Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: June 26th, 2022. Today is National Chocolate Pudding Day and if I had knew about this when I went to the Grocery Store earlier I would have picked up both Instant and Cooked Pudding for Charlie to compare and make in his Homeschool Cooking Class.
National Chocolate Pudding Day
Pudding Trivia:
- Originally Pudding was a British dish, and Pudding could be made on very short notice.
- Ingredients vary, but it was basically a sweetened Porridge made from Flour, Tapioca or Oatmeal and Milk. The term originated in the late 16th Century.
- In Colonial America Cornmeal was cheaper and more readily available, so here, Hasty Pudding was a Cornmeal Mush which is Cornmeal added to boiling Water and cooked with Molasses, Honey, Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup and Milk.
- Did you know there is both savory and dessert versions of Pudding.
- An example of a savory version of Pudding would be a Meat Pudding.
Chocolate Pudding was the lunch table trump snack. If you looked in your Brown Bag Lunch and saw a Snack Pack, SwissMiss, or Jell-o brand Chocolate Pudding, you knew you had top currency. The lunch table and all its contents were your domain, and you could trade for anything you wanted. Not that you ever would, of course. Indulging yourself in a little Chocolate Pudding doesn’t have to be a nostalgic childhood memory or a feel-good pastime.
We’re pleased to tell you that June 26th is National Chocolate Pudding Day, when adults and kids alike can indulge spoonful after spoonful of Chocolate Pudding with abandon. If it’s Pudding’s creaminess and smooth texture that make you melt, you may grimace at its origins as a sometimes-savory Cakey dessert.
In the 17th Century, “Pudding” was served after dinner, and included everything from Grains to raw Mutton fat. Definitely not the spoonable taste we know and love today. While the origin of National Chocolate Pudding Day is a bit obscure, we can at least take comfort in knowing it arose after creamy Pudding was invented in the mid-1800’s. I would like to take my Chocolate Pudding without raw Kidney Fat. How about you?
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE PUDDING DAY ACTIVITIES
- Take homemade Pudding or your favorite pre-made variety and serve it in a Parfait Cup, or get fancy and use Champagne Flutes, Wine Glasses in different colors, or any other container that screams “class”. Then present the dish to your friends. For extra flare, add Fruit, or Whipped Cream, Dark Chocolate Bits or Graham Cracker Sticks. The last thing you want is a Vanilla party on Chocolate Pudding Day so to keep that from happening use your creativity to jazz things up a bit.
- A children’s favorite was making mud pies and you can do that with Chocolate Pudding, Oreos, and Gummy Worms. Arrange the crushed Oreos over the Chocolate Pudding, and push the Gummy Worms halfway into the “dirt” so it looks like they’re emerging. You and your kids will have a blast creating and eating this fun recipe. Today, let the kids get messy because its only Pudding which will come off in the bathtub.
- Find a Chocolate Pudding Cup brand that doesn’t require refrigeration and leave one out for your family with a quirky note. Perhaps something like “Thanks for Pudding up with me all these years”. Even if it’s just “Ore thanks for being party of my family,” which is an easy way to surprise family and celebrate Chocolate Pudding Day.
WHY EVERYONE LOVES NATIONAL CHOCOLATE PUDDING DAY
- It’s officially Summer, and Lemonade and Ice Cream often take the title as top Summer treats, why not cool off with a smooth afternoon Chocolate Pudding cup? Even better, try freezing the Pudding for a delicious chilled dessert. Secret: Pudding companies may tell you not to freeze the cups for fear it will change the texture or flavor, but believe us, it’s an exciting — and healthier alternative to Ice Cream on long Summer days.
- Whether you’re staying loyal to your favorite Pudding cup brand or making your own Pudding from scratch, Chocolate Pudding is a tasty treat. Simply wash out your cup and recycle when you’re done, or if making your own, use the microwave and just five ingredients and in 10 minutes, you’re done. Clean up is no different than any one-bowl dish and no, help is needed in the kitchen when making your Pudding.
- If you have a few extra ingredients lying around and want the best of the best of Chocolate Pudding treats, try mixing them together for a creation all your own. Don’t let those last crumbs of Graham Cracker go to waste mix’em in! Need to use up the Whipped Cream before it loses its texture? Whip up Chocolate Pudding to go with the Whipped Cream.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
