National Pretzel Day

By Chef Diane

The days before Christmas I can be found in my kitchen.   When I was growing up, the best part of Christmas was the treats my grandmother made.   My favorites were the fudge and snowball cookies that were kept in a foil lined metal tin.   As my grandmother got older, I began making the treats she couldn’t make anymore.  After she passed away I would make my favorite things, but then I thought that others in my family had their favorites too, and I wanted them to have great Christmas memories too, so I started fixing their favorites too.    Of course by the end of the holiday I wish that everyone had the same favorite!

One of my mother's favorites is chocolate covered pretzels, so every Christmas I fix her a batch.  I have learned that some others like them too, so this past Christmas, my mother's pretzels were eaten up by everyone.  So, I fixed her some just for her on Valentines, and other special occasions, such as Easter, Mother's Day and her birthday.  This past year my cousin's daughter made some chocolate cover pretzels using the rod pretzels that look like sticks.  I have seen them before, but have been wary of trying them thinking if the looked like sticks...maybe they were hard like sticks too.   Well I am happy to report they were delicious, and not hard at all! The bad news for her is now I will be expecting them every Christmas!!!

Today is National Pretzel Day.  Pretzels come in many shapes and sizes; they can also be crunchy or softly baked.  According to legend, in the late 1600s a Pennsylvania baker forgot a batch of pretzels in the oven. The over-baked treats were dark and hard, but the baker sampled one anyway. He was pleasantly surprised by the crunchy deliciousness. Hard pretzels are now one of the most popular snack foods.  According to punchbowl.com, centuries ago, Catholic monks created the first pretzels from scraps of leftover dough. The unique knot shape represented the Holy Trinity, but the significance of this symbol has evolved over the course of history. During the 17th century, pretzels symbolized the bond of marriage. This is where the phrase “tying the knot” originated.  It is also said that the pretzels were formed in the shape of a praying child.  If you are feeling adventurous today, click here to make your own soft pretzels.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Soft-Pretzels or you can just stop by the closest mall or grocery store and pick some up to enjoy.

Eating Snack Food – Yum!

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest

With the recent Super Bowl game, you may be surprised to learn how much food was consumed during that one sporting event.  According to statistics, Americans will eat 30 million pounds of snacks on Super Bowl Sunday. Those snacks break down to 11.2 million pounds of potato chips, 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, 4.3 million pounds of pretzels, 3.8 million pounds of popcorn and 2.5 million pounds of nuts. Viewers will also consume more than 1.23 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl weekend, according to the National Chicken Council’s 2013 Wing Report. Chicken wings are not the only junk food on the palates of Super Bowl viewers. They will be reaching for pizza, millions of slices of them. According to PizzaMarketplace.com, two of the largest pizza chains report that on Super Bowl Sunday sales for pizza will skyrocket. Pizza Hut will sell more than two million pizzas or 16 million slices and Domino’s will sell 11 million slices.

(Google Image)

I am giving you these stats to let you know that the Super Bowl is the start of National Snack Food Month.  The super bowl is the second largest food fest, following Thanksgiving, and people consume around 1200 calories in snacks during the game.  Normally, when I think of the super bowl, I think of the commercials, the half time show, and all the great food.  Football is the last thing on my mind.  So, it makes sense that we start the snack food month with a bang.  Also during the month of February, there is not much to do other than stay inside.  It’s usually too cold and wet to go out, and there are so many colds and germs floating around.   Newswise.com lists these activities that occur during the month of February:

Watch an old movie on TV (53 percent)

Eat a favorite snack food (45 percent)

Call an old friend (45 percent)

Reread a favorite book (35 percent)

Bake cookies (34 percent)

(Google Image)

Another favorite activity is snacking, adding on that extra layer of heat to your body.  When I think of snacks, I think of chips and cookies.  However, I have been trying to eat healthier, and have been munching on celery sticks.  Even when eating my favorite thing, chocolate, I have been eating the dark chocolate covered raisins.    You can still snack, but choose healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, even low salt, and low fat popcorn.

(Google Image)

You don't have to be perfect; even I have to have some McDonald's French fries or puffy Cheetos every now and then.  But you can start off slow, and incorporate some healthy choices along with some of your favorite snacks, and before long, who knows, you may just want the healthy food.

Diane, 

We decided to be healthier this year during the super bowl and enjoyed these two platters:

(Google Image)

(Google Image)

 

National Pretzel Day

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

When I was younger I lived in the rural Delta of Mississippi.  The area was not known for its availability to shopping, so every year at Christmas time, we would drive an hour to Memphis, Tennessee to choose from a variety of items.  On one of these excursions we went to a store that had a snack counter.  While my mother was busy shopping, my father took my brother and me to the counter and bought us a large, warm, soft pretzel.  This was my first soft pretzel, and one I will never forget.  He put a little mustard on it, and we ate it so fast you would think we were starving.  I have only had a few soft pretzels since that one, but nothing compares to taste of it.

(Google Image) 

Pretzels have been around for centuries.  According to The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, in 610 AD "...an Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers.  Pretzels are believed to be the world's oldest snack.  Within the Catholic Church, pretzels were regarded as having religious significance for both ingredients and shape. Pretzels made with a simple recipe using only flour and water could be eaten during Lent, when Christians were forbidden to eat eggs, lard, or dairy products such as milk and butter. As time passed, pretzels became associated with both Lent and Easter. Pretzels were hidden on Easter morning just as eggs are hidden today, and are particularly associated with Lent, fasting, and prayers before Easter.

Hard pretzels were invented in the late 1600’s when a Pennsylvania baker forgot about a batch of pretzels in the oven. Though these pretzels seemed inedible because they were dark and hard, they were actually quite delicious!  Some of the best inventions were discovered by accident, such as fudge, another "mistake".  I use these hard pretzels every year at Christmas when I make my party mix, and also dip them in almond bark and give as gifts to my mother and stepdaughter in law.

(Google Image) 

Today is National Pretzel Day.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to grab a bag of pretzels, or visit a Auntie Annie's store for the warm baked ones.  Enjoy!

National White Chocolate Day!

By Diane Forrest,

Is anybody else having chocolate withdrawal symptoms?  Seems like forever since we had a "chocolate day".  Ok…so it's only been 10 days since chocolate milkshake day, but that is still a long time!  Luckily, today is National White Chocolate Day! 

White chocolate is a confectionery derivative of chocolate. It commonly consists of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and salt, and is characterized by a pale yellow or ivory appearance.  It is made the same way Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate are made; it lacks cocoa paste, liquor or powder. 

My stepson's wife doesn't like chocolate - must be some kind of birth defect or something.  However she loves white chocolate.  Since it is hard to find candy to fill her Christmas stocking or Easter basket, most of her treats have to be homemade.  Some of these treats include White chocolate macadamia nut cookies, white chocolate covered popcorn, and white chocolate covered pretzels.  Making the pretzels is pretty easy to do.  The following recipe says to dip them halfway, however I have started pouring the pretzels in the pot, stirring them all up coating them with the chocolate, and then I put on my latex medical gloves and take them out to lay on the wax paper.  These are fun to make, and you can wrap them in cute containers for Christmas gifts for friends and neighbors. (no, I am NOT Martha Stewart!)

Since today is White Chocolate Day, you have the perfect excuse to indulge in chocolate once again.

White Chocolate Pretzels

Ingredients

• 6 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate
• 1 (15 ounce) package mini twist pretzels
• 1/4 cup red and green candy sprinkles (optional)

Directions

• Melt white chocolate in the top of a double boiler, stirring constantly.
• Dip pretzel halfway into the white chocolate, completely covering half of the pretzel. Roll in topping if desired, and lay on wax paper.
• Continue the process until all of the white chocolate is finished. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes to harden. Store in airtight container

National Pretzel Day

April 26, 2011 is

National Pretzel Day

Pretzels are a tasty treat with a rich history. Did you know that pretzels were invented by monks? The monks often used the loops and knots inside of pretzels to help children understand the Christian Trinity of "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." During the 17th century in Switzerland, pretzels were also used to symbolize the marriage bond. This is where the phrase “tying the knot” originated. Today, pretzels are a popular snack around the world.

One of my favorites ...

While soft pretzels have gained enormous popularity at sporting events, carnivals, and festivals, the hard pretzel has evolved over time. Hard pretzels were invented in the late 1600’s when a Pennsylvania baker forgot about a batch of pretzels in the oven. Though these pretzels seemed inedible because they were dark and hard, they were actually quite delicious! Hard pretzels soon became a wild success across country.

Tempting aren't they .... go ahead, have one

To celebrate National Pretzel Day, try making some delicious homemade pretzels with your favorite toppings. Some suggestions are: cinnamon and sugar, salt, or chocolate glaze. Enjoy!

[from our friends at punchbowl.com - once I figure out how to install widgets...]

Which one...they all look good.

I love a good pretzel, but only eat the salt/sodium reduced/free one's and they are always a special treat for me, especially on a trip.

Man serious about his pretzel

What kind of pretzels do you like?  Do you have anything special with your pretzel? Share your stories about pretzels.