Good evening, how are you tonight? I wanted to share our series sharing Food Holidays: January 19th, 2022. It’s starting to get cold in our home which means its cooling down outside, so I am headed to my couch with a cup of Hot Chocolate and my blanket. I think I will pass on celebrating a Holiday today even though its National Cheese Lover’s Day and I’ve having Spaghetti and it wouldn’t be Spaghetti if we didn’t add Parmesan Cheese to it.
National Buttercrunch Day
National Buttercrunch Day is celebrated on January 20th and this Holiday recognizes the Toffee candy that comes in different varieties.
Buttercrunch is a combination of Toffee, covered with Chocolate and Buttercrunch has a crunchy texture and a Caramel flavor. There is the traditional recipe along with variations that include Toasted Almond Sprinkles.
When is National English Toffee Day?
Preparing Buttercrunch calls for a good Candy Thermometer and a little bit of cooking experience. Creating the Toffee involves Caramelizing Sugar at high temperatures, which requires precision, timing, and the right tools. You must use safety techniques for a successful outcome. Recipes must be followed closely. The stage the Sugar is supposed to reach the hard-crack stage will determine when you remove the Sugar from the heat. You also have to move quickly and safely. Did you know Sugar burns at 300°F + and can and will leave blisters and scars?
When you’ve mastered Candy-making skills, the finished products are delicious and worth sharing. Buttercrunch and treats make terrific gifts during the Holidays. Buttercrunch stores well for a time. Keep Buttercrunch to serve over Ice Cream or add as a garnish to Cakes or Cookies.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalButtercrunchDay
On January 20th, make Buttercrunch to share with your friends. Sprinkle Buttercrunch over your favorite desserts or look for a Buttercrunch-flavored Creamer for your morning coffee.
Use #NationalButtercrunchDay to post on Social Media.
On January 20th, get ready to ‘have a a ‘Gouda’ time, because it’s National Cheese Lover’s Day! Have you ever wondered how the first human discovered Cheese? All we know is that it was love at first bite; when the first human tasted the goodness of Cheese. We can definitively say that human history was forever changed. Cheese might have had mysterious beginnings over 7,000 years ago, but Cheese is insanely popular today. In the U.S, one-third of all Milk produced in this Country goes into Cheese production. Cheese is a multi-billion-dollar industry!
NATIONAL CHEESE LOVER’S DAY ACTIVITIES
- Get to know the Cheesemonger at your grocery story and ask them to try something new. Will today be the day you try that mysterious ‘cave-aged Gruyere’ or a Danish Blue? Whatever you buy, it’s sure to be delicious.
- Fondue is big vat of bubbly Cheese, that’s been mixed up with Wine or Beer? What are you going to dip your Fondue in? Meats, Bread, or Veggies? Don’t forget the Meat will cook when you dip it in the hot Fondue. The Bread and Veggies will warm as well.
- Did you know you can make your own Ricotta or ‘Paneer. All you and need is little more than Whole Milk, Lemon or Vinegar, a big pot and Cheesecloth for straining.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CHEESE LOVER’S DAY
- Did you know that some of the components of Milk help Calves stay calm and healthy? Follow-up fact: These components get super-concentrated in Cheese? When humans eat Cheese, these same feel-good chemicals are let loose. That must explain why we feel so fantastic when we eat Cheese.
- A fluffy Ricotta can make Broccoli yummy, and a crumbly-fresh Feta can make Salad sing. There is a huge variety to Cheese, across Cultures. Making Cheese a perfect accompaniment to any dish! The next time you go to the store, make sure to look beyond Mozzarellas and Cheddars.
- Even Dairy-avoiders can find something to love. As much as Americans love dairy-based Cheese, more and more of us are avoiding Dairy. Thanks to growing amounts of Lactose Intolerance, our brains might say yes, but our stomachs are are saying, no.” Thankfully, a growing industry in Non-dairy, Nut-based Cheeses is helping to fill the gaps.
Five Food Finds about Cheese
- Cheeses are more flavorful at room temperature, and you should let the Cheese stand for a half hour before serving.
- Cheese is an ancient food whose origins predate recorded history.
- Artisan Cheese, made in small batches from local sources, is growing at a pace that exceeds even the growth rate of general Cheese consumption in America.
- Some studies claim that Cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss and American cheeses can help prevent tooth decay.
- A study by the British Cheese Board in 2005 showed Cheese has positive effects on sleep, not nightmares as Ebeneser Scrooge seemed to think.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
