Tag Archives: Culinary

Oven

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Oven

What would you do without an oven?

  • An oven is an appliance that is mostly an enclosed compartment that has the primary purpose to cook food using a heat source.
  • An oven made specifically for use in metalwork is known as a ‘furnace’, and one that is used to fire ceramics and other items is called a ‘kiln’.
  • Ovens have been used for thousands of years, and evidence of their ancient use has been found in various locations in Europe.
  • The heat source of ovens can be generated using coal, iron, wood, gas, microwaves, or, most commonly, electricity.
  • Ancient Greeks used ovens mainly to make bread, and they also made small, portable ovens that were used as early as the 1600s BC.

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  • Ovens in modern homes are often situated in a custom-sized space in an open cupboard or wall, around waist height, and the appliance is often a rectangular prism in shape.
  • In medieval Europe, the use of cauldrons and fireplaces were commonplace, while it wasn’t until around the 1700s when more practical and modern ovens became common, although they were often more like a stove.
  • In recent times, there has been a resurgence of wood-fired ovens that are either purchased or made, and they are generally situated in outdoor living areas and are used to cook pizzas and baked goods.
  • Modern style ovens generally feature a door, dials and other buttons to control the heat intensity produced, and sometimes other features are included, like ‘self-cleaning’.
  • Ovens often produce heat from either the base or the top, and commonly feature a fan to spread the heat more evenly.
Bibliography:
Bellis M, History of the Ovens from Cast Iron to Electric, 2015, About Money, http://inventors.about.com/od/ofamousinventions/a/oven.htm
Oven, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oven

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Lamington

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Lamington

Sit down and eat a nice lamington.

  • A lamington is a sweet snack that is primarily cake-based, and it is generally eaten for morning tea, afternoon tea or at a high tea.
  • Lamingtons are traditionally a vanilla sponge cake, cut into squares, that are coated in a chocolate sauce, and then covered in shredded and dried coconut (known as desiccated coconut).
  • Lamingtons may be halved and layered, with cream or jam in between, and can come in a variety of flavours, such as strawberry or lemon.
  • The shape of lamingtons can vary, and are often a rectangular block in shape, although they are traditionally square.
  • Lamingtons were invented sometime between 1896 to 1901 in Toowoomba, Brisbane or Ipswich in Queensland, Australia, and are said to have been served to the then Queensland Governor, Lord Lamington and/or his wife.
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Lamington
Image courtesy of fugzu/Flickr
  • In mid 2011, the Guinness World Record for the largest lamington was created in Australia’s Toowoomba, in Queensland, and it weighed 2361 kilograms (5205 pounds), and was said to be the size of 45,000 standard size ones.
  • The exact story of the invention of the lamington is disputed, as it may have been accidental, by dropping a cake in a chocolate mixture, or purposeful.
  • Lamingtons are symbolic food icons of Australia, and as such, are often made for and eaten on Australia Day, the nation’s special day.
  • The first known published lamington recipe appeared in a Sydney newspaper in late 1901, and while the size of the blocks is not specified in the recipe, they are commonly cut into 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 inches) cubes.
  • A national day for Lamingtons in Australia, has been designated as July the 21st, and the cake has often been used as a fundraiser for various clubs, schools and other groups.
Bibliography:
Halmagyi E, A Brief History of Lamingtons, 2015, Fast Ed, http://www.fast-ed.com.au/a-brief-history-of-lamingtons/
History, n.d, Australian Lamington Official Website, http://australianlamingtons.blogspot.com.au/p/history-of-world-famous-australian.html
Lamington, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamington

 

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Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites

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Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites

Which chocolate in the Cadbury Heroes or Favourites box is your favourite?

  • The confectionery, Cadbury ‘Heroes’ and Cadbury ‘Favourites’ are an assortment of chocolates that are usually packaged in a purple box or tin.
  • ‘Cadbury Heroes’ were originally known as ‘Cadbury Miniature Heroes’, and the chocolates are made by the Cadbury confectionery company.
  • ‘Cadbury Heroes’ is the British version of the confectionery product, while the Australian and New Zealand version is known as ‘Cadbury Favourites’.
  • Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites contain smaller versions of popular Cadbury chocolate bars, while boxes of these are available in small and large sizes.
  • The production of Cadbury Heroes is said to have been prompted by a similar confectionery assortment created by the Mars company, known as ‘Celebrations’.

Cadbury Favourites

  • Cadbury Favourites contain a different assortment of chocolates to the Cadbury Heroes chocolates; and the former has a wider selection.
  • Popular chocolates that have been featured in the assortments of Cadbury Heroes and/or Cadbury Favourites include Crunchies, Twirls, Dairy Milks, Dreams, Picnics, Time Outs, Boosts, Eclairs and Cherry Ripes.
  • Cadbury Favourites and Cadbury Heroes were released in 1998 and 1999 respectively, and quickly became a hit among chocolate fans.
  • Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites range from 7 to 12 varieties of chocolate per box, and they are available in packages that contain generally between 300 and 800 grams (10.5 and 28 ounces) of mini chocolate bars.
  • In 2008, the British Cadbury Heroes swapped their popular Crunchie chocolates, as well as Dreams, for other less popular chocolates, causing much outrage by the public.
Bibliography:
Cadbury Heroes, n.d, Cadbury, https://www.cadbury.co.uk/products/Heroes-2410?p=2410
Heroes (Confectionary), 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_(confectionery)
Smillie S, Heroes to Zeroes, 2008, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/dec/19/cadbury-heroes-picnic-dream-bournville

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Plastic Wrap

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Plastic Wrap

Do you get frustrated wrapping up food with plastic wrap?

  • Plastic wrap is an invention that is generally used to cover food objects and keep them airtight, or to bundle loose items.
  • ‘Plastic wrap’ is also known as ‘Glad wrap’, ‘cling film’, ‘Saran wrap’, ‘cling wrap’ and ‘food wrap’.
  • Typically, plastic wrap is rolled around a cylinder that is purchased in a box, that generally features an attached, toothed metal bar for cutting.
  • Plastic wrap was originally made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which is notoriously hard to recycle and its toxicity has been questionable, however low density polyethylene (LDPE) is becoming more common, and manufacturers have been continually improving their products to create totally non-toxic food wraps.
  • Plastic wrap is commonly used to cover plates, bowls or other dishes, especially leftovers, to protect and seal the food they contain, often for storage in the refrigerator.

Glad Wrap, Plastic, Thin, Cover, Roll, Clear, Transparent, Ten Random Facts, Food, Culinary, Invention

  • The accidental invention of plastic wrap in 1933 is attributed to Ralph Wiley from Dow Chemical, and the substance was originally used by the military as a spray on planes and other vehicles, to protect them from rust and other deterioration.
  • Plastic wrap usually sticks to itself, and it also generally adheres to smooth surfaces, making it a flexible system for sealing all sorts of items of varying shapes and sizes; and wrap with similar qualities is used to bind items as small as a rolled newspaper, or as a large as a pallet-load of goods.
  • Plastic wrap was not developed as a food wrap until 1949, when it was first used in the food industry, and it was not until 1953 that it was available for home use.
  • Plastic wrap boxes usually have tabs on either end of the box, that can be pushed inside the box to hold the roll in place as the wrap is pulled from the roll.
  • Plastic wrap for home use usually comes in rolls that are 29 to 33 cm (11.5 to 13 inches) wide, and in varying lengths from 15 to 150 metres (16.4 to 164 yards), although much wider and longer rolls are available in the catering industry.
Bibliography:
Plastic Wrap, 2015, MadeHow, http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Plastic-Wrap.html
Plastic Wrap, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_wrap
What is Plastic Wrap, 2015, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-plastic-wrap.htm
Who Invented Plastic Wrap, 2015, Who Invented It?, http://www.whoinventedit.net/who-invented-plastic-wrap.html

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Cookie

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Cookie

Do you call it a biscuit or a cookie?

  • Cookies are food items that are made usually by baking a mixture of flour and other ingredients in an oven, and they are commonly eaten as a snack.
  • In Britain and other European countries, ‘cookies’ are typically called ‘biscuits’, while the American versions of ‘biscuits’ are known as ‘scones‘ elsewhere, and the term may also refer to ‘crackers’.
  • The word ‘cookie’ comes from the Dutch word ‘koekje’, meaning ‘little cake’, while ‘biscuit’ comes from the word ‘bescuit’ which means ‘twice cooked’ when translated from Old French.
  • Cookies, or biscuits, were originally used as easily transportable food items, and they were commonly used as a staple food when at sea, especially in the British Royal Navy.
  • Cookies are available in a wide variety of shapes and colours, although they are typically coloured brown, tan or white, and they can be made at home or purchased in supermarkets.

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  • Biscuits, or cookies, were originally baked at least twice, and sometimes more, making them very hard, to increase their durability and to decrease their spoilage properties, and as a result extend their storage life.
  • In 600 AD, the Persian community were making sweeter and softer cookies and biscuits, compared to the original hard, dry and bland versions evident around that time.
  • Cookies are most commonly a rough circular or rectangular shape, often around 5 centimetres (2 inches) across, although they are often made larger or smaller.
  • Butter or oil, sugar, flour, and egg are common ingredients for making modern cookies or biscuits, with fillings and/or coatings common, using foods including chocolate, nuts, fruit and jams.
  • Biscuits were originally often dunked in a hot beverage or other liquid, so that they became soft enough to eat easily, and this practice is not uncommon today, even though modern cookies are generally much softer and only baked once.
Bibliography:
Biscuit, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit
Cookie, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookie
Olver L, Food Timeline: cookies, crackers & biscuits, 2015, Food Timeline, http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcookies.html

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Colander

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Colander

The most efficient liquid remover is the colander.

  • A colander is a type of sieve, that is an invention used for culinary purposes, to separate liquid from other food.
  • ‘Colander’ comes from the word ‘colum’, which means ‘strainer’ or ‘sieve’ in Latin, and they are also known as ‘kitchen sieves’, ‘strainers’ and ‘pasta strainers’.
  • Most commonly, colanders are used to strain pasta, and canned items; as well as to rinse or wash vegetables and fruit.
  • Common materials used to make colanders include aluminium, ceramic, plastic, silicone and stainless steel.
  • Generally, colanders are found in the shape of a bowl, that is often deep, and sometimes they have small legs at the base.

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  • Colanders feature many holes or slots at the base for liquid to drain, that can range from small to large in size.
  • Colanders have been used for thousands of years, and specimens have been found that date back to at least 1300 BC.
  • Colanders are typically used over a sink, although a catcher, that is sometimes especially designed and paired with the colander, may be used if liquid flavouring or the like is wanted for other purposes.
  • Care should be taken when draining food via a colander, as steam can rise from boiling or hot liquids, and scald.
  • Colanders have been used by some religious organisations, notably those that ‘worship’ the Flying Spaghetti Monster from the Pastafarianism organisation, as head coverings.
Bibliography:
Colander, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colander
How Did the Colander Get Its Name?, 2012, CulinaryLore.com, http://www.culinarylore.com/food-history:origin-of-word-colander
What is a Colander?, 2015, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-colander.htm

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