*According to Cozymeal America’s most popular dessert is ice cream.
*In the sixteenth century, sugar sculptures by famous confectioners could cost as much as a person’s average annual wage.
*The modern concept of dessert applies to many sweets, including fruit, cheese, custard, pudding, cookies, pastries, pies, tarts, cakes, and ice creams.
*In many cultures dessert may be served first or as part of the meal.
*The word dessert comes from the French desservir meaning to “clean the table.”
*Crème Brûlée is a sweet custard dessert coated with crunchy caramelized sugar.
*The Vikings called their baked flour confection, kaka. They were among the earliest cultures to make cake-like treats.
*When sugar first came to England in the twelfth century it was used primarily as a spice or medicine.
*Sugar cane is considered a tropical grass.
*Pizzelle are one of the oldest cookies in the world. Food historians believe they came from an ancient Roman cookie, crustulum.
*Noah’s Pudding or ashure was believed to be the result of food running out on the Ark. Noah took all the remaining grains, chickpeas, fruits, nuts, and legumes and mixed them into a mildly sweet dish. There was the enough food for everyone! The next day the floods receded.
*Noah’s Pudding or ashure is still popular today (see below).
*Early mince pie contained meat.
*The world’s largest candy bar weighed over 12,000 pounds.
*Machine-spun cotton candy was invented by a dentist.
*Marzipan, a confection made from sugar, honey, and almond meal used to be sold in pharmacies to treat physical and mental problems.
*Queen Victoria’s wedding cake in 1840 was a single-tier fruitcake that weighed 294 pounds.
*Many food historians believe that the Sumerians invented professional cooking to please their gods.
*Brazil supplies 40% of the world’s sugar.
*Desserts can be sweet, savory, solid, or liquid.
*Kate Middleton and Prince William’s royal wedding cake cost $80,000.
*Halvah is one of the best-known Israeli desserts. It’s made with tahini (sesame seed paste), sugar, spices, and nuts. Added flavors might include coffee, marble, pistachio, dark chocolate, and cherry.
*Up until the seventeenth century, desserts were often used as palate cleansers between courses.
*Many food historians believe that Marco Polo discovered the secrets of making ice cream during his travels.
*Beverages such as liquors, sweet wines, fancy tea, or gourmet coffee are often considered desserts when served with small confections.
*Twelfth century Crusaders introduced sugar (from the Holy Land) to Europe.
*Dessert is fun at all ages!
YUM!
Oh my! Marzipan, pudding, and everything in between,… You named it, I like it.
Dessert: To clear the table, indeed. I volunteer! What fun!
Thanks for another great article!