunch to your meal.
  • Roast cashews with a variety of seasonings. You can make them savory or sweet, whichever you prefer.
  • Add chopped cashews to your ice cream sundae. Drizzle a little caramel on top and you will think you’re dreaming.
  • If traditional dairy products try cashew milk. If like my niece you love ice cream, try So Brand Ice cream. She love chocolate cookies and cream.

What are your favorite ways to enjoy cashews? Use #NationalCashewDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL ESPRESSO DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

Get the pure coffee essence on National Espresso Day! Whether you sip one cup or keep buzzing all day long, November 23rd is the day. 

The word espresso (/ɛˈsprɛsoʊ/; Italian pronunciation: [eˈsprɛsso]) in Italian means ‘quick in time.’ Before the advent of the espresso machine, espresso was simply a coffee expressly made for the person ordering it. It was also made with recently roasted and freshly ground beans. The cup was brewed shortly before serving. In the late 1800s, this practice was commonplace in cafés and restaurants.

While today’s espresso maintains the freshness quality, it has undergone a transition in meaning. We’ve come to know espresso as a highly concentrated brew served in smaller quantities. We may also use espresso as a base for other delicious coffee creations.

We can thank the espresso machine for this modern view of espresso. In 1901, Italian Luigi Bezzera invented the first successful espresso machine. The newer technologies produced a smaller, more concentrated cup more quickly than traditional coffee brewing methods. Additionally, this thicker, more intense brew created a creamy foam on top called the crema. The richer flavors and aromas of an espresso create delicious lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, macchiato, and many cafe’ creations.

Beyond the range of beverages, the intense flavor of espresso lends itself to baking. Where coffee may become lost when blended with other flavors, espresso remains vibrant. Blend it with cream cheese, sugar and flour for a cheesecake. Add it to ladyfingers and make tiramisu. Many desserts call for espressos such as ice cream and creme brulee.  

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalEspressoDay

This holiday calls for the perfect cup. Whether you brew it at home or visit a local cafe, you know how you like it. Will you enjoy your espresso one of these ways?

  • Order through the local drive-through and pay it forward (backward?) by also paying for the customer behind you in line.
  • Pick up extra espressos for everyone in the office.
  • Have espressos delivered to front-line workers at the hospital, fire station, police station, or ambulance bay near you. 
  • Send a gift card to your favorite teachers for National Espresso Day, letting them know just how much you appreciate them. 
  • Step out of your comfort zone and try your espresso in a new flavorful latte or cappuccino. 
  • Realize you’ve never tried baking with espresso and break out the mixer you got for your birthday.
  • You’re a traditionalist when it comes to espresso. You only drink espresso. You don’t add flavors. It’s espresso. Don’t mess with the espresso. 

Enjoy a cup of espresso and use #NationalEspressoDay to post on social media.