ABigSlice Journal

National Pretzel Day

Food history is always fascinating. Have you noticed that there is always a reason for everything? No matter the color, the shape, the size or the flavor, there is a reason why it is that way. I am glad to say that the remarkable pretzel fits perfectly into this tradition.

The shape of the pretzel is etched in the mind of every American since childhood. We have the monks of medieval France and Italy to thank for that quintessential shape. Scraps of dough were rolled into strips and then twisted so as to represent the arms of a child in prayer. And the three holes? You guessed it. They allude to the Christian trinity.

If you were a good child and learned your Bible verses as you were told, then you received one of these “little rewards” or pretiola in latin, as a gift. At this time they more closely resembled what we might recognize as mall pretzels, warm and doughy.This delicious practice spread throughout the Christian world until in Germany it was given its present name, pretzel. They turned up at many religious ceremonies and were seen as symbols of good fortune by the 1400’s. And though, perhaps a legend, it is fun to think that because of their use in Swiss royal weddings, we have inherited the term “tying the knot.”

So celebrate this pugnacious little treat on National Pretzel Day, April 26. I can only hope National Beer Day is really soon!

Check out our pretzel recipe here.

National Pecan Day

April 14 is National Pecan Day. Pecans, the queen of nuts, is actually a member of the hickory family. They are native to the Southeastern United States and can bear nuts for an astounding 300 years! The Texans are proud to call it their state tree.

But enough about the tree. It is that buttery, delilcious nut that is the hulled treasure. They are high in protein and unsaturated fats and make one heck of a pie. (see below)

So this Saturday, take time to tip your hat to the delicious pecan (pih-cahn'). Celebrate National Pecan Day - have some pralines!

Pecan Pie Recipe

ingredients

9" pie shell
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups pecans, toasted, cooled, and chopped

preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Place unbaked pie crust in freezer until ready to bake. Then line pie crust with aluminum foil and pie weights or dried beans. Bake pie shell until set, about 5-6 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake 2-3 minutes longer until crust is just beginning to brown on the edges.

3. Meanwhile, melt butter in saucepan. Remove from heat; mix in sugars and salt with wire whisk until butter is absorbed and mixture is smooth.

4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the two kinds of corn syrup and vanilla. Strain the mixture at this point to make sure it is perfectly smooth.

5. Return top of double boiler to heat; cook and stir constantly with wire whisk until mixture is shiny and hot to the touch, about 130 degrees. Remove from heat and stir in pecans.

6. As soon as the pie shell comes out of the oven, decrease oven temperature to 275 degrees. Pour pecan mixture into hot pie crust.

7. Bake at 275 degrees until center feels set yet soft, like gelatin, when gently pressed, about 50-60 minutes. Transfer pie to wire rack and let cool completely, at least 4 hours.

Best eaten within 12 hours. Serves 6-8

Name Yourself Day

A Big Slice is always on the look out for the new and unique. So we are beginning a series of entires dedicated to Eccentric Holidays of Note. We hope you enjoy these little mini-celebrations.

Everyone has an alterego. That long supressed side of you that is daring or sophisticated or even slightly bizarre! Well it's time to give that persona a name. Express your new identity to the world on Monday, April 9 as we celebrate Name Yourself Day! If you never liked the name you were given, why not try a new on on for size? Even if it is just for one day, shout it out from the highest hill! I am Barolo Abbruzzo! (too much? well I still have a couple of days to fine tune it.) Who knows, your new name just might stick.