National Donut Day - A Holiday Review

National Donut Day is celebrated each year on the first Friday of June. This event began in 1938 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. The idea came from the Salvation Army women of World War I who served donuts to soldiers. Known as ‘Donut Dollies’, these women volunteers of the Salvation Army traveled to France to support American Soldiers.

By 1938, the goal was to help those in need during the Great Depression. 

Some Donut History 

Doughnuts have been around for centuries, although the modern doughnut in America became better known during the 19th century from the influence of Dutch immigrants. The ring shape came from efforts to prevent a raw center and create even frying by punching a hole in the center.

The name for this tasty treat is interchangeably known as donut or doughnut. Doughnut was the original name, with donut becoming a shortened version.  

Since ‘doughnuts’ are made from a small lump of sweetened ‘dough’ and ‘nut’ is a way of saying “a small lump”, it is easy to see how this pastry’s name came about. 

Other words for donuts include cake, pastry, sweet bun, Danish, sinker, dunker, and crueller. Then we have the popular New Orleans fried doughnut with powdered sugar called a Beignet! Served in many restaurants around the country, beignets are most famously known at New Orleans’ Cafe du Monde. 

Personal Favorite Donut Story

My high school years were at a time when Driver’s Education was still taught as part of the school curriculum during school hours. We had some classroom instructions, interspersed with actual driving times. There were three of us girls in the driving part of my class and our time was around 10 a.m. One morning we drove down a street that had a Dunkin Donuts store and we girls begged our instructor to let us stop and get donuts. He said no because, if he did it for us, he’d have to do it for everyone. We promised we wouldn’t tell anyone! He finally relented (to our delight), but said if anyone from class said anything, he’d know one of us ‘told’ and we would lose any further ‘privileges’. None of us EVER told! :) 

Summary

This fried dough delicacy has evolved through time and today is available in a wide range of flavors, shapes and toppings. It is now a beloved treat enjoyed around the world. 

Whether you frequent a favorite local bakery or donut shop, or make your own homemade donuts, these small sweet fried cakes are a favorite with everyone.

National Donut Day

1st Friday in June

Donut Related Links:

• Homemade Donut Recipe
• Air Fryer Sugar Cinnamon Biscuit Bites by Sam Monaco 
• Review of Cafe du Monde in New Orleans by Wednesday Elf

*Donut Day Review written by Wednesday Elf

Kitchen Accessories for Making Your Own Homemade Donuts

 

Bellemain Premiere Donut Pan for Baking | Nonstick 12.5 x 8.5” Doughnut Pan with 6-Doughnut Molds | Steel Donut Trays | Make Perfect Bagels and Cake Donuts (2)

HULISEN Donut Cutter, 3.5 inch Stainless Steel Doughnut Cutter with Soft Grip Handle, and Small Biscuit Cutter, Professional Baking Dough Tools, Gift Package

Baker’s Friend Mini Donut Maker Machine for Home, 6 x 3'' Mini Doughnut Maker Machine, Donut Maker for Kids, Maquina Para Hacer Donas, Donut Baking Pan, Donut Party, Aqua

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Review Post Holiday Bark Recipe

Leftover Holiday Candy? Repurpose leftover holiday candy and nuts into yummy candy Bark with ease. So easy for any holiday or party any time of the year! Christmas, Halloween and Easter Holidays definitely produce a variety of candy (or sales to stock up!)

How To Make Holiday Candy Bark

Materials

Baking sheet

Parchment Paper

Glass bowl

Ingredients

Leftover Candy

Chocolate or White Chocolate melted, 1 bag of chips or 1-2 Bag of melts

Sprinkles optional.

How To Make

Prepare all the candy, nuts, decorations. Unwrap candy, chop nuts, chop candy if needed. 

Prepare the baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Melt the chips or melts in the microwave in a glass bowl or the bowl of your choice which is microwaveable. 

Microwave on high 1 minute and check. Use 30 second increments after the first minute. After each 30 sec check the chocolate and stir. Check if the chocolate is melted to a spreadable consistency.

With a spatula spread the chocolate mixture over the parchment paper. Thickness should be enough to cover the paper, about 1/4 inch thick.

Add the chopped or whole candy, nuts and sprinkles if desired. Randomly sprinkle over the chocolate mixture.

Freeze or put in refrigerator to set.

Break apart into triangles pieces. Store covered and can store in refrigerator if in danger of melting. 

Which Candy, Nuts, Raisins Work Well

There can be trial and error with choosing the best leftover candy. Chopping the candy into bite size pieces is helpful. Raisins, coconut and nuts can usually be used from the package. 

Leftover candy canes work well but should be chopped. 

Leftover Easter Bunnies work well but should be cut up into smaller pieces.

Chocolate can be testy when melted and each type of chocolate has its' own correct temp to melt. I have found using the microwave on high for 1 minute, check and stir, then in 30 second increments does work well.

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Oatmeal Muffin Day – A Food Holiday Review

National Oatmeal Muffin Day is celebrated on December 19th each year. It's one of those minor holidays with no known origin, but since it involves a delicious and healthy muffin, we are happy to celebrate this fun foodie day. 

A Bit of Background

A Muffin, or Quick-Bread, is similar to cupcakes both in size and in cooking method.

Muffins are popular breakfast foods, especially served with coffee.

Muffins come in many varieties and can be savory (like cheese muffins) or sweet like blueberry or banana nut muffins.

Oatmeal muffins have oatmeal as the primary ingredient – which has many health benefits which far outweigh any worry you might have over calories. 

Oatmeal muffin recipes began appearing in American cookbooks as long ago as the mid-1800s. They are made with flour, butter, eggs, OATMEAL, and baking soda as the raising ingredient.

Quick Recipe for Easy Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients for a quick & easy oatmeal muffin recipe I like that I found on Allrecipes include 1 cup of quick cooking oats, milk, an egg, vegetable oil, flour and salt. Baking powder is added as the raising ingredient. 

You can find the exact list of ingredients and also the directions for mixing this muffin recipe at the Allrecipes site for Easy Oatmeal Muffins. 

Prep time is about 15 minutes and baking in a preheated oven (at 425 degrees) is 20-25 minutes. Not long at all for a dozen tasty breakfast muffins. A warm, delicious treat on a cold morning. 

Summary

So whip up a batch of Oatmeal Muffins, or pick up a few at your local bakery, to celebrate this day with a delicious & healthy breakfast treat.

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

December 19

For more Muffin Reviews, check out ReviewThisReviews: Muffins

For more Holiday Reviews, check out the ReviewThisReviews Holiday Category

*National Oatmeal Muffin Day review written by 

         ~Wednesday Elf

**Images are from Pixabay; Intro image was created with GetStencil. 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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