NATIONAL WHITE CHOCOLATE DAY

Satisfy your sweet tooth on National White Chocolate Day on September 22nd. Enjoy it with pretzels or drizzled on pastries. It’s a versatile confection with many ways to celebrate!

Since white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, it is not chocolate in the strictest sense. During the process of manufacturing chocolate, the dark-colored solids of the cocoa bean separates from the fatty content. But unlike milk or dark chocolate, the solids are not reincorporated.  As a result, white chocolate also does not contain as much caffeine or antioxidants as its darker counterparts.

That’s right, white chocolate loses some of the health benefits when it is processed.  Nestlé launched the first white chocolate bar in Europe. Known by the names Milkybar and Galak, Nestlé first produced the candy bar in the 1930s. Besides candy bars and fudge, white chocolate also comes in liqueurs, chips, ganache, truffles, and liquid forms. .

More chicolate?

HOW TO OBSERVE #WhiteChocolateDay

White chocolate pairs well with salty and sweet flavors. Mix it in with some peanuts or pretzels. Bake up some white chocolate macadamia nut cookies or indulge in a delicious cocktail. Enjoy your favorite white chocolate. Share yours using #WhiteChocolateDay to post on social media..

NATIONAL PENUCHE FUDGE DAY

National Penuche Fudge Day on July 22nd recognizes the creamy candy with an Italian name. If you like maple flavor, this nut-filled fudge is for you!

Penuche (pə-ˈnō-chə) is pronounced pe-new-chee. The Italian form of the word is panucci. The fudge-like candy includes the following ingredients: brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and milk. Lighter in color than traditional fudge, penuche tastes like maple thanks to the brown sugar. If you are looking to celebrate, many shops in New England sell this fudge. There they will add pecans and other nuts, especially if making a candy form of penuche. Southerners call it brown sugar fudge candy.   

Of course, the day provides an opportunity to test recipes, too. Add walnuts or pecans for a nutty texture to any recipe. However, if you prefer the creamier version, nuts are always purely optional. Cook the sugar mixture in a heavy saucepan. Making good candy or fudge is no time to go cheap. No matter what recipe you use, keep stirring and watch the temperature. Always use a candy thermometer. Fudge is finicky and will seize up on you.  

Whether you taste a homemade bite, store-bought, or your first bite, be sure to savor it.  Don’t forget to share!

More Fudge to Love…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPenucheFudgeDay

Make your own batch with this Penuche Fudge Recipe.  Will it be with nuts or without?  Post on social media using #NationalPenucheFudgeDay.

Amazon Prime Free Trial

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE PUDDING DAY

This food holiday National Chocolate Pudding Day is observed each year on June 26th.  Chocolate pudding has been loved by children and adults for many years.  Usually eaten as a snack or dessert, chocolate pudding is also used as a filling for chocolate creme pie.

Historically, chocolate pudding is a variation of chocolate custard, using starch as a thickener instead of eggs.  The 1903 edition of Mary Harris Frazer’s Kentucky Receipt Book and the 1918 edition of Fannie Farmer’s Boston Cooking School Cook Book both have recipes for the earlier version, using both eggs and flour.

  • In 1934, General Foods (Jello) introduced chocolate pudding mix as “Walter Baker’s Dessert.”
  • In 1936, it was renamed “Pickle’s Pudding.”

Chocolate pudding is usually made with milk and sugar, flavored with chocolate and vanilla then thickened with flour or cornstarch.  Some recipes do use eggs when making the pudding.

Chocolate pudding can be purchased ready-made and sold in grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations.  The popular brands include Jell-O by the Kraft Foods Corporation and Snack Pack by Hunt’s.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy some delicious Chocolate Pudding as a dessert or as a snack. Try this homemade Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding recipe. Use #NationalChocolatePuddingDay on social media.

NATIONAL FUDGE DAY

National Fudge Day is observed annually on June 16th.  National Fudge Day is a food holiday that allows you to indulge in your favorite flavor of this delicious confectionery. Some of the most familiar fudge flavors are chocolate, chocolate nut, peanut butter, maple and maple nut.

Fudge lends itself to experimentation when it comes to flavors. Blending favorites or even a moment of inspiration will create a new delicious kind of fudge. Adding bits of candy, nuts or sprinkles can add just the right celebratory burst of excitement to an old favorite. 

In the late 19th century, some shops on Mackinac Island, Michigan, began to produce similar products as the Vassar College fudge and sold it to summer vacationers. Fudge is still made in some of the original shops located on the famous island.

More Fudge to Love…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Pick up some fudge at your local confectionery store and share it with family and friends. Try making your own recipe.  Use #NationalFudgeDay on social media.

WORLD BAKING DAY

Every third Sunday in May, World Baking Day inspires people to bake for their loved ones, friends, and neighbors. These bakers are also encouraged to give their baked goods away as a token of gratitude and appreciation.

People have been baking for thousands of years. In fact, the world’s oldest oven is over 6,500 years old! Bread baking goes all the way back to 600 BC in Ancient Greece. The Egyptians were the first to use yeast when baking bread. Besides bread, cakes were also a popular food to bake. The word “cake” dates back to the 13th century. The earliest cakes were more bread-like. Bakers added sugar or honey to add sweetness.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, baking was transformed by globalization. There was an abundance of syrups, spices, and currants, which made baked goods taste even more delicious. Bready dough with butter, cream, and raisins were especially popular. By the late 17th century, sugar was less expensive. As a result, people began making mince pies with sugar and spices. Eventually, other ingredients like eggs, flour, and baking powder were used more and more.

Today baked goods are popular all over the world. Some favorites include apple pie, black forest cake, baklava, cannoli, Yorkshire pudding, rye bread, brownies, and pretzels.

WORLD BAKING DAY HISTORY

Since 2012, World Baking Day has been observed on the third Sunday in May. The original intent of the day was to make and give away a homemade cake. The day has since evolved into baking and giving away all kinds of baked goods. Our team is still researching who came up with this special food day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldBakingDay

The best way to observe this day is to bake some goodies for a friend, neighbor or loved one. They will be surprised and delighted to receive such a wonderful and delicious gift. This day is also a great day to teach your kids to bake. Go ahead and try to bake something you’ve never made before. Or host a cake decorating contest. No matter what you choose to bake, be sure to share your goodies with others. Take a photo of your creation and post it on social media with #WorldBakingDay.