Did You Know?
Cheesecake

 Cheesecake is believed to have originated in ancient Greece. Historians believe that cheesecake was served to the athletes during the first Olympic Games held in 776 B.C.
Origins of the word XMAS

 Although it is a common misconception that the term Xmas is disrespectful, its origins show this not to be true. The Greek word for Christ is Xristos, and the letter “X” was frequently used as a religious symbol. Thus Xmas is merely an abbreviated form of the word Christmas and was first used by Europeans in the 16th century.
Origins of the Umbrella

 The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. There is evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China. These ancient umbrellas or parasols were originally designed to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use in the rain by waxing and coating their paper parasols with lacquer.
Mango

 The mango (Mangifera indica) is a tropical Asian tree of the cashew family. They are now grown extensively throughout the tropics, and are sometimes known as 'the peach of the tropics.
Apples & Apple Trees

 The apples from one tree can fill 20 boxes every year. Each box weighs an average 42 pounds and contains approximately 105 apples. Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free. 25 percent of an apple's volume is air – that's why they float. The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.
Tarts

 There is something very appealing about a miniature tart. It’s so much fancier looking than an ordinary cookie and seems to promise more in the flavor department, while at the same time its small size lets you indulge yourself in a bite or two without guilt. From a preparation standpoint, miniature tarts aren’t much more difficult to make than full-sized tarts are and they are certainly easier to transport and serve.
Why is it called Tiramisu?

 Tiramisu means "pick-me-up" in Italian. It represents the high energetic content (eggs and sugar) and the caffeine of the strong black coffee.
Melon

 Melon is a term used for various members of the Cucurbitaceae family with fleshy fruit. Melon can refer to either the plant or the fruit, which is a false berry. Many different cultivars have been produced, particularly of muskmelons. The plant grows as a vine.
What's a Durian?

Imagine the best, most delicious, and sensuous banana pudding you can imagine, add just a touch of butterscotch, vanilla, peach, pineapple, strawberry, and almond flavors, and a surprising twist of — garlic??!! Like many of life's greatest experiences, eating durian cannot be adequately described with words. Durian has a characteristic delicious flavor, creamy texture, and tantalizing fragrance that is just... durian! — the king of fruits, Nature's most magnificent fruit gift.
Pinipig

 Pinipig is actually immature glutinous rice that is harvested and pounded into what looks more like light green flakes. The flakes are moist and redolent with a fragrance that is simply unique. Some restaurants used to replace pinipig with the more readily available corn flakes
Mango Facts

 - More fresh mangoes are eaten every day than any other fruit in the world.
- The popular "Paisley" design is a design from India based on the mango.
In India, the mango was once considered as a sacred fruit- it was said that Buddha was presented with a grove of mangoes to provide him with a shady refuge.
Pastillas

Pastillas are made from milk and sugar boiled together until thickened, then cooled and formed by hand into little mini-logs that are often rolled in more granulated sugar before they are individually packed in cellophane and paper.
Chocolate

 Bittersweet chocolate is what is usually called for in baking. It contains more chocolate liquor (at least 35%) and less sugar than sweet chocolate. Semisweet chocolate contains 15% - 35% chocolate liquor.
Halloween Holiday

 Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness. Pumpkins also come in white, blue, and green. Great for unique monster cravings. Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters. But hey- you could give away MY San Grahams Macaroons, Brownies, or Toffee for a change. The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
Endless Summer?

 Well, not entirely endless. If you want to spend the longest summer vacation, try going to Antartica where summer lasts 6 months long. This is unlike other summers because the sun shines 24 hours a day during this time, believe it or not! Not much of a summer due to the freezing temperatures really. Nighttime, on the other hand, comes in the form of one long night in the remaining 6 months (winter) which is engulfed in cold total darkness!
Polvoron

 Polvoron is powdered milk candy, made of flour, sugar butter and powdered milk. The flour is toasted, all the ingredients are mixed and shaped into round or oval-shaped molds. It is believe that making polvoron started during the American occupation to use up the huge amount of powdered milk brought in by the Americans.
Why are Pencils Yellow?

 In the 1980's, American pencil makers wanted a special way to tell people that their pencils contained Chinese graphite since the best graphite in the world at that time came from China. Because the color yellow is associated with royalty and respect in China, the American pencil manufacturers started painting their pencils bright yellow to communicate this “regal” feeling and association with China. The trend continues on until today.
All Saint's Day

 In the 7th century CE, Pope Boniface IV created All Saint's Day. During this time, there were so many saints that there were not enough days in the year to accommodate each of them. So, All Saint's Day was to honor the saints who didn't have a unique day, and to celebrate the saints that the Church had failed to recognize. It originally was held on May 13, but was moved by Pope Gregory in 835 CE to November 1 in order to distract Christians from celebrating Samhain (Halloween).
Coconut: A fruit, a nut or a Seed?

Though its name suggests that it is a nut, I've always regarded coconut as a fruit. When the coconut is young, it has properties like fruit, and as it matures, it becomes more nutty. But in fact it is not a nut or a fruit; it is a seed.
Brownies

 Brownies are an extremely popular chocolate-based dessert made with eggs, flour and sugar.
Pineapple

 Pineapples are the berry to a perennial herb, borne on a stem that emerges from a cluster of leaves just above the ground. It takes 18 to 22 months for a pineapple plant to produce a single 4 to 5 pound fruit. About a year later, the plant will produce a second fruit, smaller than the first. Hawaii is the number one country producing pineapples. Pineapples are a used as a symbol of hospitality.
Suman

 Suman is a rice cake originating from the Philippines. It is made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, and often steamed in banana leaves. It is served wrapped in buli or buri palm leaves and usually eaten sprinkled with sugar.
Banana

 Bananas are great for athletic and fitness activity because they replenish necessary carbohydrates, glycogen and body fluids burned during exercise. They are available all year-round and they are harvested every day of the year.
Hershey's Caramel Beginnings

 Did you know that Milton Hershey of the world-famous Hershey's chocolate empire, started off not with chocolate, but with caramel? Hershey had started his career by founding the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886. He learned chocolate-making only because he was looking for new coatings for his then-famous caramels.
Peanut Butter

 Peanut Butter was developed in 1890 by a St. Louis doctor for his patients with bad teeth. It was promoted as a health food at the St. Louis Exposition 14 years later, but the oil separated from the grainy solids. In 1933, a California packer was able to homogenize the peanuts into a stable butter - "Skippy Churned Peanut Butter".
World's Best Cheesecake Eater

 Did you know that there's a way for cheesecake to get you into the Guinness Book of World Records? Sonya Thomas got her name immortalized in the popular book-- she holds the world record for cheesecake eating after she ate 11 pounds of cheesecake in 9 minutes.
Pudding

 Chocolate pudding is a class of dessert with chocolate flavors. There are two main types: a boiled then chilled, texturally a custard set with and a steamed/baked, texturally similar to cake.
The Graduation Cap

 The square stiff hat is believed to have been developed around the 16th century. There are two general beliefs to its square shape: one believes that it resembles a “mortar board”, popularized in Oxford University, which represents the mortar board of a master workman; while another belief rests on the obvious resemblance of its shape to a book. For whatever reason, being square has become the distinguishable form accepted through the years.
Cheesecake History

 Cheesecake is believed to have originated in ancient Greece. The first recorded mention of cheesecake was back in 776 B.C. It was served to the athletes during the first Olympic Games held that year.
Strawberry

 Berries on a straw? There is a legend that strawberries were named in the nineteenth-century by English children who picked the fruit, strung them on grass straws and sold them as "Straws of berries". Another theory is the name was derived from the nineteenth-century practice (ands still today, although most farms use raised beds, enclosed in plastic) of placing straw around the growing berry plants to protect the ripening fruit.
Macaroons

 Macaroons are cookies or confections, or crosses between the two, depending on where they are made. The macaroon is a close relative of the meringue. “Macaroon” means different things to different people. To some, it’s a big ball of coconut, to others, a delicate, airy meringue. Both are delicious.
Cheesecake

 Cheesecake is believed to have originated in ancient Greece. Historians believe that cheesecake was served to the athletes during the first Olympic Games held in 776 B.C.
 
Origins of the word XMAS

 Although it is a common misconception that the term Xmas is disrespectful, its origins show this not to be true. The Greek word for Christ is Xristos, and the letter “X” was frequently used as a religious symbol. Thus Xmas is merely an abbreviated form of the word Christmas and was first used by Europeans in the 16th century.
 
Origins of the Umbrella

 The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. There is evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China. These ancient umbrellas or parasols were originally designed to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use in the rain by waxing and coating their paper parasols with lacquer.
 
Mango

 The mango (Mangifera indica) is a tropical Asian tree of the cashew family. They are now grown extensively throughout the tropics, and are sometimes known as 'the peach of the tropics.
 
Apples & Apple Trees

 The apples from one tree can fill 20 boxes every year. Each box weighs an average 42 pounds and contains approximately 105 apples. Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free. 25 percent of an apple's volume is air – that's why they float. The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.
 
Tarts

 There is something very appealing about a miniature tart. It’s so much fancier looking than an ordinary cookie and seems to promise more in the flavor department, while at the same time its small size lets you indulge yourself in a bite or two without guilt. From a preparation standpoint, miniature tarts aren’t much more difficult to make than full-sized tarts are and they are certainly easier to transport and serve.
 
Why is it called Tiramisu?

 Tiramisu means "pick-me-up" in Italian. It represents the high energetic content (eggs and sugar) and the caffeine of the strong black coffee.
 
Melon

 Melon is a term used for various members of the Cucurbitaceae family with fleshy fruit. Melon can refer to either the plant or the fruit, which is a false berry. Many different cultivars have been produced, particularly of muskmelons. The plant grows as a vine.
 
What's a Durian?

Imagine the best, most delicious, and sensuous banana pudding you can imagine, add just a touch of butterscotch, vanilla, peach, pineapple, strawberry, and almond flavors, and a surprising twist of — garlic??!! Like many of life's greatest experiences, eating durian cannot be adequately described with words. Durian has a characteristic delicious flavor, creamy texture, and tantalizing fragrance that is just... durian! — the king of fruits, Nature's most magnificent fruit gift.
 
Pinipig

 Pinipig is actually immature glutinous rice that is harvested and pounded into what looks more like light green flakes. The flakes are moist and redolent with a fragrance that is simply unique. Some restaurants used to replace pinipig with the more readily available corn flakes
 
Mango Facts

 - More fresh mangoes are eaten every day than any other fruit in the world.
- The popular "Paisley" design is a design from India based on the mango.
In India, the mango was once considered as a sacred fruit- it was said that Buddha was presented with a grove of mangoes to provide him with a shady refuge.
 
Pastillas

Pastillas are made from milk and sugar boiled together until thickened, then cooled and formed by hand into little mini-logs that are often rolled in more granulated sugar before they are individually packed in cellophane and paper.
 
Chocolate

 Bittersweet chocolate is what is usually called for in baking. It contains more chocolate liquor (at least 35%) and less sugar than sweet chocolate. Semisweet chocolate contains 15% - 35% chocolate liquor.
 
Halloween Holiday

 Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness. Pumpkins also come in white, blue, and green. Great for unique monster cravings. Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters. But hey- you could give away MY San Grahams Macaroons, Brownies, or Toffee for a change. The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
 
Endless Summer?

 Well, not entirely endless. If you want to spend the longest summer vacation, try going to Antartica where summer lasts 6 months long. This is unlike other summers because the sun shines 24 hours a day during this time, believe it or not! Not much of a summer due to the freezing temperatures really. Nighttime, on the other hand, comes in the form of one long night in the remaining 6 months (winter) which is engulfed in cold total darkness!
 
Polvoron

 Polvoron is powdered milk candy, made of flour, sugar butter and powdered milk. The flour is toasted, all the ingredients are mixed and shaped into round or oval-shaped molds. It is believe that making polvoron started during the American occupation to use up the huge amount of powdered milk brought in by the Americans.
 
Why are Pencils Yellow?

 In the 1980's, American pencil makers wanted a special way to tell people that their pencils contained Chinese graphite since the best graphite in the world at that time came from China. Because the color yellow is associated with royalty and respect in China, the American pencil manufacturers started painting their pencils bright yellow to communicate this “regal” feeling and association with China. The trend continues on until today.
 
All Saint's Day

 In the 7th century CE, Pope Boniface IV created All Saint's Day. During this time, there were so many saints that there were not enough days in the year to accommodate each of them. So, All Saint's Day was to honor the saints who didn't have a unique day, and to celebrate the saints that the Church had failed to recognize. It originally was held on May 13, but was moved by Pope Gregory in 835 CE to November 1 in order to distract Christians from celebrating Samhain (Halloween).
 
Coconut: A fruit, a nut or a Seed?

Though its name suggests that it is a nut, I've always regarded coconut as a fruit. When the coconut is young, it has properties like fruit, and as it matures, it becomes more nutty. But in fact it is not a nut or a fruit; it is a seed.
 
Brownies

 Brownies are an extremely popular chocolate-based dessert made with eggs, flour and sugar.
 
Pineapple

 Pineapples are the berry to a perennial herb, borne on a stem that emerges from a cluster of leaves just above the ground. It takes 18 to 22 months for a pineapple plant to produce a single 4 to 5 pound fruit. About a year later, the plant will produce a second fruit, smaller than the first. Hawaii is the number one country producing pineapples. Pineapples are a used as a symbol of hospitality.
 
Suman

 Suman is a rice cake originating from the Philippines. It is made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, and often steamed in banana leaves. It is served wrapped in buli or buri palm leaves and usually eaten sprinkled with sugar.
 
Banana

 Bananas are great for athletic and fitness activity because they replenish necessary carbohydrates, glycogen and body fluids burned during exercise. They are available all year-round and they are harvested every day of the year.
 
Hershey's Caramel Beginnings

 Did you know that Milton Hershey of the world-famous Hershey's chocolate empire, started off not with chocolate, but with caramel? Hershey had started his career by founding the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886. He learned chocolate-making only because he was looking for new coatings for his then-famous caramels.
 
Peanut Butter

 Peanut Butter was developed in 1890 by a St. Louis doctor for his patients with bad teeth. It was promoted as a health food at the St. Louis Exposition 14 years later, but the oil separated from the grainy solids. In 1933, a California packer was able to homogenize the peanuts into a stable butter - "Skippy Churned Peanut Butter".
 
World's Best Cheesecake Eater

 Did you know that there's a way for cheesecake to get you into the Guinness Book of World Records? Sonya Thomas got her name immortalized in the popular book-- she holds the world record for cheesecake eating after she ate 11 pounds of cheesecake in 9 minutes.
 
Pudding

 Chocolate pudding is a class of dessert with chocolate flavors. There are two main types: a boiled then chilled, texturally a custard set with and a steamed/baked, texturally similar to cake.
 
The Graduation Cap

 The square stiff hat is believed to have been developed around the 16th century. There are two general beliefs to its square shape: one believes that it resembles a “mortar board”, popularized in Oxford University, which represents the mortar board of a master workman; while another belief rests on the obvious resemblance of its shape to a book. For whatever reason, being square has become the distinguishable form accepted through the years.
 
Cheesecake History

 Cheesecake is believed to have originated in ancient Greece. The first recorded mention of cheesecake was back in 776 B.C. It was served to the athletes during the first Olympic Games held that year.
 
Strawberry

 Berries on a straw? There is a legend that strawberries were named in the nineteenth-century by English children who picked the fruit, strung them on grass straws and sold them as "Straws of berries". Another theory is the name was derived from the nineteenth-century practice (ands still today, although most farms use raised beds, enclosed in plastic) of placing straw around the growing berry plants to protect the ripening fruit.
 
Macaroons

 Macaroons are cookies or confections, or crosses between the two, depending on where they are made. The macaroon is a close relative of the meringue. “Macaroon” means different things to different people. To some, it’s a big ball of coconut, to others, a delicate, airy meringue. Both are delicious.
 
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Baking Glossary

Knead: To blend dough together with hands or in a mixer to form a pliable mass.

Macerate: to soak in a flavored liquid; usually refers to fruit.
Mince: to cut into tiny pieces, usually with a knife.

Pinch: the amount of dry ingredients you can hold in a pinch (between your thumb and forefinger). It's equivalent to 1/16 teaspoon.
Poach: to cook gently over very low heat in barely simmering liquid just to cover.
Purée: to mash or grind food until completely smooth, usually in a food processor, blender, sieve, or food mill.

Reduce: to thicken a liquid and concentrate its flavor by boiling.

Sauté or panfry: to cook food in a small amount of fat over relatively high heat.
Scald: to heat liquid almost to a boil until bubbles begin to form around the edge.
Shred: to cut food into narrow strips with a knife or a grater.
Simmer: to cook in liquid just below the boiling point; bubbles form but do not burst on the surface of the liquid.
Skim: to remove surface foam or fat from a liquid.
Spatula: a flat utensil. Some are shaped to scrape sides of the mixing bowl; others are shaped to flip foods, or to stir ingredients in a curved bowl.
Steam: to cook food on a rack or in a steamer set over boiling or simmering water in a covered pan.
Steep: to soak in a liquid just under the boiling point to extract the essence—e.g., tea.
Stew: to cook covered over low heat in a liquid.
Stir-fry: to quickly cook small pieces of food over high heat, stirring constantly.

Whip: beating rapidly with a whisk beater or fork to incorporate air and increase the volume of egg whites.
Whisk: to beat ingredients (such as heavy or whipping cream, eggs, salad dressings, or sauces) with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

Zest: the outer, colored part of the peel of citrus fruit.
Zester: a utensil with tiny cutting holes on one end that creates threadlike strips of peel when pulled over the surface of a lemon lime or orange. It removes only the colored outer portion of the peel (zest).