Food Holidays: December 14th, 2021

Good everyone welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: December 14th, 2021. Todays is National Lemon Cupcake Day. I was with my sister Christmas Shopping this morning and with today being Lemom Cupcake Day we should have stopped for a treat because we both love Lemon Cupcakes and could have shared one with David. Would you have liked to join us for a Lemon Cupcake. If so would you bring some Milk please.

National Gingerbread Latte Day**

1. Did you know according to Swedish tradition, you can make a wish using Gingerbread. Will the wish come true I have no, clue. Do you?

2. The first mention of the “Latte” was made by William Dean Howells in his 1867 essay, “Italian Journeys.”

3. Queen Elizabeth I is credited for creating the first Gingerbread Men.

4. English women in the 1600’s believed Coffee “made men as unfruitful as the deserts.” Do you think this is true?

5. The “Gingerbread Capitol of the World” is Nuremburg, Germany.

HISTORY OF GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY

Nothing brings in the Holidays like the smell of fresh baked Gingerbread in any form. But before the decorative Cookie led the popularity contest on the Holiday dessert table, baking Gingerbread was acknowledged as a specific profession. In the 17th Century, only professional Gingerbread Bakers were allowed to make Gingerbread, except at Christmas and Easter, when anyone was allowed to bake Gingerbread.

In Europe, Gingerbread was sold in special shops and Seasonal Markets that sold sweets and Gingerbread shaped as hearts, stars, soldiers, babies, trumpets, swords, pistols, or animals. Gingerbread was especially sold outside Churches on Sundays. Religious Gingerbread reliefs were purchased for particular religious events such as Christmas and Lent. Decorated Gingerbread was given as presents to adults and children or as a love token bought specifically for Weddings.

Gingerbread was also considered a form of popular art in Europe. Gingerbread Molds often displayed actual happenings by portraying new rulers, their children, spouses, and parties. Substantial mold collections are held at the Ethnographic Museum in Toruń, Poland and the Bread Museum in Ulm, Germany. According to food historians, the tradition of creating Gingerbread Houses started in Germany in the early 1800s. The first Gingerbread Houses were the result of the well-known Grimm’s fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel.” After this story was published, German Bakers began baking Ornamented Fairy-Tale Houses made from Gingerbread and brought over to America by German Immigrants and became popular during the Christmas season.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY ACTIVITIES

1. Gater your family together and bake a Gingerbread House from scratch. Gingerbread Dough is easy to make. You might need to run to the store for Spices including Ground Ginger, Cinnamon, or Cloves and Molasses, but we’re willing to bet almost everything else is in your pantry. The hardest part is measuring out the walls and roof for your Gingerbread House before you make your creation. If you have extra dough, why not create Gingerbread Men and Women and Pets to go along with your Gingerbread Home?
2. Bake or purchase a bunch of Gingerbread House pieces, White Frosting, and tons of colorful candy. Invite your friends, throw on Holiday Tunes, and see who can make the most decorated Gingerbread House!
3. Come December, Gingerbread Latte seem to pop up on Coffee Shop menus all across the Country. If you can’t seem to find this drink near you, it’s easy to create. Either purchase Gingerbread Syrup or make your own by simmering Water, Sugar, Ground Ginger, Cinnamon, and Allspice on the stove until it reduces and thickens. Mix the Syrup with a shot of Espresso and top it off with warm Milk.

WHY WE LOVE GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY

1. People in Europe had been eating Gingerbread for Centuries, but we can thank the Brothers Grimm for the popularity of Gingerbread Houses. They published Hansel and Gretel in the 19th Century. The Fairy Tale where a witch lures the brother and sister into captivity in her house made out of Gingerbread and Candy, and then tries to fatten the children up to eat them. The story became popular in Germany, and people started baking Gingerbread Houses during the Holidays as a result.
2. There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned Arts and Crafts project to make you feel like a kid again. And that’s even more true when the materials for your crafting are a) edible and b) chock full of sugar. Throw in the childlike excitement that comes out in people of all ages around the Holidays and that is the trifecta.
3. The main flavor in Gingerbread is, Ginger. Which gives Gingerbread that warm Holiday taste and subtly spicy kick. Ginger also happens to have a host of health benefits: including helping with Indigestion or Nausea, is Anti-inflammatory, and might even lower Cholesterol Levels, Lower Heart Disease risk factors, and have some Cancer-fighting properties.

National Lemon Cupcake Day

Lemon Cupcake Day is on December 15th of each year. A day that’s all about bite-sized pieces of Heaven filled with Lemony goodness? Out of all the Cupcakes in the world, the humble Lemon Cupcake remains my favorite. A little bit sweet, a little tart, the distinctive taste of Lemon Cupcakes is hard to beat. There’s something about a Lemon Cupcake that reminds us of Summer afternoons at home. I love how there’s a day dedicated to this unassuming Cupcake.

HISTORY OF LEMON CUPCAKE DAY

Who invented Lemon Cupcake Day? Nobody knows for sure, but we’re glad someone did. What we know is that Cupcakes have been around a while. Did you know The United States can lay some claim to inventing Cupcakes? One of the earliest mentions of a “Cupcake” was in 1796 as a recipe notation. In her book “American Cookery,” Amelia Simmons mentions “a light cake to bake in small cups” in her notes.

Soon, baking tiny cakes in their own molds became an easy and popular method with cooks everywhere. Cupcakes were the perfect dessert and they weree quick to make, easy on waistlines. Cupcakes were the quintessential snack cake everyone needed.

The 20th Century elevated the Cupcake with an addition that made all the difference. Frosting! And there’s been no looking back since. From kitchens of talented home chefs to fine dining. The Cupcake is everywhere. Would a Coffee run be complete without Cupcakes? No. Is a kids’ Birthday Party even a party without Cupcakes? The world thinks not.

The sheer variety of Cupcakes today is dizzying. There are traditional flavors like Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting. Some Cupcakes have toppings of Coconut, Cream Cheese, or even laced with Guinness.

Ff it’s a classic Lemon Cupcake you seek, nothing can beat the flavor of the Lemon Cupcake. Typically made with standard cupcake ingredients but with Lemon-flavored batter. This is why we celebrate Lemon Cupcake Day each year.

HOW TO CELEBRATE LEMON CUPCAKE DAY

1. We love Cupcakes because they’re so simple to make. Did you know Lemon Cupcakes are one of the easiest to prepare? All you need to do is add a twist of Lemon to classic cupcake ingredients.
2. Pick up a Lemon Cupcakes from your favorite bakery but before paying for them check to see if your local bakery has a special deal on Lemon Cupcakes.
3. Order batches of Lemon Cupcakes a few days before the Holiday and have them delivered to your neighbors. This is the perfect way to show people you care.

5 FACTS ABOUT MUFFINS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

1. Muffins aren’t Cupcakes. The Batter consistency, Frosting, and mixing differentiate one from the other.
2. Hawkers in 19th Century England sold Muffins, Since most houses did not have ovens, hawkers went door to door to sell this snack bread.
3. Did you know some States have official Muffins? Minnesota’s official state Muffin is Blueberry, while New York’s is Apple!
4. The largest muffin weighed 323 lb. Schär and NIP food in Milan made Muffin history with their creation on October 16th, 2015.
5. Blueberry is America’s most popular Muffin flavor. While I thought it would be Banana Nut. How about you what did you think the most popular Muffin is and why?

WHY PEOPLE LOVE LEMON CUPCAKE DAY

1. In a world inundated with options, we love the elegance of the Classic Lemon Cupcake. A special day for Lemon Cupcakes is what the world needs.
2. Lemons have unparalleled health benefits. Even in desserts. Lemon Cupcakes have all the goodness of dessert without the over-indulgence.
3. Nothing evokes Summer or Spring like the Lemon Cupcake. Bringing Summer sunshine home despite the Holiday being in December is easy, thanks to Lemon Cupcake Day!

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates