Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays August 19th, 2021. Take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which Holiday you most would like to celebrated and why.
For me I will celebrate Soft-Serve Ice Cream Day because I can’t have Hot or Spicy Foods. While David said as much as he likes Spicy Foods he will also celebrate Soft-Serve Ice Cream because at times Spicy Foods bothers him as well.
As for Charlie he says he will celebrate Hot and Spicy Day by having a bag of Takis and finish it with a Soft-Serve Ice Cream. Would you like to join Charlie and share his bag of Chips or join me and have a Soft Serve Ice-Cream Cone?
National Soft-Serve Ice Cream Day
Besides being a great excuse to consume Soft-serve like there’s no tomorrow, National Soft Ice Cream Day on August 19 reminds us of our best memories involving this dessert — from the State Fair we visited as children to the Amusement Park we went to with friends last year. Soft Ice Cream seems to pop up only in the happiest of places, and Soft Serve Ice-Cream has a fascinating history as well!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SOFT ICE CREAM DAY
Though there’s evidence that the first real Ice Cream possibility originated as early as 200 B.C., there aren’t any notable stories from the time.
Early tales of Ice Cream include Alexander the Great and Emperor Nero of Rome, both of whom enjoyed flavored Snow and Ice. After Marco Polo came back to Italy from the East with an Ice-cream-like recipe, it took off in Europe by the end of the 16th century. ‘Cream Ice’ was featured on the table of Charles I and, in 1553, Catherine de’ Medici brought it to France after marrying Henry II of France.
America, which was later the birthplace of Soft-serve Ice Cream, wasn’t introduced to the dessert until the 1740s. While it may have been at dinner tables earlier, Ice Cream first appeared in advertisements in the U.S. in 1777. George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon featured two Ice Cream pots, and he reportedly spent over $200 on Ice Cream over one Summer!
It wasn’t until the 1800s that Ice Cream became accessible for the general public, thanks to newly constructed Ice Houses and Ice Cream manufacturing.
By the middle of the Century, Ice Cream manufacture and sale was a booming industry. Ice Cream became part of American culture, which led to the emergence of Soda Fountains and Sundaes. By World War II, Ice Cream was brought to troops to boost morale, and floating Ice Cream Parlors were built for Sailors in the Pacific.
Around the time of World War II, Soft Ice Cream was born — though, there’s a battle over who started it. Carvel claims that the father of their brand, Tom Carvel, accidentally created Soft Ice Cream when his Ice Cream Truck caught a flat tire and he was forced to quickly sell off his melting wares. He soon returned and set up a permanent shop selling his Softened Ice Cream with great success.
Dairy Queen also claims to have invented Soft-serve in Illinois, when J.F. McCullough and his son perfected their formula and held a massively successful all-you-can-eat trial at their friend’s store.
There are also reports that Margaret Thatcher, former U.K. Prime Minister, helped develop American Soft-serve recipes while working as a chemist at a food manufacturer!
We can’t know for sure how Soft-serve came to be, or what involvement Margaret Thatcher had in it. Since those intrepid Scientists innovated upon the Centuries-old classic, Soft-serve has been a staple at some of the most exciting venues — Sporting Events, Amusement Parks, and fairs! Today, most people can conjure up a great memory of having soft-serve from childhood.
Here are today’s 5 amazing Ice Cream facts:
- An average dairy Cow can produce enough Milk in her lifetime to make a little over 9,000 gallons of Ice Cream.
2. The first Ice Cream recipe was handwritten in the recipe book of Lady Anne Fanshawe.
3. Chocolate Ice Cream was invented long before Vanilla, and the first documented recipe for Ice Cream appeared in the book The Modern Steward, published in Italy in 1692.
4. In the U.S., all Ice Cream needs to have a minimum of 10% Milkfat if it is to be labeled “Ice Cream”. This includes Custard Based (French Style) Ice Creams.
5. The Häagen-Dazs brand was established by two Americans – Reuben and Rose Mattus – and the name was made up to sound Danish and sophisticated. The Danish language does not actually use umlauts.
For one red-hot day a year, the world’s Chili heads, heat-seekers and extreme eaters can take their passion to extremes. International Hot and Spicy Foods Day sparks a wildfire of events, from Habanero-eating challenges to fancy-dress contests and cook-offs of popular recipes. Among serious aficionados, it also re-kindles the great debate: which Chili Pepper tops the official Scoville heat scale?
There’s no denying the daredevil nature of some of the celebrations. However, people who like a meal to tingle their taste buds, not make their eyes water, shouldn’t feel left out.
Enjoying a touch of heat in our cooking is a worldwide human trait, so what better day to invite your family and friends to discover a different cuisine? Thai, Indian, Creole and Caribbean dishes are all famous for their blends of aromatic ingredients, but many cultures boast their own favorites. Variety is truly the spice of life…
Learn about International Hot and Spicy Foods Day
Did you know people have been using Hot Spices in their meals and recipes for more than 6,000 years? It seems that we have always loved a bit of spice!
If you are a fan of curry or you love a bag of Flamin’ Hot Doritos, you’re definitely going to enjoy this day, because you’re encouraged to add Spicy Food to your daily diet.
There are many different types of Spices that are used to create Hot and Spicy foods today. This includes everything from Hot Chilli Powder to Paprika and Cumin. Today is all about celebrating these Spices. Our diet would be pretty boring without Hot and Spicy Foods.
History of International Hot and Spicy Foods Day
Hot and spicy food has been traced back to recipes that are as old as 6,000 years! That’s a long time ago isn’t it?! While the dishes that we enjoy today may have changed, there is no denying that we love Spicy food.
Not only has spicy food been adored for so long because it tastes incredible, but also because Spicy Food offers a number of different health benefits as well.
Did you know Spices can help to kill Bacteria. The likes of Turmeric and Cumin have been shown to have powerful Antimicrobial and Antioxidant properties.
This means that they can be effective in terms of fighting any of the harmful Bacteria in your body. Spices can also assist in fighting Inflammation too. In Ayurvedic Medicine, the inflammatory properties of Garlic and Ginger have been utilized for many centuries as a treatment for a number of different conditions, such as Headaches, Autoimmune Disorders, and Arthritis.
Did you know Spicy foods can also help to speed your metabolism up? There has been data drawn from a number of different studies that show certain species, like Pepper Chilies, Turmeric, Cinnamon, and Cumin are able to slow down your appetite and increase your Metabolic Resting Rate. Who knew spices were so powerful?
How to celebrate International Hot and Spicy Foods Day
When we think about hot or Spicy Foods, we tend to think about Asian Cuisine. You will see that Chillis are regularly used in Indian, Chinese, or Thai cooking.
Why not host a themed dinner night and have your friends and family around? There are plenty of different dishes that you can enjoy, ensuring that everything is not simply designed to blow people’s taste buds off!
If you are looking for the Spiciest Cuisine in the world, you may want to try Sichuan. This is a Cuisine that is well known for its bold flavors. The spiciness of the food is what draws a lot of people in.
However, it’s not just about heat, heat, and more heat! There are lots of exciting flavors in Sichuan food, and so you really are going to have an amazing taste experience with this Cuisine. You could either try to cook Sichuan food yourself or go to a authentic Sichuan restaurant.
As the name indicates, Sichuan is a type of food that has come from China’s Sichuan Province. The provincial capital of Sichuan is called Chengdu, and it is actually deemed one of the best places in the whole country for food.
Chengdu has an excellent reputation for fiery hot pots and spicy dishes. There are lots of exciting street snacks to try here too, with everything from Savoury Jelly Noodles to Poached Wontons.
When people talk about Sichuan food, they tend to only focus on the heat. However, it is much more exciting than that. This is because the Cuisine consists of seven basic flavors, which are as follows: Aromatic, Salty, Hot, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, and Pungent.
Therefore, you really are going to enjoy some exciting food. Of course, Chilies are at the heart of the meals cooked. From Pickled Chilies, to fresh Chillies, to dry Chilies; they are all incorporated.
In fact, apart from enjoying some delicious hot and spicy food on this day, another thing you can do is learn more about the Chilies that are available around the world.
There are so many different types of Chilies, including Carolina Reapers, Ghost Peppers, Habanero, Red Cayenne Pepper, Serrano, Guajillo, Poblano, Peppadew, and much more.
These Chilies all bring a different level of heat and a different type of flavor to dishes. Its definitely interesting to learn more about the different options that are out there, and we are sure that it will enhance your cooking skills as well!
Another fun way to celebrate International Hot and Spicy Foods Day is by having a Cook-off with your friends. Invite a few of your loved ones over and see who can create the best Hot and Spicy dish!
Its always fun to do something a bit different with the ones that you love, and hosting a Hot and Spicy Dinner Party gives you the perfect opportunity to do exactly that!
You can all have fun trying out each other’s different creations. They’re may be a few disasters along the way, but that simply adds to the fun of it, right? If you are feeling brave, you could even have a Chilli eating competition.
You will need to get some different types of Chillis and find out how they rank on the heat scale. You can then find out who is able to handle the most heat! Make sure you have got plenty of Water on hand!
Of course, you don’t need to go all out and become the next Masterchef on International Hot and Spicy Foods Day if you don’t want to! Because there are plenty of different ways that you can embrace some Spice without needing to cook a complex meal.
We all know that a Pepperoni Pizza will go down well in most homes! You could even add a few Jalapenos to your Burger or Fajitas in honor of this day!
Other easy dishes that will ensure you are part of the trend include Spicy Meatballs and Spicy Mexican Pasta Salad. You can turn anything into a Spicy Dish with the right Seasoning!
Facts about Spicy foods:
- People who love Spicy food are called Pyro-gourmaniacs.
- Did you know Christopher Columbus discovered Chili Peppers when he first visited the Americas in 1493.
- Garlic, Chilies, Onions, Allspice, and Oregano have all been proven to kill bacteria making food safer to consume.
- The best way to ease the burn of flaming Hot Peppers is with cold Milk or Yogurt.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
