Grandma’s Stories

Oct 14th “NATIONAL DESSERT DAY”

People around the country indulge every October 14th on National Dessert Day!  Celebrated by way of the local bakery, grandma’s house or chocolate shop, desserts include candies, pies, ice cream, fruits, cookies, pastries, cobblers, and donuts, too. 

The available ingredients affect the range of desserts made in each region. The very first desserts required minimal effort or preparation since ancient cultures were more focused on the nutrition in foods to survive. Over the years, desserts have changed from natural candies and nuts to complex soufflés and multi-layered cakes. In modern culture, there are many more options available in desserts.

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart. ~ Erma Bombeck

Throughout the year, we see seasonal delights. As we near the holiday season, the flavors change. For some, the taste of gingerbread or fruitcake may come to mind. Others will pull out recipes handed down for generations. Pecan, pumpkin, and apple pies come to mind. Other rich desserts round out the dessert table, too. Flan, tarts, and everything with maple glaze.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDessertDay

This is an excellent day to order dessert first! Whether you go out to your favorite bakery or whip up something delicious at home, share your celebrations with others. Give a shout out to your favorite baker or share your go-to recipe. What’s your favorite dessert? Pie, cake, or something in between? Post photos on social media using #NationalDessertDay.

Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes
Apple Pie by Grandma Ople
Chocolate Mint Cookies
Hot Fudge Ice Cream Bar
Uncooked Banana Pudding
Lemon Cake

NATIONAL DESSERT DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of the sweet food holiday.

Oct 14th “Gemma’s Better-Than-Boxed Brownies Recipe”

Hi Bold Bakers!

There’s no shame in picking up a boxed brownie mix from your grocery store to whip up a quick, easy dessert for when your chocolate cravings hit — but my “homemade” boxed brownie recipe is just as easy, even more delicious, and (what I love most) you know exactly what you’re putting into your mix.

I have a lot of brownie recipes (everything from My Best-Ever Brownies, to indulgent Cream Cheese Brownies, to my 1-Minute Microwave Mug Brownie!), but these brownies have such a yummy flavor, and the texture is incredible! They have the fantastic crisp on top and an unbelievable chewy center.

If you noticed, the chocolate in these brownies looks especially melty. We took the photos of these brownies while they were still warm — we were too excited to wait to eat them!!

This recipe reminds me a lot of those boxed brownie mixes you can pick up, so if you have a hardcore boxed-brownies-only fan at home, give this recipe a shot.

Have your own Bake Off! One person makes the boxed version, and one person whips this homemade version up.

You will need an impartial judge, though I’m sure you won’t have to look very hard for someone willing to have at least two brownies.

What Are Better-Than-Boxed Brownies

My “Homemade” boxed brownie recipe is a lot like the boxed version from the grocery store. You know, the kind with all the pre-measured dry ingredients that you add some oil and an egg to. 

This recipe calls for a lot of similar ingredients, except we use butter, high-quality bittersweet chocolate, and zero palm oil, or corn syrup, or any other ingredient that makes you raise an eyebrow when you’re reading the back of the box. 

Ingredients

Instructions

and…

Boxed brownies are delicious — there, I said it! But what if there was a way to get the same results and know exactly what’s going in them? Say hello to my Better-Than-Boxed Brownies recipe and experience a homemade brownie above the rest. Written recipe: http://bit.ly/BetterThanBoxed

There’s no shame in picking up a boxed brownie mix from your grocery store to whip up a quick, easy dessert for when your chocolate cravings hit — but my “homemade” boxed brownie recipe is just as easy, even more delicious, and (what I love most) you know exactly what you’re putting into your mix.

If you have a hardcore boxed-brownies-only fan at home, give this recipe a shot. Have your own Bake Off! One person makes the boxed version, and one person whips this homemade version up. You will need an impartial judge, though I’m sure you won’t have to look very hard for someone willing to have at least two brownies.

Oct 1st “NATIONAL HOMEMADE COOKIES DAY”

National Homemade Cookies Day is observed annually on October 1. If you are looking for an excuse to bake some homemade cookies, look no further. Package them up and share them with neighbors, co-workers, and friends!  

Cookie Baking Tips

Use these tips to make your next batch of homemade cookies the best batch ever:

• Most cookie recipes have butter or a fat component. The butter should be soft, but cool, almost room temperature. 
• Cream the butter and sugar together to create a smooth, fluffy mixture, so the sugar isn’t grainy.
• Beat in each egg separately.
• Use proper measuring cups for the job.  Liquid measuring cups are larger than the amount needed, clear with lines for visual confirmation of the amount of liquid, and have a spout for pouring. Dry measuring cups are designed to be filled to the top with the exact amount.
• Measure your flour correctly. Don’t scoop the flour out of the container. It will pack too much into the cup. Use a spoon to lightly sift the flour into the measuring cup, then carefully level the excess off with the edge of a knife.
• Line metal baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent the cookies from spreading too far. Or, use a baking stone to have evenly baked cookies every time.

Sep 26th “NATIONAL DUMPLING DAY”

National Dumpling Day on September 26th serves up a delicious treat to celebrate. With the popularity of dumplings growing all the time, the day offers a great way to celebrate! Whether enjoyed as an appetizer or the main course, each morsel satisfies.

Dumplings offer so much variety and flavor. They create a beautiful accompaniment to any meal, too. The endless possibilities of shape and taste make dumplings a favorite dish around the world. 

Dumplings consist of small pieces of dough. Generally, but not always, the dough is wrapped around a filling. Both flavor and cooking methods factor into the wide variety of dumplings available, too. The dough may be composed of flour, potatoes, or bread. The fillings come in many forms – meat, fish, vegetables, or sweets. Dumplings can be cooked in many different ways, too. Some of the methods include boiling, steaming, simmering, and even frying. While dumplings are often eaten on their own, they are a delicious addition to soups and stews, too. 

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDumplingDay

Serve an entire meal of dumplings. Start with appetizers and follow them with a soup course. Then serve the main course. Wrap it up with a sweet dessert. Other suggested ways to celebrate include:

• Invite friends to join you at your favorite restaurant. Order a variety of dumplings to share. Don’t forget to give the restaurant a shout-out on social media.
• Experiment at home. Try cultural recipes or break the mold by adding your own flair.
• Add dumplings to soups.
• Share your favorite recipes.
• Don’t forget to take photos of your plates – before and after!

Be sure to invite friends to enjoy the celebration with you! Take photos and post them on social media using #NationalDumplingDay.

NATIONAL DUMPLING DAY HISTORY

TMI Food Group submitted National Dumpling Day in April 2015 to celebrate all the goodness of dumplings. 

In May 2015, the Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed that National Dumpling Day to be held on September 26th, annually. 

About TMI Food Group

Brothers Joseph and Terry Tang founded TMI Food Group, a minority-owned business, in 1989. For over 20 years, the Tang Family’s hard work ensures the products they offer are of the highest quality and health standards. With its straightforward mission “To make people happy” and vision “To be part of every family’s meals,” TMI Food Group always has and will continue to devote itself to the production of delicious and healthy foods.

Since its inception as Twin Marquis, a small-scale noodle factory in Chinatown, TMI Food Group has experienced exponential growth over the years. Its current facilities operate on over 130,000 square feet of production space. Their repertoire expanded beyond noodles and wrappers to include dim sum, appetizers, and dumplings. TMI Food Group is the parent company of subsidiaries Twin Marquis Inc., Chef One Corp., and TMI Trading Corp.

In 2007, TMI Food Group became the first manufacturer of Asian food products in the United States to receive an ISO 22000:2005 certification, an international standard of food safety. The certification was a testament to the company’s dedication to its consumers, taking into consideration all aspects of food production, from research and development to the distribution of its products. Subsidiary brands Chef One Corp. and Twin Marquis Inc. are also HACCP certified.

Media Contacts:

TMI Food Group – Susie Moy – (718) 744-6810

Sep 21st NATIONAL PECAN COOKIE DAY””

Each year on September 21st, people across the United States celebrate National Pecan Cookie Day.

This delicious cookie can be eaten and enjoyed morning, noon and night. If you’re a pecan snacker, another pecan-related celebration is National Pecan Day on April 14.

Pecan is an Algonquian word, meaning “a nut requiring a stone to crack.” A member of the hickory family, the pecan is native to central and southern United States.

One of the best ways to enjoy the celebration is by having freshly baked pecan cookies straight from the oven. Add a cold glass of milk to wash it down, and you’ll have found near perfection. Joining a friend while savoring the buttery goodness is even better. The variety of recipes for soft or firm cookies astounds most bakers. The toasted nuts and sugary sweetness melts in your mouth, keeping you coming back for more.  They delight, and when stored properly, they stay fresh, too.  But pecan cookies won’t last long when they’re baked right.

Gather up the ingredients for your favorite recipe. Whether soft and chewy or the dunking kind, bake up a batch for Pecan Cookie Day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPecanCookieDay

Don’t have Pecan Cookie recipe? Try one of these:

Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

Use #NationalPecanCookieDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL PECAN COOKIE DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues seeking the history of this food holiday.