Did you know....by Divinity

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“[Breadbaking is] one of those almost hypnotic businesses, like a dance from some ancient ceremony. It leaves you filled with one of the world's sweetest smells...there is no chiropractic treatment, no Yoga exercise, no hour of meditation in a music-throbbing chapel, that will leave you emptier of bad thoughts than this homely ceremony of making bread.”
M. F. K. Fisher (1908-1992) ‘The Art of Eating’


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Bagels and Lox Day
* St. Apollonia's Day, patron of dentists.

1854 Coffee County, Georgia was founded.

1870 The creation of the U.S. Weather Service (National Weather Service) was authorized by Congress

1883 Garnet Carter was born. He invented miniature golf in 1926.

1889 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was established as a Cabinet level agency.

1894 Hershey's Chocolate Company was founded as a subsidiary of Milton S. Hershey's Lancaster Caramel Company.

1895 Volleyball is invented by W.G. Morgan.

1901 Fred Harvey died in Leavenworth, Kansas. Born in 1835 in London, Frederick Henry Harvey, was an American restaurateur who operated a chain of restaurants called the 'Harvey House,' and a series of railroad dining cars and hotels. The restaurants were opened along the route of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and were staffed by ‘Harvey Girls’, who over the years numbered in the thousands. Will Rogers said Harvey "kept the West in food and wives."

1909 Carmen Miranda was born. Brazilian singer and actress. Appeared in many Hollywood movies, she was known as "the Brazilian bombshell” and also "the lady in the tutti-frutti hat."

2001 The American submarine USS Greenville accidentally strikes and sinks a Japanese fishing & high school training ship, the Ehime-Maru. Nine crew members of the Ehime Maru and 4 high school students were drowned. The submarine was practicing an emergency rapid surfacing maneuver at the time.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
According to the company, Uncle Ben was an African American Texas rice grower, who had a reputation for the quality of his harvested rice. Supposedly his rice became the standard by which all other rice was judged.
During WW II, Gordon L. Harwell's company, Converted Rice, Inc., supplied high quality rice to the U.S. Armed Forces. After the war, the company began offering the same high quality rice to consumers, and named it ‘Uncle Ben's’ after the Texas rice grower.”

“Rice doesn't need conversion.”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“A cat will look down to a man. A dog will look up to a man. But a pig will look you straight in the eye and see his equal.”
Winston Churchill


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Cream Cheese Brownie Day

1775 English author and poet Charles Lamb was born.

1835 Victor Hensen was born. An oceanographer, he coined the name 'plankton' for the tiny organisms in found water. Practically all animal life in the sea is ultimately dependent on plankton.

1846 Ira Remsen was born. He was an American chemist, co-discoverer of saccharin, the artificial sweetener.

1933 The Postal Telegraph Co. of New York City delivers the first singing telegram.

1944 Author Frances Moore Lappe was born. She is the author of the best selling 'Diet for a Small Planet' (1971) which indirectly encouraged a vegetarian diet, by demonstrating that raising animals for food was an extremely wasteful use of resources. Also: 'World Hunger: 12 Myths', 'Food First', 'Taking Population Seriously'. etc.

1945 The Andrews Sisters recording of 'Rum and Coca Cola' hit #1 on the popular music charts.

1957 The ‘Styrofoam’ cooler was invented.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has a root system that can reach down more than 40 feet, and is very drought resistance. Alfalfa is one of the most nutritious fodder crops, and is also an excellent honey crop for bees. Alfalfa sprouts are used in salads, and the leaves may also be used raw or cooked as a vegetable.
Alfalfa is supposedly one of the oldest known plants used for livestock feed, with records of its use as early as 1,000 BC in the Middle East.”

“A neighbor had bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday
morning and saw that someone had sprayed red paint all around the sides
of this
beige truck for some unknown reason. I went over, woke him up, and told
him the
bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do.
>
> Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it
off.
It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm the paint job
that
was on the truck. I was impressed!
>
> Water Displacement #40. The product began from a search for a rust
preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was
created
in 1953 by three technicians a the
> San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that
was to find a 'water displacement' compound.
> They were successful with the fortieth formulation; thus WD-40. The
Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
>
> Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40
that would hurt you...'It is made from fish oil.'
>
> When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
> It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If
yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. Then try it on your
stove top.
It is now shinier than it has ever been before.
>
> 1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
> 2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
> 3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
> 4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it
slippery.
> 5) Keeps flies off cows!
> 6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
> 7) Removes lipstick stains.
> 8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
> 9) Untangles jewelry chains.
> 10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
> 11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
> 12) Keeps ceramic/terra-cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
> 13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
> 14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water-spots.
> 15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
> 16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
> 17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
> 18) Removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor.
> 19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car.
> WD 40 will remove the bug guts!
> 20) Gives children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
> 21) Lubricates gear shift on lawn mowers.
> 22) Rids kids' rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
> 23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to
open.
> 24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
> 25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well
as
vinyl bumpers.
> 26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
> 27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
> 28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for
easy
handling.
> 29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running
smoothly.
> 30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
> 31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
> 32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
> 33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
> 34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
> 35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
> 36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve
arthritis pain.
> 37) Florida's favorite use:
> Cleans and removes Love Bugs from grills, and bumpers.
> 38) Protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
> 39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you
will
be catching the big one in no time.
> 40) Fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the
itch.
> 41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.?Spray on the mark
and
wipe with a clean rag.
> 42) If you've washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of
laundry,saturate the lipstick spots with?
> WD-40 and re-wash.... Presto! Lipstick is gone!
> 43) If you spray WD-40 on the distributor cap, it will displace the
moisture and allow the car to start.
> 44) Keep a can of WD-40 in your kitchen cabinet over the stove. It is
good
for oven burns or any other type of burn.
> It takes the burned feeling away and heals with NO scarring.
>
> Remember, the basic ingredient is FISH OIL!”

“Nope, that's not true. It's petroleum based.”

“ya think it would work like KY ???...wink...”

“I wouldn't recommend it. ;)”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Peppermint Patty Day
* Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

1752 The first hospital in America opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1785 The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture was founded. It is the oldest active agricultural organization in the U.S.

1802 Lydia Maria Francis Child was born. An American abolitionist and author of novels and children’s books. She also wrote books of advice for women including 'The Frugal Housewife' (1829).

1847 Thomas Alva Edison was born. Chefs use his inventions everyday, including light and music to work by.

1926 Paul Bocuse, French chef, was born at Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, France. He is known as one of the founders of 'nouvelle cuisine'.

1963 Julia Child's 'The French Chef' premiered on TV.

1977 The heaviest lobster known was caught off Nova Scotia, weighing in at 44 lb 6 oz (20.14 kg).

1979 Singer and actress Brandy was born (Brandy Norwood).

1994 Use of the genetically engineered growth hormone for cows, rBGH begins. Controversy abounds.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Anise is an annual herb native to the Mediterranean area, but now cultivated in many places, including North and South America, the former Soviet Union, southern Europe, etc.
Anise is one of the oldest cultivated spices and was enjoyed by the early Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. In first century Rome, anise was a flavoring in mustaceus, a popular spice cake baked in bay leaves and eaten after a feast to prevent indigestion.
Anise became so valued in England that its import was taxed. In 1305, the import tolls collected on anise seed helped pay for repairs to the London Bridge.
Today, anise seed is used as flavoring in candies, cough drops, liqueurs, tobacco, cakes, sausages, sauces, chewing gum, pickles, etc.”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“A fruit is a vegetable with looks and money. Plus, if you let fruit rot, it turns into wine, something Brussels sprouts never do.”
P. J. O'Rourke (1947 - )


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Plum Pudding Day
* St. Julian the Hospitaler, patron of travelers and innkeepers.

1791 Peter Cooper was born. American inventor and founder of the 'Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.' He also obtained the first American patent for the manufacture of gelatin. In 1895, a cough syrup manufacturer, Pearl B. Wait purchased the patent and developed a packaged gelatin dessert. Wait's wife, May David Wait named it Jell-O.

1809 Charles Darwin was born. English naturalist who developed the 'theory of evolution,' inspired in large part by his visit to the isolated Galapagos Islands. His works include 'Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man.'

1872 Silas Noble and James P. Cooley of Massachusetts patented a toothpick making machine.

1881 Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova was born (according to the new Gregorian calendar; January 31 on the Julian calendar*). A famous dessert of Australian or New Zealand origin was named for her. *See October 4 for more information on the calendar adjustment.

1935 (Georges-) Auguste Escoffier died. "the king of chefs and the chef of kings."

1961 'Shop Around' by 'The Miracles' becomes Motown Records first million selling single.

1973 The first metric distance road signs in the U.S., were erected between Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.

1976 The popular food coloring, Red Dye No. 2, was banned by the FDA because studies had shown it might cause cancer. Red M&Ms disappeared for 11 years because of the ban.

2000 Charles M. Schulz died. American cartoonist, best known for the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
French Toast: Bartolomeo de Sacchi di Piadena (known as 'Platina') (15th century) wrote 'De honesta voluptate', which contained his views on food, spices, etc., discussing both culinary and medicinal uses . Many of the recipes in the second part of his book are from an earlier work by Martino.

In this book, Platina describes a dish of bread soaked in egg batter and fried. A recipe is also given in 'The Accomplisht Cook' by R. May (1660) for:
”French Toasts. Cut French Bread, and toast it in pretty thick toasts on a clean gridiron, and serve them steeped in claret, sack, or any wine, with sugar and juice of orange.”

Called 'poor knights pudding' or 'poor knights of Windsor' in England and 'pain perdu' (lost bread) in French, originally it was most likely a way to make use of crusts and stale bread”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
Table manners: “Be careful not to be the first to put your hands in the dish. What you cannot hold in your hands you must put on your plate. Also it is a great breach of etiquette when your fingers are dirty and greasy, to bring them to your mouth in order to lick them, or to clean them on your jacket. It would be more decent to use the tablecloth.”
Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch priest and scholar, in his 'Treatise on manners' published in 1530


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Cafe Au Lait Day
* Feast of Shesmu, Egyptian god of the Wine Press.
* Fornacalia; Old Roman Bread Festival or Feast of Ovens

1665 Rudolph Jacob Camerarius was born. A German botanist, he showed the existence of sexes in plants, and identified the stamen and pistil as the male and female organs.

1876 Canned sardines went on sale in the U.S. for the first time. They were packed in oil. (Some sources say 1873).

1889 H.L. Hunt, the pioneering Texas oil millionaire (Hunt Oil Company) was born. He carried a brown bag lunch to his office each day and considered himself as 'just plain folks.'

1958 'Sugartime' by the McGuire Sister topped the charts.

2002 New regulations to go into effect this year require German pig farmers to spend at least 20 seconds every day with each pig, 10 seconds in the morning and 10 seconds in the afternoon. I do not know about what regulations there might be for spending time with German cows, sheep, chickens and other farm animals.

2008 The USDA announced the largest beef recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a California slaughterhouse.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Eating tomatoes or drinking tomato juice can help prevent airline passengers from developing deep vein thrombosis on long flights. Known as DVT, it involves blood clots developing, typically when people spend too long sitting down. As many as 12 per cent of long haul airline passengers have been found to have clots. Flavonoids and similar components in tomatoes thin the blood, without the danger of stomach bleeding that can be caused by aspirin, also a blood thinner.”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“Bread, milk and butter are of venerable antiquity. They taste of the morning of the world.”
Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) 'The Seer'


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Chocolate Mint Day

1764 Gottlieb Sigismund Kirchhof was born. He discovered glucose, developed a method for refining vegetable oil, and also experimented with brewing and fermentation.

1847 The Donner Party is rescued after being snowbound in the Sierra Nevadas. Almost half of the original 87 members died, and some of the survivors seemed to be well fed considering the ordeal they went through. Cannibalism itself is not a crime, and no charges were ever brought.

1855 Bread Riots in Liverpool.

1903 Tsingtao, China's first brewery, was founded by German settlers. (Some sources say it was 1897).

1906 Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company (W.K. Kellogg Company) was founded by Will Keith Kellogg to manufacture breakfast cereals (cornflakes).

1913 Cracker Jack began to put prizes in each box.

1976 Iceland broke off diplomatic relations with Great Britain when the two couldn't settle their disagreement on the 'cod war' fishing rights issue.

1985 Cherry Coke was introduced. Actually, soda fountains (remember them?) had been making them for decades.

1999 The world's largest strawberry shortcake was created in McCall Park, Plant City, Florida, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. The city holds the Guinness record for the world's largest strawberry shortcake, over 6,000 pounds.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Jack cheese, or Monterey Jack cheese is a cooked, semi-soft whole milk or skim milk cheese. When aged or dry it resembles Cheddar, but when soft and unaged it is similar to Muenster in flavor. Aged varieties are usually found only locally in California, but the softer variety and a soft version with jalapeno peppers (Pepper Jack or Jalapeno Jack) are widely available throughout the U.S. Sonoma Jack is made in Sonoma County, California.
Jack cheese has a high moisture content, melts easily, and has a bland, buttery flavor.
The most widely told story of its origin, is that it was first made in Monterey, California and named for 19th century California land owner David Jacks.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Cherry Pie Day

1829 Yuengling Brewery in Pennsylvania opened. It is the oldest brewery still operating in the U.S.

1872 Cyrus W. Baldwin received a patent for an electric elevator. It was installed in the Stephens Hotel in New York City.

1872 Silas Noble and J.Cooley of Massachusetts were issued a patent on a toothpick manufacturing machine.

1873 Luther Childs Crowell of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was granted a patent for a machine which made square bottom paper bags. It is the same basic design still used today.

1969 'Candy', Ringo Starr's X-rated film premiers.

1985 Clarence Nash died. The original voice of Donald Duck.

2001 Foot-and-mouth disease ravages livestock in Britain in the worst epidemic since 1967. By March it has spread to mainland Europe. Millions of animals are destroyed.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) also known as jakfruit, jaca, and nangka, is a tropical tree originally from western India. It is a member of the mulberry family, and a relative of the bread fruit.
The jack fruit is a melon shaped starchy vegetable, that can reach a length of 3 feet, and weigh up to 100 pounds, making it the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. They have a rough spiny skin and the uncut ripe fruit has a strong unpleasant smell, resembling rotting onions - but the cut fruit has a strong aroma similar to papaya or pineapple.
The interior consists of large bulbs of pulp enclosing a seed up to 1 inch long, with from 100 to 500 seeds per fruit. The flavor is similar to pineapple & banana but less juicy. The green unripe flesh is cooked as a vegetable and used in curries and salads. When ripe and sweet, it is eaten as a fruit. The large seeds are roasted and have a flavor and texture similar to chestnuts.
Jackfruit are rarely available fresh in the U.S., but can be found canned in Asian grocery stores. (Jackfruit Photos)”

“I never respond to these...but I do like reading them, div!”

“How the heck is today national cherry pie day, when cherries don't ripen until summer? What, are we supposed to sing the praises of nasty canned cherry pie filling now?”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“Do you know how helpless you feel if you have a full cup of coffee in your hand and you start to sneeze?”
Jean Kerr, ‘Mary, Mary’


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day
* St. Walburga's Day, patron of crops.

1904 Adelle Davis was born. Nutritionist, and author of 'Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit.' She promoted many theories that have been labeled as unfounded and dangerous by the medical community.

1918 Wartime food rationing began in parts of England

1922 Donald McLean was born. McLean was a Scottish potato expert who supposedly had the world's largest private collection of potatoes, with 367 varieties.

1934 Elizabeth Gertrude Knight Britton died. An American botanist, she helped establish the New York Botanical Gardens.

1950 George Richard Minot died. An American physician, Minot was one of the developers of a raw-liver diet used to treat pernicious anemia. Mmmm, good!

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Juniper berries are the fruits of an evergreen bush found in northern Europe and America. Juniper berries are used in wines, beer, brandies, and is the key flavor ingredient in gin. They are also used in marinades and sauces, especially for pork and game dishes. Usually used dried, they should be crushed before use to release their essential oils.
The name derives from French 'genievre,' which is French for gin.”

“The food quote gave me a much needed laugh. A crushed juniper berry goes really well in chili. Just one berry though, because it's a potent and very distinctive flavor.

I used to chew on juniper berries from a tree near my house when I was a kid. Drove my mom nuts.”

“DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Locusts can do extreme damage to crops when they swarm in great numbers. One swarm seen over the Red Sea in 1889 was estimated to be 2,000 square miles in size. There are several edible species, and they are important food sources in some areas, especially Africa. They can be grilled, roasted or boiled, and also ground to a paste.

...ewwwwwww....”

“Football Fruit: Pangium edule is a tall tree in Southeast Asia that produces a fruit the size and shape of a football. Hence one of its names, football fruit, also known as pangi, kepayang and pakem. Its taste and odor have been compared to durian fruit. The seeds, bark and leaves are poisonous. The seeds are used to kill rats and wild chickens, and the bark and leaves are used to stun fish so they can be scooped up easily.”

“DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Pommes Soufflés (puffed potatoes or souffleed potatoes). The story goes that Pommes Soufflés were accidentally discovered in 1837 at the inauguration of a new railway line from Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Lay. There was to be a lunch for the dignitaries at the restaurant in the new station. The train was had problems making it up a steep slope at the final approach to the station. The chef prepared some sliced fried potatoes at the appointed time, but when the guests didn't arrive on time, he had to remove the half cooked potatoes and allow them to drain and cool. After several attempts the train finally made it, and caught by surprise at the unexpected arrival of the guests, the chef plunged the potatoes quickly into very hot oil and to his amazement, saw them puff up.
Soufflé potatoes must be cooked twice. Once at a low temperature (325) and a second time at a high temperature (375). At the second high temperature cooking the surface of the potatoes crisp instantly and form a waterproof skin, which will cause them to swell as the moisture inside turns quickly to steam causing the slices to puff up.”

“am I the only person who reads my crap????...lol....”

“I read it every day. :D”

“"ya think it would work like KY ???...wink..."

Good grief, woman!
You are kinda nutty!
I think it would burn like all hell.

I read your crap now and then.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day

1791 Samuel Mulliken of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania received a patent for a machine to thresh corn and grain.

1853 Self rising flour was supposedly invented by Henry Jones of Bristol.(Dates vary, 1845, 1852 and 1853).

1903 Lawrence Welk, champagne music-maker, was born.

1947 Mark Stein of the music group 'Vanilla Fudge' was born.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Shortening is an edible fat used to 'shorten' baked goods. Shortenings include lard (about 98% fat), butter (about 80% fat), margarine (about 80% fat) and processed shortenings made from vegetable oils, treated to produce an odorless, white shortening that is 100% fat - such as Crisco.
Because Crisco and similar flavorless shortenings were originally developed in the U.S., they are more well know here - and because they are 100% fat, they make the best shortening (leaving out the consideration of flavor that butter or lard give).
The term 'short' has a very old derivation - it originally referred to substances that were easily crumbled, including coal, paper, dried dung, chalk, sand, etc. This most likely was based on the observation that friable (brittle, easily crumbled) substances had short fibers, or that they crumbled into shorter (smaller) pieces. The culinary use of 'short' dates back to at least the 15th century.
(To make something shorter, means to cut into smaller pieces - see the connection?)
Short pastry has a high proportion of fat to flour, which produces a flaky dough - a dough which crumbles into shorter (smaller) pieces - (shortcake, short bread, short crust, etc).”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Baked Scallops Day

1841 Orlando Jones of Middlesex, England received a U.S. patent for a process to make starch from rice or corn.

1894 Coca Cola was first bottled by Joseph A. Biedenham of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Before that it was only mixed to order at the soda fountain.

1912 Juliette 'Daisy' Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts of the USA in Savannah, Georgia.

1929 Asa Griggs Candler died. In 1887, Asa Candler, a wholesale druggist, purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from John S. Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, for $2,300. He sold the company in 1919 for $25 million

1930 Mahatma Gandhi began his march to the coastal village of Dandi, to protest the British salt monopoly.

1993 Christian Kent Nelson died. He was the inventor of the Eskimo Pie in 1919 in Iowa.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
As of February, 2009 there were more than 75 different flatulence simulation software apps at the iPhone App Store. Farting, or simulated farting seems to be a very competitive market. Two fart application makers are even in a legal dispute: Air-O-Matic was being sued by iFart Mobile over the use ot the term "pull my finger." iFart has been the best selling app for several weeks in the App Store, and there were almost 39,000 downloads of the app on Christmas Day 2008.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Cocoanut Torte Day
* St. Ansovinus' Day, patron of harvests
* Friday the 13th

1764 Charles Grey, 2nd Earl, was born. Earl Grey was given the recipe for Earl Grey Tea by a Chinese mandarin with whom he was friends (and/or whose life either he or another British diplomat saved).

1813 Lorenzo Delmonico, famed restaurateur was born at Marengo, Switzerland. In 1851 he joined his uncles in their catering and pastry shop in New York City. He transformed the business into one of the most famous restaurants in the country.

1915 Wilbert Robinson (Uncle Robby), manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, attempted to catch a baseball dropped from an airplane. Someone had substituted a grapefruit instead, which virtually exploded in his glove on impact, covering him with grapefruit pulp and juice, much to the amusement of his team

2006 Robert C. Baker died at age 84. While a Poultry and Food Science professor at Cornell University from 1949-1989 he developed chicken nuggets, turkey ham, poultry hot dogs and many other products. He founded Cornell's Institute of Food Science and Marketing in 1970, and in 2004 was inducted into the American Poultry Hall of Fame.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Asparagus is a member of the Lily family and is related to onions and garlic. The asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils. The spears are usually not harvested until the 3rd or 4th year, to allow the crown to develop a strong root system. The plants will then produce spears for about 15 years. Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in a 24-hour period. Each crown will send spears up for about 6-7 weeks during the spring and early summer. How often spears may be picked depends on the temperature. Early in the season, spears may be picked every 4 days or so, and later as the average temperature warms up, the may have to be picked every day!”

“Asparagus is related to onions and garlic? That explains the weird pee smell after eating it.”

“I love asparaguts.”

“* St. Patrick's Day. According to many studies, this is the biggest day of the year for combined food and beverage sales in restaurants and bars.

1751 Anders Dahl was born. A renowned Swedish botanist, the Dahlia flower was named for him.

1845 Stephen Perry received a patent for the rubber band. It was made from vulcanized rubber.

1864 Work began on a 2 mile long, 5 foot diameter, water supply tunnel for Chicago. It was completed in 1867.

1944 John Sebastian of the music group 'Loving Spoonful' was born.

1958 The Champs' 'Tequila' was number 1 on the music charts.

1967 Billy Corgan of the music group 'Smashing Pumpkins' was born.

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DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Irish Soda Bread: This is a classic quick bread from Ireland, which takes its name from the fact that it uses baking soda for leavening. It is usually made with buttermilk, baked on the griddle or in the oven, and sometimes has raisins (currants) and caraway seeds added. Before baking, a cross is cut on the top with a knife, supposedly to ward off the devil.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Oatmeal Cookie Day

1863 Women rioted in Salisbury, North Carolina, to protest the lack of flour and salt in the Confederacy.

1925 'Tea for Two' was recorded by Binnie Hale & the Palace Theater Orchestra

1946 The Andrews Sisters recorded 'Avocado' today.

1966 Gossip columnist Hedda Hopper died. Quote: "Having only friends [and no enemies] would be dull....like eating eggs without salt."

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Turmeric is the root of a tropical plant that has been used in cooking since 600 B.C. It is native to the Orient and now can be found in India and the Caribbean. It has a bitter, pungent almost woodsy flavor. The turmeric root has light brown skin and bright reddish-orange flesh. Turmeric was used in biblical times as a perfume but now it is most commonly used to flavor and color food. Ground turmeric is widely used in East Indian cooking particularly in curries as well as other soups and stews.

Fresh tumeric roots should have a spicy fragrance and stubby fingers protruding from the sides of the root. Refrigerate unpeeled tumeric, tightly wrapped, for 3 weeks.

Tumeric is typically boiled or steamed and then dried and ground into powder. Use ground tumeric in fish or rice dishes. Be careful with fresh turmeric, it will stain your hands and clothing.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* Waffle Day
* National Lobster Newburg Day
* England: Tichborne Dole Day. A gallon of flour is given to residents of Alresford, Hampshire, England. The tradition dates to 1150. Lady Mabella Tichborne put a curse on any ancestors who failed to distribute her charitable dole.

1775 Pecan Day. George Washington planted pecan trees (some of which still survive) at Mount Vernon. The trees were supposedly a gift to Washington from Thomas Jefferson. (Some sources date this planting at 1799).

1848 William Keith Brooks was born. An American zoologist, he was a champion for the conservation of the Chesapeake Bay oyster. Author of 'The Oyster' (1891).

1867 Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge died. A German chemist who developed a method for obtaining sugar from beet juice.

1867 The 2 mile long, 5 foot diameter Chicago Lake Tunnel was activated. It was the first water supply tunnel for a U.S. city.

1914 Norman Ernest Borlaug was born. American agronomist, Nobel Peace Prize winner for efforts to overcome world hunger. Developed the wheat/rye hybrid called 'triticale' with higher yield and protein content.

1995 Pizza Hut introduced its Stuffed Crust Pizza.

2008 Herb Peterson, creator of McDonald's Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich, died.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* Waffle Day
* National Lobster Newburg Day
* England: Tichborne Dole Day. A gallon of flour is given to residents of Alresford, Hampshire, England. The tradition dates to 1150. Lady Mabella Tichborne put a curse on any ancestors who failed to distribute her charitable dole.

1775 Pecan Day. George Washington planted pecan trees (some of which still survive) at Mount Vernon. The trees were supposedly a gift to Washington from Thomas Jefferson. (Some sources date this planting at 1799).

1848 William Keith Brooks was born. An American zoologist, he was a champion for the conservation of the Chesapeake Bay oyster. Author of 'The Oyster' (1891).

1867 Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge died. A German chemist who developed a method for obtaining sugar from beet juice.

1867 The 2 mile long, 5 foot diameter Chicago Lake Tunnel was activated. It was the first water supply tunnel for a U.S. city.

1914 Norman Ernest Borlaug was born. American agronomist, Nobel Peace Prize winner for efforts to overcome world hunger. Developed the wheat/rye hybrid called 'triticale' with higher yield and protein content.

1995 Pizza Hut introduced its Stuffed Crust Pizza.

2008 Herb Peterson, creator of McDonald's Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich, died.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* April Fools Day
* National Sourdough Bread Day
* Trout Season begins in Iceland (Ends September 20)

1582 France adopted the new Gregorian calendar. Prior to that, the new year was celebrated on April 1. (The new year actually started on March 25, which fell during Holy Week - so the celebrations were delayed until the first day of April). One explanation of the origin of ‘April Fools Day’ is that those who failed to accept the new start of the year on January 1 became the object of practical jokes. (Pope Gregory XIII introduced the new Gregorian Calendar in 1582. It is possible that Charles IX of France may have changed the start of the New Year to January in 1564).

1755 Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was born. A French politician and author of the 8 volume ‘Physiologie du goût, ou Méditation de gastronomie transcendante, ouvrage théorique, historique et à l'ordre du jour’ (The Physiology of Taste, or Meditation on Transcendent Gastronomy, a Work Theoretical, Historical, and Programmed) published in 1825. It treats dining as an art form and contains many delightful and witty observations on the pleasures of the table.

1893 The first dishwashing machine became an award winning success at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, which used Josephine Garis Cochran’s hand operated, mechanical dishwashers in its kitchens. (She patented her original version on December 28, 1886.) Her company eventually evolved into KitchenAid.

1911 Seaman Asahel Knapp died. An American agriculturist, he began the system which evolved into the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service.

1932 Actor Gordon Jump was born. The 'Maytag Repairman' in commercials, also Arthur Carlson on 'WKRP in Cincinnati'

1960 Tiros I, the first weather observation satellite was launched from Cape Kennedy.

1976 Jimmy Buffet's 'Margaritaville' was released.

1976 Carl Peter Henrik Dam died. Dam was a Danish biochemist who discovered vitamin K in 1939.

1996 The Taco Bell fast food chain played an April Food joke on the American public by claiming to have bought the Liberty Bell to help pay down the national debt

1999 The first minimum wage goes into effect in Britain, £3.60 an hour for adults and £3.00 an hour for those under 22 years old.

1999 In April 1999, Restaurant Nora in Washington DC became America's first certified organic restaurant. This means that 95% or more of everything that you eat at the restaurant has been produced by certified organic growers and farmers.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Marie, Vicomte de Botherel may have been the first to try the concept of a dining car. In 1839 in Paris (or it's suburbs), he installed kitchens on buses and stocked the food from special kitchens he had built with the most modern equipment available. His enterprise failed, and he is just a very obscure footnote in history.”

“1996 The Taco Bell fast food chain played an April Food joke on the American public by claiming to have bought the Liberty Bell to help pay down the national debt


Good God, I remember the stink over that one. Most of my family fell for it hook, line and sinker.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
* Feast of Acan, the Mayan God of Wine
* Pascua Florida Day - State Day in Florida.
* St. Urban of Langres' Day, patron of barrel makers, coopers, and vintners.

742 Charlemagne was born. Charlemagne, Charles I, Charles the Great, King of the Franks, Charles le Grand, Carolus Magnus, Karl Der Grosse, King of the Lombards, master of Western Europe, Emperor.
Some of the food related 'facts' I have come across related to Charlemagne:
* the peacock was first served in Europe during his reign;
* Sauerbraten was invented by Charlemagne;
* Roquefort cheese was a favorite of his;
* the knife began to be used to eat food for the first time during his reign (rather than the fingers);
* Roses were used to cover tables for meals.
I have no real corroboration for any of these 'facts'.

1819 The periodical, 'American Farmer' was founded by John Skinner

1827 Joseph Dixon began manufacturing the first lead (graphite) pencils. Necessary to write recipes and menus

1840 Emile Zola was born. French writer and critic who was also known as a gourmand. His detailed descriptions of simple meals, banquets and eating in his novels are among the best to be found anywhere. He was also known for his own luxury dinner parties. "What will be the death of me are bouillabaisses, food spiced with pimiento, shellfish, and a load of exquisite rubbish which I eat in disproportionate quantities."

1863 The Richmond Bread Riots: Shortages of food caused hundreds of angry women gathered in Richmond, Virginia to march on the governor's office and then on the government commissary to demand bread. It ended in a riot when they broke into the commissary and then other shops & buildings and carried out anything they could carry. Even the hospital reported losing over 300 pounds of beef. Arrests were made, but at the request of authorities, the newspapers downplayed the incident, and records were later destroyed when the Confederate government fled and burned much of the town behind them.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Maui Onions are golden yellow, sweet, juicy onions grown on the Island of Maui, Hawaii. They are very sweet, have a high water content, and usually weigh about 1/2 to 3/4 pound. Maui onions are usually shaped like a flattened globe. They are the earliest sweet onions on the market, and are generally available from April to June. Excellent for onion rings.”

“I read they're the same yellow granex variety as Vidalia onions.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* World Health Day
* National Coffee Cake Day

1727 Michel Adanson was born. Adanson was a French botanist who developed a system of plant classification based on physical characteristics. His system was opposed by Carolus Linnaeus, and was not widely used.

1860 Will Kieth Kellogg was born. Founded the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Co. (later the W.K. Kellogg Company) to manufacture cereals (cornflakes were the first) developed by his brother John Harvey Kellogg.

1869 David Grandison Fairchild was born. An American botanist and agriculturalist, he was responsible for introducing many useful plants to the U.S. Author of 'The World Was My Garden,' and 'Exploring for Plants'.

1933 The beginning of the end of Prohibition. On this day 3.2 percent beer sales were allowed in advance of Prohibition's ratification.

1943 Mick Abrahams of the music group 'Jethro Tull' was born.

1948 The World Health Organization (WHO) was established.

1967 'Happy Together' by Turtles is #1 on the charts

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Muffuletta or Muffaletta is a hero or submarine type sandwich that originated in New Orleans early in the 20th century, probably at Salvatore Lupa's Central Grocery around in 1906 or 1910. It is made with a round loaf of Italian bread, split and layered with sliced Provolone cheese, salami, and ham, topped with 'olive salad' - chopped green olives, pimientos, celery, garlic, capers, oregano, parsley, olive oil and red wine vinegar.”

“Mmmmm, Muffaletta sounds good.”

“Muffalettas rock!”

“over-rated”

“ohhhh...they should add pepperoni!!!!”

“Why Your Heart Loves Hershey’s

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Something about eating chocolate . . . it has such an instant feel-good effect. And it turns out there’s a reason to feel good.

Research suggests that special antioxidants in cocoa may play a role in keeping blood pressure low.

How Low Can You Go?
At least, that is the theory coming from a study of a salt-lovin’ population in Panama. High blood pressure is virtually unheard of among the Kuna Indians. And they drink an extraordinary amount of cocoa made from lightly-processed beans. They also enjoy lots of fish and fruit -- two additional heart-healthy foods. Here’s another tasty treat that may help with hypertension.

Sweet Truths About Chocolate
Cocoa flavonoids help to widen and relax blood vessels and may activate an enzyme that helps lower blood pressure, too. But remember to be calorie wise: A little bit of chocolate goes a long way. And dark chocolate is best. Just in case you need a few more reasons to eat chocolate, here’s more good stuff:

* Chocolate can smooth your skin. Find out how a daily dose of cocoa can make skin better hydrated and less sun sensitive.
* Chocolate makes you happy. It’s not just your imagination. Find out what makes chocolate a good-mood food.

For a decadent treat, try this European-style recipe from EatingWell: Thick & Rich Hot Cocoa.
RealAge Benefit: Getting 31 milligrams of flavonoids -- like the type found in cocoa beans -- a day can make your RealAge 3.2 years younger.”

“Rich, creamy and thick enough that you may want to scoop it with a spoon, this European-style drinking chocolate is something different from the usual hot cocoa. Serve it in a demitasse or espresso cup for an elegant treat.

Makes 6 servings, generous 1/3 cup each

ACTIVE TIME: 10 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

2 1/4 cups nonfat milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

Combine milk, cocoa, sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking often, until steaming. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it comes to a boil, then remove from the heat.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 98 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 2 g fiber; 50 mg sodium; 109 mg potassium.
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 other carbohydrate”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“If you have formed the habit of checking on every new diet that comes along, you will find that, mercifully, they all blur together, leaving you with only one definite piece of information: french-fried potatoes are out.”
Jean Kerr, author, playwright


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Empanada Day
* St. Walter of Pontnoise's Day, patron of vintners.

1513 Ponce de Leon landed in Florida while searching for the Fountain of Youth. He thought it was just another island of the Bahamas. (Sources vary on date from April 2 to April 8)

1862 John D. Lynde of Philadelphia patented the first aerosol dispenser.

1873 Alfred Paraf received a patent for the first commercially viable margarine manufacturing process.

1879 The Echo Farms Dairy of New York began selling milk in glass bottles, the first in the U.S.

1946 'Catfish' Hunter, baseball pitcher, was born.

1992 Benjamin Eisenstadt died. He invented the artificial sweetener, 'Sweet 'n Low’ (granulated saccharin and dextrose).

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
CELERY: Native to the Mediterranean areas and the Middle East, celery was used as a flavoring by the ancient Greeks and Romans and as a medicine by the ancient Chinese. Celery was first cultivated in Europe for medicinal purposes. Cultivation of the plant for food was first recorded in France in 1623, and was probably developed there or in Italy. By the early part of the 18th century, there had been improvement of the wild type of celery previously transported to Italy, France, and England, and as early as 1726, the plant was being used in England to flavor soup and stews. The celery we all now know, Pascal celery, was first cultivated in Kalamazoo Michigan, in 1874.”

“TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“Never eat at a place called 'Moms', but if the only other place in town has a sign that says 'Eats', go back to Moms.”
W. C. Fields


TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* Earth Day
* National Jelly Bean Day

1662 John Tradescant died. He succeeded his father as naturalist and gardener to Charles I.

1832 Julius Sterling Morton was born. He was the founder of Arbor Day, first observed in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. Over one million trees were planted.

1889 The U.S. opened Oklahoma to homesteaders and the Oklahoma land rush officially began at 12 noon.

1913 Thomas Wright of New Jersey patented a method to load ice on to refrigerator railroad cars.

1948 Prosper Montagne died. Montagne was one of the great French chefs of all time. He is mainly remembered as the creator of Larousse Gastronomique (1938), a comprehensive encyclopedia of French gastronomy.

1964 The New York World's Fair opens in Flushing Meadows on the same site as the 1939 World's Fair. I had my first Heineken beer at their exhibition there. As a matter of fact, I spent every weekend there from April to October for the 2 years the Fair was open. I sampled music, food, beer and wine from around the world, and it helped to inspire my interest in cooking and food history.

1970 The first Earth Day was celebrated. Is our environment better or worse today?

1996 Erma Bombeck died. Writer, humorist, you will find some of her quotes about family and food on the Food Reference website.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Snails have been eaten as food since at least ancient Roman times. Apicius, the author of the oldest surviving cookbook (1st century B.C - 2 century A.D.) has a recipe for snails in his cookbook.”

“1662 John Tradescant died. He succeeded his father as naturalist and gardener to Charles I.

Huh, now I know who the tradescantia plants (aka spiderwort) are named for. I have a lovely variety called "Lovely Kate" out front. Golden green foliage and intense blue/ violet flowers. I also have "Concord," (purple like the grapes) and some other grape named variety out front.”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Cherry Cheesecake Day
* Bermuda: Peppercorn Ceremony
* St. George's Day, patron of farmers.

1564 and 1616 William Shakespeare was born. He died on the same date 52 years later. There are many references to food in Shakespeare's works. Such as: "Let the sky rain potatoes." (‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’). "Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers." (‘Romeo and Juliet’).

1895 Purdy and Peters were issued a patent for a "design for spoons."

1947 Glenn Cornick of the music group 'Jethro Tull' was born.

1982 The Conch Republic (Key West & the Florida Keys) seceded from the United States to protest an INS (Immigration & Naturalization Service) roadblock on the only road into the Keys.

1985 Coca-Cola announced it was changing its 99 year old secret formula. New Coke was a big flop.

1992 The first McDonald's in Beijing, China opened. It is the world's largest McDonald's, with 28,000 square feet, seating for 700 and 1,000 employees.

1993 Cesar Chavez died. He was the founder of the United Farm Workers Union.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Sorghum is a member of the grass family has been grown in India for about 4,000 years, and has been a major crop in Africa for even longer. It was also used as a staple food in China thousands of years before rice. Today the largest sorghum producers are the U.S., China and India. Sorghum is used as a feed grain, in porridges, unleavened bread and beverages.”

“Sorghum molasses, yummmmm.....”

“TODAY’S EVENTS IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day

1766 Robert Bailey Thomas was born. He was the founder and long time editor of the 'Farmer's Almanac' now known as the 'Old Farmer's Almanac.'

1833 Jacob Ebert and George Dulty patented the first soda fountain. Not many soda fountains around anymore.

1914 Justin Wilson, Cajun chef and humorist was born. He wrote five cookbooks and hosted several cooking shows on TV, including 'Louisiana Cookin' and 'Cookin' Cajun.'

1949 Chocolate rationing ends in Britain.

1994 The world's largest lollipop, 3,011 pounds, is made in Denmark.

View: Today in Food History Calendar for the year
View: Food Timeline 50,000 BC to 2009
View: Extensive Food Festival Listings


DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Stilton, a blue veined cheese, was first made around 1720, and sold at the Bell Inn in Stilton, Huntingdonshire. Stilton owes its name and reputation to the village, but it is not actually made there.”

“mmm Stilton cheese...mmmm”

“yes...I love it!!!! My son in law used to work @ Wildoats in the cheese dept...he would have us try all kinds of cheese....yummmm...and for Christmas he would bring us all dif kinds...yummmm”