Food Holidays: March 26th, 2022

I would like to welcome you to our series sharing Food Holidays: March 26th, 2022. Today is National Nougat Day and also National Spinach Day. If I had to choose which Holiday, I wanted to celebrate I would choose National Nougat Day and ask for a 3 Musketeers even though I should choose Spinach and make a Salad. Which Holiday would you most like to share and why?

National Nougat Day

Interesting food facts about Nougat:

• Did you know the3 Musketeer Bars originally consisted of three flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry.  During WWII rationing, they were limited to Vanilla flavoring, & they remain this way today.
• Nougat is commonly found in Candy Bars, including Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, and Snickers.
• Today’s Nougat is a mixture of Sucrose and Corn Syrup with a whipping agent to create its fluffy texture.
• Nougat was added to Candy Bars to resemble the texture and flavor of Ice Cream which is why early Candy Bars with Nougat were commonly served frozen.
• The word Nougat comes from Occitan which is a southern French dialect pan nogat, from nux gatum, which means Nutbread.

We always support the underdog at National Today and this time on National Nougat Day on March 26, we are cheering for this often-overlooked candy. Whether you like your sweets soft, smooth, crunchy, fluffy, or a combination of all those, the iconic nougat has got your back, fam. The classic dessert is made with whipped egg whites, sweet honey, and roasted nuts. This version of the white nougat is the most common one out there. Other forms also include brown, black, and beige — each varying due to cultural differences. This sweet treat has an interesting history. You may have eaten a chocolate bar that is filled with nougat a hundred times, but did you know that the original purpose of putting nougat inside a chocolate bar was to create an illusionary ice-cream effect? Now that’s neat and sweet! 

History of Nougat

Did you know illusionary effects and magical journeys are part of Nougat’s history. While today Nougat is enjoyed all over the world. Each region adds its unique flavors to it, creating many disputes as to where Nougat exactly originated from.  

Historical scholars claim that the first recorded instance of Nougat being consumed was in the Middle East during the 10th Century. Iraq, Syria, and Turkey have several Centuries-old manuscripts that point to their existence. On the other hand, historians also have recorded evidence of Nougat existing in the first Century in Rome. Another fascinating story of Nougat’s origins points to a Chef inventing the recipe on the spot in honor of a wedding couple. 

As globalization increased over the Centuries, the Nougat traveled from the Middle East to Europe, and then to the rest of the world, gaining popularity as it did so. Before the Nougat became common amongst the masses, Nougat was considered a luxury, only being eaten at special occasions including Weddings, Birthdays, and Christmas. During WW2, Nougat was also rationed among Soldiers to give them a morale boost. 

The word ‘Nougat’ originates from the French dialect Occitan and Nougat means ‘Nut Bread’ or ‘Nut Cake,’ which is interesting because Nougat does not have any key ingredients that make a Bread except for Eggs, and that too only Egg Whites. With all these wonderful reasons at its core, National Nougat Day has a special place in many people’s hearts, and it’s not just because of its delicious taste.

NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY ACTIVITIES

1. To appreciate Nougat in all its glory, consume the sweet without any add-ons and you will be able to relish the sweetness that will be accompanied by legendary tales about Nougat.
2. The inner child in us always squeals with delight and excitement when the smells of Sugar, Caramel, and Nuts hang heavy in the air. Candy Stores are lined with varieties of sweets that are an equal delight to the eyes as they are to the stomach, these stores take us on a nostalgic adventure of our childhoods.
3. Why limit yourself to just one kind of Nougat when you can have different varieties? A lot of people like the Italian Nougat called, Torrone or Turron, and this Nougat is scented with Honey or Citrus Fruits.

5 FACTS ABOUT EGG WHITES

1. Egg Whites are 90% water and 10% protein, which is a drastic difference in Nutrition as compared to Yolks that are full of Cholesterol.
2. Containing about 54 g Potassium, which is an essential Electrolyte for your neuron-, bone-, and cell functioning, Egg Whites are the ultimate energy health bombs.
3. Recent studies have shown that consuming Egg Whites can help reduce the risk of developing hypertension.
4. While there is no Scientific backing to this claim, many age-old remedies point to Egg Whites being beneficial for hair growth and shine.
5. Eating Egg Whites, which contain Riboflavin (vitamin B12), can help prevent age-related diseases like Cataracts and Macular Degeneration.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY

1. Nougat with Chocolate or Nuts and Raisins, Coffee, or Wine, Nougat is a delicious treat that satisfies the senses with its various textures. Nougat’s versatility means you can add your preferences to it and still have it turn out great.
2. Historians have debated endlessly about the true origins of Nougat which has popped up in several regions in the world over the Centuries. What is interesting is that there is little to no chance for these regions to have had any contact with outsiders because travel was scarce due to its dangers and lengths in the old times. Yet despite these Geographical distances, Nougat’s importance in many Cultures shows how similar humans can be at the core.
3. Did you know it is a truth universally acknowledged that humans have a separate stomach to store all sweet treats/desserts? I didn’t know that, but it does make sense, doesn’t it? Which is why no matter how full we may be, there’s always room for dessert especially Nougat.

National Spinach Day

Popeye the world’s best-loved animated Sailor deserves to be celebrated since it’s National Spinach Day on March 26th! Not only does Spinach provide Iron, but Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. Not to mention Manganese and Magnesium.

NATIONAL SPINACH DAY ACTIVITIES

1. We’ve discussed a lot of different ways to enjoy Spinach, but we bet you’ve only tried a couple of them. If you usually enjoy cooked Spinach, make a Spinach Salad for your next meal. Or if you love you raw-Spinach-y goodness, try it cooked! It’s nice to expand your palette, and to get a couple new recipes to prepare for dinner.
2. If you have a green thumb, grow Spinach on your windowsill or your backyard. There are a couple bonuses to growing Spinach which will save you money, because you’re not purchasing Spinach from the store. It will provide you with a challenge. We all know keeping a plant alive is no walk in the park and it will put you on the path to sustainability.
3. Open an old Comic Book or go troll Youtube for old shows where Popeye was featured. Everyone’s favorite Spinach-eating Sailor deserves a little extra love on National Spinach Day.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL SPINACH DAY

1. It’s because Spinach is one of the healthiest vegetables and Spinach is delicious to boot! Spinach is rich in water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, Iron, calcium, cancer-fighting Antioxidants, Phytonutrients and we could go on and on. When Spinach is raw, it’s basically a super-food. Although Spinach loses some of its nutrients when it’s cooked, it still maintains enough of them to be incredibly healthy. Did you know a bit of Spinach a day keeps the doctor away! I didn’t and not only that I thought it was Apples. How about you?
2. There are so many different, ways to cook Spinach and they go way beyond boiling Spinach into mush like your mother used to do. Did you know the classic unhealthy way to cook Spinach is to boil it and add Heavy Cream creating Creamed Spinach! You can also use Spinach completely raw to make a Salad. Just add Vinaigrette and Craisins for your Salad. Or you could sprinkle Spinach Leaves into your next Stir-Fry or add them into a homemade Burrito for a quick calorie and nutrient boost.
3. To us, one of the world’s most amazing sights is how much Spinach reduces in size when it’s cooked. Have you ever added an entire bag of Baby Spinach to a pan until it was overflowing? Have you questioned how you were going to add any of the other ingredients in your recipe? Then have you watched the Spinach reduce at least six times in size until the Spinach barely took up any space in the pan? Spinach constantly reminds us of how amazing Science is.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates