NATIONAL VANILLA PUDDING DAY

May 22nd is the day we recognize National Vanilla Pudding Day.  Enjoy it with a delicious dish of cold, creamy vanilla pudding.

The puddings we enjoy as desserts today are not what was commonly known as pudding at ancient dinner tables. Most medieval puddings were meat based and seasoned with herbs and spices. Even sweetened, they were usually served hot. Toward the end of the 18th century, puddings were more likely made from a grains or day old bread with nuts, fruit or meats. These puddings were used to stretch meals for a large family.

The creamy pudding we are more familiar with today is related to the custard, minus the eggs.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but spouses who are chemists are the inventor. When you are Alfred Bird and your wife is allergic to eggs, that is very true. In 1837, Bird invented an egg-free custard powder using flavored cornstarch.

The earliest packaged pudding in the United States was marketed by My-T-Fine in 1918.  This and other puddings like them still required cooking on the stove.  The instant version came along in the mid-1940s.  On its own or as an ingredient in a larger recipe, pudding can be enjoyed in a variety of flavors.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Give the following creamy vanilla pudding recipes a try:

Homemade Vanilla Pudding
Moms Chocolate Chip Cookies
Strawberry Delight Cake
Dessert Pizza

Use #VanillaPuddingDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL APPLE PIE DAY

National Apple Pie Day, America’s favorite dessert, is observed annually on May 13th.

The first apple pie recipe printed was in England in 1381. The list of ingredients included  good apples,  good spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron, and cofyn (a type of pastry crust).

While the apple pie existed well before the Pilgrims landed on the eastern shores of what is now The United States, Americans wax poetic about how American apple pie is. The phrase “as American as apple pie” has been around for more than 100 years.

Pyrex Easy Grab Glass 9.5 Inch Pie Plate (2-Pack)  by Pyrex
Pyrex Easy Grab Glass 9.5 Inch Pie Plate (2-Pack)

by Pyrex

During the turn of the 20th century when whole toasted cereals were becoming the ‘health food’ fad, pie gained a bad reputation.  Apple pie saved the day of sorts, being more nutritious than other pies according to some.

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pie & Pizza Server  by OXO

Teddy Roosevelt was impressed to have a taste of home when he was served an American apple pie while traveling in Africa.

Soldiers during World War II were often quoted they were fighting “for Mom and apple pie.”   In 1970, advertisers used the patriotic connection with a commercial jingle “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.”

More Pie to love!

More Apple Days

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalApplePieDay

Share your favorite apple pie recipes. Another way to celebrate is by giving a shout out to your favorite apple pie baker.

Use #NationalApplePieDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL PEARS HELENE DAY

On March 15th, National Pears Hélène Day celebrates a food holiday about the delicious, smooth French dessert combining warm poached pears, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce.

Pears Hélène is a dessert made from pears poached in sugar syrup and served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and crystallized violets. Around 1864, French Chef Auguste Escoffier created the dessert in honor of the operetta La belle Hélène by Jacques Offenbach. 

Amazon fresh

Over time, Pears Hélène simpler versions have been developed by substituting poached pears with canned pears and the delicate crystallized violets have been replaced with sliced almonds. These modifications have made it easier for more cooks to prepare this must-have dessert. 

FUN PEAR FACTS:

  • There are more than 3,000 varieties of pears grown in the world.
  • Washington, Oregon and Northern California grow more than 95% of the pears sold in the United States.
  • California grows 60% of all Bartlett pears in the United States.
  • Pears ripen best off of the tree.
  • They are an excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C as well as copper, fiber, and potassium.
  • Pears are less allergenic than many other fruits.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPearsHeleneDay

Prepare a recipe of Pears Hélène. Add it to an elegant evening or make it to simply enjoy and celebrate the day. We’ve provided a recipe for you to try as well. Share your recipes, too!

Pears Belle Helene recipe.

Use #NationalPearsHeleneDay to post on social media.