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. .

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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 TOASTED MARSHMALLOW DAY

On August 30th, National Toasted Marshmallow Day celebrates one of America’s favorite fire-roasted treats. Be sure to stock up on marshmallows so you can celebrate! Get your friends together and gather up some firewood. Grab a few long sticks and a bag of marshmallows. Then, make plans for a great night!

TripWorthy 15469 Marshmallow Roasting Sticks & Bonus 10 Bamboo Skewers (Kid Friendly) - Set of 8, 32 Inches, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Black

Brand: Tripworthy
TripWorthy 15469 Marshmallow Roasting Sticks & Bonus 10 Bamboo Skewers (Kid Friendly) – Set of 8, 32 Inches, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Black

Brand: Tripworthy

Toasted marshmallows are a special part of summer evenings around a bonfire. Also, what better way to kick off a long weekend than to enjoy a delicious, warm, gooey, toasted marshmallow?

Add a pair of graham crackers and a chocolate bar – and ask for s’more! Depending upon personal preference, heat marshmallows to various degrees from gently toasted to a charred outer layer. To char the outer layer, ignite the marshmallow then quickly blow it out.

Marshmallows now come in a variety of flavors as well as sizes for maximum toasting opportunities. For a fun alternative, try roasting Marshmallow Peeps. Watch them closely as the granular sugar coating will burn more quickly.

Believe it or not, marshmallows date back to Ancient Egypt. The mallow plant provided a sap that the Egyptians used to create a candy with nuts and honey.

Ligonier, Indiana holds an annual Marshmallow Festival and is the marshmallow capital of the world.

Homemade marshmallows use sugar, unflavored gelatin, corn syrup, and flavoring. Try this recipe.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #ToastedMarshmallowDay

Toast up some marshmallows and enjoy. Have a marshmallow toasting competition. Who makes the best-toasted marshmallows in your circle of friends? Share recipes for homemade marshmallows or s’mores combinations, too. Share your best marshmallow toasting techniques and use #ToastedMarshmallowDay to post on social media. 

NATIONAL BANANA SPLIT DAY

National Banana Split Day recognizes the sweet ice cream treat served with a banana, whipped cream, and various toppings. Get yours on August 25th!

How to Make a Banana Split

Originally served in drug stores, soda fountains and ice cream parlors, the banana split is traditionally served in a long dish called a boat. To make a banana split, cut the banana lengthwise and place it in the dish. Then add scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream between the slices of banana. Each scoop gets a topping; add crushed pineapple to the strawberry, drizzle chocolate syrup over the vanilla, and add strawberry topping to the chocolate. Next, sprinkle with crushed nuts. Finally, garnish with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. 

Anchor 561G 8-1/4 oz Banana Split Dish, Crystal - 2/Pack  by Anchor
Anchor 561G 8-1/4 oz Banana Split Dish, Crystal – 2/Pack

by Anchor

The Inventor

A 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist at Tassel’s Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania created the first banana split in 1904.  David Evans Strickler enjoyed inventing sundaes at the store’s soda fountain. For only 10 cents, Strickler sold his first “banana-based triple ice cream sundae,” double the cost of all the other sundaes.  

SimpleHouseware Fruit Basket Bowl with Banana Tree Hanger, Chrome Finish  by Simple Houseware
SimpleHouseware Fruit Basket Bowl with Banana Tree Hanger, Chrome Finish

by Simple Houseware

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBananaSplitDay

Enjoy this Banana Split Cheesecake recipe.

Celebrate with a delicious banana split and don’t forget the cherry on top! Use #NationalBananaSplitDay to post on social media.

Hersheys Syrup Variety Pack Bundle of 3 Flavors- Chocolate, Caramel and Strawberry  by HERSHEY'S
Hersheys Syrup Variety Pack Bundle of 3 Flavors- Chocolate, Caramel and Strawberry

by HERSHEY’S

NATIONAL HOT FUDGE SUNDAE DAY

On July 25th, National Hot Fudge Sundae Day takes a turn representing National Ice Cream Month in delicious style. Feast on this tasty ice cream dessert that combines hot and cold with a cherry on top. Even more important to note, this dessert has been served since 1906

Given that the hot fudge sundae is a variation of the classic sundae, making one is a cinch. Simply put a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream in a dish. Add hot fudge sauce. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream and some nuts (if you like). Finally, add a single, bright-red, sweet, maraschino cherry.

Sundae History

While the oldest known record of an ice cream sundae is an Ithaca, NY advertisement, the originator of the dessert is still debated. The October 5, 1892 ad in the Ithaca Daily Journal spelled the ice cream treat with the conventional day of the week spelling – Sunday.

However, Two Rivers, Wisconsin claims Druggist Edward Berners served the first ice cream sundae in 1881. According to the story, customer George Hallauer ordered an ice cream soda on a Sunday. Ordinances at the time prohibited the sale of ice cream sodas on the Sabbath. Even so, Berners came up with a compromise. He served the ice cream in a dish minus the soda.

Additionally, he topped it with chocolate syrup. Given the day, he called it a Sundae. One interesting catch – Berners was 18 at the time the story takes place.

Ithaca’s claim to the ice cream sundae takes place at Platt & Colt Pharmacy in 1892 where Reverend John M. Scott stops to order a bowl of ice cream. When Chester Platt, proprietor, began preparing the ice cream for his customer, he didn’t stop at just a couple of scoops of vanilla. Platt drizzled cherry syrup over the ice cream and topped them with a bright red, candied cherry. The dessert looked and tasted so delightful it required its own name. Since the day was Sunday, it was named for the day it was created. Ithaca also has historical evidence supporting the story, including an advertisement for a Cherry Sunday.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #HotFudgeSundaeDay

While out with friends, enjoy a Hot Fudge Sundae.  Give a shout out to your favorite ice cream shop.  Post on social media using #HotFudgeSundaeDay. No matter how, ice cream always brings a smile to everyone’s faces.

WHOLE HOUSEWARES | Ice Cream Sundae Glasses Set of 6 | Glass Tulip Sundae Cups | 5.6 Ounce Set of 6 | Glass Ice Cream Dessert and Soda Bowls | Ice Cream Sundae Bowls
Visit the WHOLE HOUSEWARES Store
WHOLE HOUSEWARES | Ice Cream Sundae Glasses Set of 6 | Glass Tulip Sundae Cups | 5.6 Ounce Set of 6 | Glass Ice Cream Dessert and Soda Bowls | Ice Cream Sundae Bowls
Visit the WHOLE HOUSEWARES Store

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.

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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.