Food Holidays: December 19th, 2022

Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: December 19th, 2022. Today is National Hard Candy Day. I love that this Holiday is celebrated during Christmas because I can pick up a Candy Cane or Peppermint Stick or the old Fashioned Ribbon Candy my dad liked to celebrate today with.

National Hard Candy Day

NATIONAL HARD CANDY DAY ACTIVITIES

If you have the time then to celebrate National Hard Candy Day you could make your own Lollipops. Making your own hard Candy isn’t typically the first thing we think of when coming up with homemade goods. Lollipops could easily make their way onto that list. As long as you can find a mold which is available in baking shops you can buy the ingredients for Lollipops in any Supermarket. Then, it’s just a matter of mixing, melting and pouring. Choose which colors and flavors suit you best. You could even suspend something in the middle. Gum, edible Flower petals, or Insects for the adventurous are all great ideas.
It’s the holiday season, and thanks to hard Candy’s brilliant colors, there’s more to these sweets than just eating. Find a clear vase with a funky shape, an old bottle with a wide mouth, or any other container, and fill it with whatever Candy looks best. If the wrappers are all the same color, this can still give off a gift-theme vibe.
If you’re a dyed in the wool Werther’s fan, maybe it’s time to venture out of Candy Cane Court and into Lemon Drop Lane. There’s a whole world of hard Candies out there, from Fruit flavored to Chocolate Cream and even more obscure flavors, like Wild Flowers or Cinnamon. You never know what your favorite might be.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL HARD CANDY DAY

Of course not every hard Candy can claim to be good for the body, but there are reasons why hard Candy takes the form it does today. Originally, hard Candies made with Lemon or Peppermint were likely given to patients with stomach problems. The slow release of these ingredients, which are known stomachache remedies, was and is still a great way to ingest them. Tell your dentist all those Christmastime Candy Canes were for helping your indigestion.
What was once an old legend now has some basis in Science. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found that sucking on a Peppermint while taking a test can increase concentration ability. Other studies have demonstrated that a quick burst of Sugar can help people persevere longer on difficult tasks, and can delay gratification. Consider this next time you’ve got a long day of work ahead of you.
Unlike that plate of Christmas Cookies you wolfed down the other night, hard Candy is designed to last. A single, cheap Lollipop will give you Cherry or Grape flavors for far longer than other treats. In fact, we’re still waiting to know how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. While Wonka’s Everlasting Gobstopper isn’t yet a reality, confectioners have come a long way to give us a gift that keeps on giving.

Here are five facts to know about Candy:

Less than two percent of the calories in the American diet are supplied by Candy.
In Europe during the Middle Ages, the high cost of Sugar made Sugar Candy a delicacy available only to the wealthy.
Candy is simply made by dissolving Sugar in Water. The different heating levels determine the types of Candy: Hot temperatures make hard Candy, medium heat will make Soft Candy and cool temperatures make chewy Candy.
Candies, including Lollipops, Candy Canes, Gummy Bears, Gum Drops, Licorice Twist and Sour Balls are free of fat and cholesterol, making them a healthier treat than many people realize.
A Lollipop, which was invented by George Smith in 1908, which was named after Lolly Pop, a racing Horse

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

Oatmeal is known for its health benefits, and millions of people start each day with an Oatmeal Muffin. Oatmeal includes health benefits for our hearts. Finding ways to incorporate Oatmeal into our diets increases the opportunities to reap those benefits. Oatmeal Muffins are another way to enjoy Oatmeal.

The American Muffin is similar in size and shape to a Cupcake. Recipes for Oatmeal Muffins began to appear in American Cookbooks in the mid-1800s. Raisins, Bananas, Blueberries and other healthy Fruits often compliment Oatmeal Muffins. Add Nuts for even more health benefits and texture, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE OATMEAL MUFFIN DAY

Bake Oatmeal Muffins to share them with family.

Use #OatmealMuffinDay to share on Social Media.

Oatmeal FAQ

A 4-ounce oatmeal muffin contains approximately 160 calories.

Oatmeal Muffins can be healthier than other Muffins depending on the ingredients used to make the Muffins.

Adding Oatmeal to a Muffin recipe increases the fiber content, which is a good thing.

Oatmeal is also known to be good for the heart.

Combining Oatmeal Muffins with Fruit will allow you to reduce the amount of processed Sugar used, too.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates