Conversation 25

NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY | June 5

‘Tis the season to celebrate National Gingerbread Day. While that may sound strange for June 5, gingerbread lovers across the country celebrate by sampling their favorite recipes and gingerbread treats. Whether in the form of bread, cakes, bars, biscuits, or cookies, gingerbread is delicious any time of year.

Gingerbread is a sweet food that typically uses honey or molasses rather than just sugar and is flavored with ginger. The term “gingerbread” originally referred to preserved ginger, later referring to a confection made up of honey and spices. Gingerbread foods range from a soft, moist loaf cake to something closer to a ginger biscuit.

It is believed that gingerbread was first brought to Europe in 992 by an Armenian monk. He lived there for seven years teaching gingerbread cooking to the French priests and Christians until his death in 999.

Sources indicate that in 1444, Swedish nuns were baking gingerbread to ease indigestion.

In the 17th century, gingerbread biscuits were sold in monasteries, pharmacies and town square farmers markets. During the 18th century, gingerbread became widely available.

5 Gingerly Facts

Ginger can be traced back to the 11th century when monks experimented with spices, where ginger was used to make a molded cake.
Gingerbread during Medieval was served as a sweetmeat at the end of a meal to help with digestion of food.
It is said Queen Elizabeth I (September 7, 1533 – March 24, 1603) served her guests miniature gingerbread versions of themselves.
Gingerbread houses seemed to have originated in Germany during the late 16th century and became popular in Europe during the 17th century.
Cutout gingerbread was was used to teach children the alphabet during the 17th century.

NATIONAL START OVER DAY

Today is June 5 on the National Day Calendar and it’s National Start Over Day to remind you it’s perfectly fine to start over! Today’s National Day is about making the decision to accept failure and start over, from scratch.

Do you remember that old saying “if at first you don’t succeed, then try, try again?” All of us seem to have heard it one time or another in our life. We can all agree it has been used to inspire us to never give up and keep trying. Today, we want to remind everyone despite any setbacks you may have, don’t give up! Keep going, even if that means starting over.

What is failure? In a nut shell, failure is when a person does not succeed or has not met expectations of a specific situation, goal, or task. Failure means different things to different people, which is why our ideas about failure differ. Even though society plays a significant roll in what we think should be success, the idea of failure comes from our own personal beliefs.

Adults view failure differently than children do, but the end result is always the same: failure is discouraging.

NATIONAL KETCHUP DAY
June 5 is National Ketchup Day on the National Day Calendar and we are celebrating the most popular condiment in the U.S. Let’s dip right into the origins and history of this food condiment day and see why this red sauce is a staple on our tables across the nation.

Ketchup comes from the Chinese word kê-tsiap that dates back to 300 BC in China. Kê-tsiap was a sauce made from fermented fish, consisting of anchovies or oysters, mushrooms, and walnuts. The sauce became very popular with the British during the 17th century when British sailors came across a local fish sauce while in Southeast Asia. In fact, British sailors were known to add the fish sauce to their crackers and meats.

The sauce was such a novelty for British sailors, it was bottled and brought onboard ships to add flavor to their crackers and meats. Once the sailors reached England, they tried to replicate the recipe, adopting the word catsup in the process.

In 1812, American scientist named James Mease documented the first tomato-based ketchup recipe. His documentation marked the first official ketchup recipe that contained tomatoes, sugar, spices, and vinegar. The same base recipe we know and love today.

Interesting Tomato Facts

Before 1812, tomatoes were once considered poisonous because of their classification with the nightshade family or Solanaceae. Plants under the nightshade family tend to contain high doses of harmful toxins. However, it was later discovered tomatoes lack these toxins and edible.
Ketchup was originally used for medicinal purposes before the 19th century. In fact, many people used tomatoes to treat indigestion and diarrhea.
The Great Ketchup Controversy was a real controversy about proper ingredients to make ketchup. Some people thought a sweeter ketchup should be acceptable, while others thought a spicer one was would be better.
Nearly 97 percent of Americans have ketchup in their homes. In fact, ketchup is so popular Astronauts use ketchup as a condiment in space.
The word ketchup became popular during the 19th century and has been the standard name of the condiment since. However, some areas in the southern part of the U.S. still use the word catsup.

Contemporary tomato ketchup became wildly popular around 1876, when H.J. Heinz introduced his version of the ketchup recipe with a thick consistency and sweet flavor. Heinz spent many hours experimenting with the perfect ketchup recipe. Eventually, he found a way to produce ketchup using quality ingredients like sugar and vinegar to help provide a longer shelf life for consumers. The recipe used in 1876 is the same standard recipe we love and enjoy today.

NATIONAL VEGGIE BURGER DAY

When it comes to combining flavor and plant power, National Veggie Burger Day on June 5 proclaims it can be done! We’re going to prove to the biggest skeptics that veggie burgers are delicious and deserve a plate at the table.

Packed with flavor, protein, and nutrients, veggie burgers show up at backyard barbecues, tailgate parties, and on the menus of high-class restaurants. Whether you grill them, fry them or bake them, these burgers are worth taking a bite of. Just like a standard beef burger, you can layer all your favorite toppings like onion, tomato, lettuce, cheese, ketchup, and mustard between crusty roll or bun and take a big juicy bite. That’s one way to celebrate this flavorful day.

Don’t hesitate to add your favorite side dishes, too. For example, grilled cauliflower or broccoli, a zucchini noodle salad, or roasted vegetable salad with quinoa. Other options include grilled corn on the cob and sweet potatoes. Round out the meal with a crisp, cool beverage to compliment your veggie burger. Celebrate today by eating the healthiest

@shoelady60

No fun getting sick at this time of year. Thankfully, you have a new A/C to enjoy and make the house a bit more comfortable. Don’t overdo anything. Hoping you start feeling better.

@taci

Green tomatoes are good also. My grandma and my mom used to pickle them. Seems you are becoming a real gardener. No way that I know of to rid the plants of those hornworms. However, seeing them means that the next crop should be safe from harm. Something in the soil does kill them and their eggs. But don’t hold me to it. I read it in one of my plant books.

You are ahead of me on the closets. I’m still doing KP. Finally, though, I can say things are looking up. Once the kitchen is done, on to the master bedroom, two closets, bedside tables and dresser beckon. Oops and then the TV stand with all the DVDs which need to be cleaned. Never ending jobs ahead.

Heard you will have a heat wave next week. Just don’t overdo your walks. At one time HSN sold those hand held mist fans that worked wonders. Unfortunately, mine are at the Cape house. Who knew we would have a Pandemic and then other things.

@xango

I just arrived home. I know it’s after 11 pm, but got engrossed with a TV program and watched with him. He seems to be doing better and is moving around more, though either in a wheelchair or bed. At least now he can straighten that left leg out without pain. He wears a brace on that leg from time to time and it seems to be helping him.

Well, tomorrow another appointment and I hope and pray that things are beginning to come together. If you are beginning to feel better, that is a real good sign. Last week’s appointment was just a few hours after being discharged from the hospital. Being home helps to heal the wounds faster.

We had some welcome rain yesterday afternoon. You should be getting something tomorrow. Looks like next week may be better for rain chances. I sure hope so. Because of the drought we can only water from our lake area twice per week. Watering the lawn is out of the question. I am using the nose just to water a few plants (five to be exact). Two are the new Dipladenias which most people know are Mandevillas. I found planters for them and will be potting them in a day or so.

Please take care of yourself. Take it easy and if outside, just be out for a few minutes. Most of all, try to stay hydrated. Again, good thoughts for tomorrow. Also, thanks for your post.

@taci,

I feel you when it comes to cleaning. My gardens are doing well. I hope to keep it that
way I have sun on the front and shade on the back so I plant well. 🎈😎

I am just having sinus issues which is more annoying than anything.

Do you like Amish home made goods? We have a market that makes great home made
goodies. Oodie loves them in her area. I would love to go shopping in a Florida Market.

I feel like something that got hit by a truck it’s just annoying.

Hey have a good evening Taci and I hope your husband enjoyed his meal.

@xango,

I think this is the season for sinus issues. This sucks!

Hey good luck tomorrow I will be thinking and praying for a good outcome.

One day at a time.

Let us know how you are doing when you can post. 🎈

Peace Out Peeps enjoy your evening.

Shoelady, Hope you feel better soon!

Xango, let us know how your appt goes tomorrow. I will be thinking of you.