I wanted to share a new #Holiday which is celebrated every November 13th, celebrating National Indian Pudding Day a day to try the Puddings that native Indians used to make using the original ingredients. Molasses and Cornmeal are primary ingredients and give Indian Pudding the perfect rich savoriness and density for a cold November day.
If your #Homeschooling your children and there studying #Indians and they like to cook they could make Indian Pudding for dinner. Which is what I would like for Charlie to do tonight. Would you like to join us for Indian Pudding this evening?
Over the years, people have shifted to new flavors and recipes, which resulted in a silkier texture and more desirable taste. Sometimes, this traditional New England delicacy makes its presence known by a few people with good taste and extends into other parts of the U.S.!
There is no confirmed origin of how and when Indian Pudding was discovered and who discovered it. But what is certain, is that it was made by the local Indians of Northern America. Indian Pudding is the most Native dessert we have and Indian Pudding has remained mostly unchanged since the time the Native Indians used to make it.
Indian Pudding is almost unknown outside New England, although Indian Pudding has been around for three centuries now. The name of the Pudding may suggest that it refers to the Indians living there, but rather the Pudding was named after the Cornmeal, known as ‘Indian Meal’, calling it Indian Pudding.
Local food historians have mentioned Indian Pudding in their books that go back in 1621 when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Colonists, Indian Pudding was made part of the main dishes on the menu.
Indian Pudding maintained its centuries-long hold over the Pudding category until the 1920s and ’30s when Chocolate suddenly arrived in the U.S. The recipes changed because people started shifting towards the sweeter and silkier versions of Indian Pudding.
This Pudding maintained its existence in New England, where it is still among the favorite Puddings of the local people. Outside this area, comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, it is largely unknown.
National Indian Pudding Day was never petitioned in the White House, but still, somehow this dessert ended up having a day for its own name. Each year, November 13th is celebrated in the U.S. as National Indian Pudding Day.
National Indian Pudding Day Activities
- Be adventurous today and add an old flavor profile to your Pudding repertoire, serving Indian Pudding to some of your friends and family.
- Make a short vlog or write a blog and share on Social Media what the above experience was like. If your children want to, let them share the vlog with their friends in class to spread awareness.
- Make National Indian Pudding Day a fun learning process and read about more traditions like this, and share with family and friends about whether you love or hate Indian Pudding. You could even host a MasterChef type of evening where traditional ingredients go into creating unique new recipes.
Facts About Indian Pudding
- Indian Pudding is a Bread-type of Pudding that is similar to the Cinnamon / spiced types of Pies that Americans love.
- Foodies have revealed that the rich and savory flavor of Indian Pudding blends perfectly with the softness and sweetness of Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream.
- Because Indian Pudding contains less Sugar than most modern Puddings, it’s good for the waistline.
- Hasty Pudding is a Pudding of Grains cooked in Milk or Water, specifically a version made primarily with ground (‘Indian’) Corn.
- Indian Pudding is mentioned in the lyrics of ‘Yankee Doodle’, a traditional American song of the 18th Century.
Why People Love National Indian Pudding Day
Celebrating today as National Indian Pudding Day gives us an excuse to prepare ourselves for the coming cold of Winter. Indian Pudding has all the ingredients in it to make a perfect delicacy for you to enjoy during mid-November when it’s getting colder, and you need something earthy, savory, and rich to enjoy.
Indian Pudding is an truly American dessert. That alone makes it worth trying! Sometimes it is good to be old-fashioned and keep the traditions alive. Where the new lifestyles and modern eating habits have ensured we stay on our toes, occasionally we deserve a break from this quick lifestyle and revert to following our traditions.
Indian Pudding
Ingredients
4 cups whole milk
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
Pour the mixture into the greased casserole dish. Bake for 2 hours or until the pudding is firm and the top is browned.
Preheat oven to 300°F. Butter a 1½-quart casserole dish.
Bring milk to a simmer in a double boiler over high heat.
Slowly combine cornmeal to the milk. Cook for about 15 minutes, whisking frequently, until the cornmeal is smooth.
Slowly add the molasses, then remove from heat. Add brown sugar, butter, eggs, salt, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then stir until smooth.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
