Are We Over Pumpkin Spiced

 It's everywhere these days. Pumpkin spice is like the mold of the fall season. why is it here and why is it so popular? When did it become part of our autumnal ritual?

Surprising the mix is a lot older than the US.It's around thirty five  hundred years old.It  first came  into international being with the spice trade with the Indonesian islands known as the Spice Islands by the Dutch.They called a mix of similar spices soeculaaskruiden, that also has pepper and cardimon. By 1791 it reached cookery or cookbooks written by a Scottish housewife known only as Mrs. Frazier. This was a mix of nutmeg, clove and Scottish pepper which was likely allspice. The spices were also coming from the Caribbean too at this point. This 18th Century version of pumpkin spice wasn't used in hot beverages. Mostly fried flounder and pork chops benefited from this. It only became a sweet spice when it hit the US and went into pumpkin pie. The blend had evolved into mace, nutmeg and ginger. It was a while before it made it into out coffees and other baked goods.

Blame the big spice purveyor McCormick for its' rise. It introduced a spice blend  named what else - pumpkin pie spice in 1934.It never really took off as a savory save in Vietnamese cooking where cinnamon is widely used. Indian cooking also uses the spices too. It came into lattes in 2003 thanks to Starbucks. The company did well with its' tasty Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog. The big guys at the top figured that the mix of spices would go well in coffee and they did. Soon Starbucks' rival Dunkin Doughnuts was making a similar coffee and it was a no brainer to add the flavoring to their doughnuts and doughnut holes. Now it's like the Godzilla of spices taking over everything. Stop & Shop sells a pumpkin spice soda along with cookies and cupcakes. The last are covered with  mounds of cream cheese frosting which also covers their pumpkin spice cakes. Now there are even Oreos filled with pumpkin spice.. There is even candy corn with the flavoring but that's its for now. Luckily there are no Reeses Cups stuffed with it or M&M's. Yet.

It's time we think of a new spice blend for the fall. Something smoky that works well in sweet and savory. what will it be? we should put our heads together and think.

Cooking Lessons

With parents acting as teacher these days, it's a good time to teach the little ones about the aspects of cooking. Being in the kitchen can show the little ones everything from match to foreign languages to history. 

One of the best lessons comes with baking.It's an exact science that requires measuring. Even the little ones can be shown the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon. They can learn how to measure out flour and sugar along with learning how to calculate how much milk, water or oil goes into a recipe. Baking teaches them that adding too much or too little of an ingredient can alter a baked good's flavor and texture. Cookie dough can  show them how divvy it up to and how much to use to get the recommended two dozen. This can also apply to cooking although most recipes are looser with exact amounts.  Fruits and veggies can also be helpful in teaching kindergartners up to second graders addition and subtraction. The same can be said of cookies and candies, but the other choice is healthier. Also you can create flashcards based on measurement charts. It's a great way of teaching them how to double up or decrease a recipe.

Cooking teaches us about languages too. Start with something they know like pizza which is Italian for pie, Work your way to the different pastas which are usually named for the objects they resemble. For example orrechiete is shaped like little ears. From there you can learn about the face knowing that the big drinking straw pasta bucatini is from mouth or boca and that the flat spaghetti linguine comes from the word for tongue - lingua. If your tweens and high schoolers are into French , then let them create some recettes francaise.It's easy to make homemade pomme frites or French fries in the air fryer along with those delicious croque monsieur. Get creative  with this ham sandwich that also has Gruyere cheese as a layer. Add a creamy bechamel sauce or turn it into a Mornay with the addition of shredded Gruyere. This can also be applied to other cuisines like Chinese, Thai and Indian. History  can also be used in the kitchen. Delve into the back stories of such dinner favorites as pot pie or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Explore the meanings of such classic American foods like cookies and grits  - where did they're names come from and how long they've been around.

The kitchen is a great classroom. Kids can learn math , languages and history just from one cooking lesson. Create cooking classes today for lifelong knowledge.

Memorial Day -Remembering Our Warriors

As always we remember the young men and women who have died in battle for this country. Yes, that is proper.however we need to remember those still with us. What can we do?

Help out at VFW halls along with inviting both old and young vets over for a meal. If there is a newly discharged service person in your neighborhood. treat him and his family to a home cooked meal or even gift certificates to his or her favorite restaurant. Offer to babysit the kids so that a soldier or sailor can enjoy a romantic evening out with their spouse. Get the neighborhood involved in throwing a celebratory block party for these brave women and men. For older vets, who re alone,invite them over for a evening of their favorite foods and stories for the kids. They are living history and have seen it unfold first up in the theaters of war. Take them food shopping or go shopping for them.


They have given so much for us.Give something back - a meal - even a cup of coffee to them.