KWANZAA

Kwanzaa is a celebration that honors African heritage in African-American culture. Every year from December 26 – January 1, Kwanzaa brings people together for feasts, gift-giving, and the celebration of family, community and culture.

The name Kwanzaa comes from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. On each of the seven nights of Kwanzaa, families gather and light one of the seven candles on the Kinara, which is a candle holder. Once this is done, one of the seven principles of Nguzo Saba are discussed among the family. These principles are values of African culture.

Believe it or not, Kwanzaa is actually a fairly “new” holiday. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga who was a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University at the time (1966). Dr. Karenga was looking for a way to bring the African-American community together, so he founded “US,” a cultural organization, and began digging into African harvest celebrations. He then put several of those together, and Kwanzaa was born.

HISTORY

HOW TO OBSERVE

Learn more about Kwanzaa, and partake in the celebrations if you wish! Everyone is encouraged to celebrate. Use #Kwanzaa to post on social media. The holiday is based around these seven principles.

  1. Unity
  2. Self-determination
  3. Collective work and responsibility
  4. Cooperative Economics
  5. Purpose
  6. Creativity
  7. Faith

This month, do your own research on the history and meaning of Kwanzaa to learn more and appreciate the reason it came about in the first place. Whether you are African-American or not, you are encouraged to take part!

Bittersweet CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS DAY

On November 7th, National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day ushers in one of the more healthful ways to enjoy chocolate. Dark chocolate is chocolate liquor to which sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla have been added. It has less sugar and more liquor than semisweet chocolate. However, the two of them may be interchangeable when baking.

Recent studies reveal health benefits from eating small quantities of Dark chocolate. The addition of almonds increases health benefits as well. Pairing the two of them gives us a delicious and healthy snack. Make them a part of your lunch or enjoy them as part of an afternoon snack. 

In 1742, Eliza Smith included the only chocolate recipe in her cookbook, The Compleat Housewife, printed by William Parks. The simple recipe combined grated chocolate, orange flower water, and sugar. But, no almonds.

However, plenty of recipes include almonds and chocolate. You only need to know where to look. When combining chocolate and almonds, remember that both keep well, too. So, sharing during the holidays is easy. Make a little or a lot of a recipe to spread the holiday cheer when using dark chocolate with almonds.

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BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS DAY HISTORY

The National Confectioners Association sponsors Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #BittersweetChocolateWithAlmondsDay

Chocolate and almonds can improve just about any day. Try one of the recipes below or one of your favorites to celebrate. Make enough to share or invite friends to get creative with chocolate recipes in your kitchen. Are you looking for other ways to add chocolate and almonds to your day? Here are some ideas to share:

  • Top your oatmeal with some chopped dark chocolate and almonds. It will add crunch and flavor.
  • Make up some granola for a mid-snack using chocolate and almonds.
  • Roll up some delicious energy bites with these two amazing ingredients and put them in the freezer for a quick and easy craving quencher.
  • Enjoy them separately! Add dark chocolate to your morning coffee, and top your salad with almonds. You might be missing the “with” but we won’t tell.

While you are celebrating, be sure to use #BittersweetChocolateWithAlmondsDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY

National Chocolate Day, on October 28th, recognizes one of the world’s favorite tastes. While many specific chocolate-related holidays exist throughout the year, National Chocolate Day celebrates all things chocolate.  

Chocolate earns its day of honor by being America’s favorite flavor. (Some sources designate July 7 or December 28 as Chocolate Day or International Chocolate Day.)

How is chocolate made?

Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Humans have been cultivating cacao for at least three millennia. The plant grows in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America. Historians document the earliest known use of cacao seeds at around 1100 BC.

The intense, bitter taste of cocoa requires the bean to be fermented to develop the flavor. Research suggests that chocolate, when eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure.

Once fermented, the beans are dried, cleaned, and roasted.  After roasting, the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The cacao nibs are then ground into cocoa mass, which is pure chocolate in rough form. The cocoa mass is usually liquefied then molded with or without other ingredients. At this point in the process, it is called chocolate liquor. The chocolate liquor may then be processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter.

  • Unsweetened baking chocolate –  cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions.
  • Sweet chocolate –  cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat and sugar.
  • Milk chocolate – sweet chocolate with milk powder or condensed milk.
  • White chocolate – cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids.

Chocolate is a good gift. You can give a variety of chocolate, too. That way you’re more likely to give someone their favorite kind. However, please remember to not give dark or milk chocolate to someone who is allergic to it. White chocolate is the safer option.

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY HISTORY

National Confectioners Association created National Chocolate Day 

Chocolate celebrations include…

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY

Visit your favorite restaurant and indulge in a delicious chocolate dessert. Another idea is to host a chocolate tasting party. Invite friends to bring their best chocolate recipes to share.

Use #NationalChocolateDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL EGG ROLL DAY

Roll out the red carpet for one of the country’s ultimate comfort foods. National Egg Roll Day on June 10th delivers one American Dream story and satisfies a craving (you’re craving one now, you know it) at the same time.

The egg roll began as a Chinese-American tradition that extended to Vietnamese immigrants reaching for the American Dream. These traditions grew from the unfailing dedication of families in chop suey palaces serving hungry workers. Restaurants across the country perfected their own versions of the egg roll with a variety of finely chopped ingredients – pork, shrimp, cabbage, onions, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and seasonings, all rolled up in a thin pastry wrap and deep fried.

Not only is the egg roll a satisfying snack or an exciting part of a meal at home or away, but it’s played an essential role in making dreams come true for several generations of immigrants in the United States. And it continues to be in many ways.

Our ability to celebrate the egg roll is as close as our freezer, telephone, restaurant, or even our own recipe. The egg roll is versatile, too. Our love of the egg roll has evolved it to meet strict diets, exotic flavors, and so much more! What more could we ask for a celebration?

HISTORY

National Egg Roll Day

Van’s Kitchen founded National Egg Roll Day in 2019 to honor the company’s founding in June of 1986. Van and Kim Nguyen, two deserving Vietnamese immigrants, made their ultimate American Dream come to life with their passion for creating authentic egg rolls. Like many immigrant families who came before them, Van and Kim Nguyen came from Vietnam and established a home and family business in Dallas, Texas. They diligently hired hard-working employees, filled out paperwork in a language that was not their own, and created a business model based solely on their greatest strength: making authentic egg rolls for those they love. Using only fresh, whole ingredients and crafting the egg rolls in artisan batches, Van’s Kitchen sets themselves apart by maintaining their decades-long commitment to making every bite the best one.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Celebrate the hard-working history of the egg roll. Pick up a pack of Van’s Kitchen’s artisan batch egg rolls found in hundreds of grocers and convenience stores across the country on your way home and enjoy them with your favorite someone. Use #NationalEggRollDay to share on social media.