Tag Archives: Europe

Mashed Potato

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Mashed Potato

Step on a potato? Turn it into mashed potato!

  • Mashed potato is an edible dish primarily made of cooked potato that has been crushed to a soft and somewhat smooth consistency.
  • Mashed potato’s main ingredient is potato, while additional ingredients often include butter, milk, vegetable oil or cream, as well as flavourings such as spices or herbs.
  • Commonly, mashed potato is served as a side accompaniment with meat or vegetables, and often gravy, although it may be used as an ingredient in dishes such as cottage pie.
  • The earliest known mashed potato recipe published was in The Art of Cookery recipe book authored by Englishwoman Hannah Glasse, in 1747.
  • Mashed potato is typically made with the use of a masher (powered by hand) or a mixer (electric), and modern style masher designs have been available from the mid to late 19th century.
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Mashed Potato
Image courtesy of David K/Flickr
  • Mashed potato can become sticky and somewhat unpleasant if excessively mashed, particularly while using electrical mixers, due to the starch being released because of over-stimulation.
  • Various potatoes can be used to make mashed potato, while some prefer waxy ones, while others prefer to use dry floury potatoes, and the typical texture of the potato once mashed with added ingredients is soft and starchy, and somewhat creamy.
  • It is thought that mashed potato dates back to the 1600s in England, though it is likely that potatoes were first mashed thousands of years ago by the Incas in South America, where potatoes originated.
  • Mashed potato can vary across cultures, with Indian mashes preferring an abundance of flavour with many ingredients, while a French preparation differs somewhat and includes the yolk of an egg.
  • Mashed potato is commercially available in a dehydrated or frozen form, and an ‘instant’ dehydrated flaked version has been available since the 1960s.
Bibliography:
Bulls D, History of the Potato Masher & How to Make Mashed Potatoes, 2015, Kings River Life Magazine, http://kingsriverlife.com/10/09/history-of-the-potatoe-masher/
FAQs: Charlotte to Millet, 2015, Food Timeline, http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq1.html
Mashed Potato, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashed_potato

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Pasterze Glacier

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Pasterze Glacier

Something is frightening the Pasterze Glacier – its retreating quite quickly!

  • Pasterze Glacier is a glacier located in the Eastern Alps in the Hohe Tauern National Park, in Austria, Europe.
  • ‘Pasterze’ of ‘Pasterze Glacier’ comes from the word ‘Pastirica’, which is translatable from Slovenian as ‘shepherdess’, and the glacier is also known as ‘Gletscherweg Pasterze’ and ‘Pasterzengletscher’.
  • Pasterze Glacier spreads a length of roughly 8.4 kilometres (5.2 miles), and is Austria’s and the Eastern Alps’  longest glacier.
  • Pasterze Glacier starts at the Johannisberg mountain that has a peak 3,463 metres (11,361 feet) high, and ends at approximately a height of 2,100 metres (6,890 feet) above sea level.
  • Austria’s Grossglockner, the highest mountain in the country at 3798 metres (12,460 feet) high, towers directly over Pasterze Glacier.
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Pasterze Glacier
Image courtesy of Nathan Wong/Flickr
  • Annually, Pasterze Glacier retreats on average more than 10 metres (33 feet), although from 1982 to 2008, it was more than 18 metres (59 feet) per year.
  • Measurements of Pasterze Glacier were first obtained in 1851, however, since then the glacier has lost over half of its volume.
  • The water that melts from Pasterze Glacier feeds into the Mӧll River, some of which is used for hydroelectric power plants.
  • Although decreasingly rapidly, the thickness of Pasterze Glacier is approximately 120 metres (394 feet).
  •  The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is typically used to visit Pasterze Glacier, while a cable railway, known as a ‘funicular’ and a walking trail are usually utilised to access the glacier.
Bibliography:
Bayr K & Hall D, The Recessions of the Pasterze Glacier, Austria, as seen on Maps, Satellite Imagery, and Measured in situ from 1864 to 2008, 2009, Eastern Snow, http://www.easternsnow.org/proceedings/2009/bayr_hall.pdf
Pasterze Glacier, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasterze_Glacier
Pasterze Glacier Trail – Tracking the Ice Age, 2015, Carinthia, http://www.nationalpark-hohetauern.at/en/Articles/View/369

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Toblerone

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Toblerone

Climb the peaks of the Toblerone.

  • Toblerone is an iconic bar of chocolate, notable for its triangular prism shape.
  • Toblerone was invented by confectionery manufacturer Theodor Tobler and cousin, Emil Baumann, in 1908, in Switzerland’s Bern, in Europe.
  • While it is commonly thought that the mountainous Swiss Alps was the inspiration for the triangular shape of Toblerone, it is believed that the chocolate bar shape was inspired by a row of show dancers.
  • Toblerone was patented and trademarked in 1909; was manufactured independently, and later sold to Interfoods in 1970 and Kraft in 1990.
  • The term ‘ Toblerone’ is a combination of the inventor’s surname – ‘Tobler’, and a nougat variant known as ‘torrone’ in Italy.
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  • Toblerone chocolate is arranged in peaks, generally ranging in quantity from three to twelve, depending on the size of the bar, which can weigh up to 4.5 kilograms (9.9 pounds) for a very large one, while single pieces are also available.
  • The Toblerone was patented notably quickly in fear of copying competitors, and it was the earliest chocolate to be registered for its distinct shape.
  • A Toblerone weighing 102 kilograms (225 pounds) was created for the company’s chocolate fest in 2010.
  • The mountain logo of Toblerone includes a hidden bear silhouette, which is the city of Bern’s coat of arms.
  • Toblerone is made of an intricate blend of chocolate, nuts, nougat and honey.
Bibliography:
Tolberone, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toblerone
Tolberone – How It All Began, 2011, Kraft, http://www.toblerone.com/toblerone1/page?locale=usen1&PagecRef=576
Tolberone History, n.d, Mondelēz International, http://www.mwtr.com/brands/toblerone/history

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Fjaðrárgljúfur

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Fjaðrárgljúfur

Fjaðrárgljúfur – try pronouncing that!

  • Fjaðrárgljúfur is a canyon that can be found near the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, in the south of Iceland.
  • The depth of Fjaðrárgljúfur is roughly 100 metres (328 feet), while it covers a distance of roughly 2 kilometres (1.25 miles).
  • It is believed that Fjaðrárgljúfur was formed by a melted glacier, which eroded much of the rock seen today.
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur is home to the Fjaðrá River, of which the water is a blue colour, and the area is very picturesque.
  • The primary rock found in Fjaðrárgljúfur is a type of igneous rock and is known as palagonite.
Fjaðrárgljúfur, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Water, Iceland, Canyon, River
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Image courtesy of Andrés Nieto Porras/Flickr
  • The term ‘Fjaðrárgljúfur’ roughly means, ‘feather river canyon’, and is a difficult word to pronounce by those unfamiliar with the Icelandic language.
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur is vegetated with significant quantities of moss, resulting in much of the rocks and grassy areas being a lush green colour.
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur is easily reached by vehicle from the Ring Road, and a short walk is required to reach the canyon.
  • Both the canyon tops of Fjaðrárgljúfur and the river below feature trails worthy of hiking.
  • Despite Fjaðrárgljúfur being a noteworthy location and close to a main road, it is not visited by large quantities of visitors.
Bibliography:
Fjađrárgljúfur, n.d, Visit South Iceland, http://www.south.is/en/moya/toy/index/place/fjadrargljufur
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, 2015, Breath With Us, http://breathewithus.com/fjadrargljufur-canyon/
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Iceland, 2014, Best Places On Earth, http://bestplacesonearth.net/beautiful-planet/fjaorargljufur-canyon-iceland/
The Majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon of Southern Iceland, 2013, Down the Wrabbit Hole – The Travel Bucket List, http://downthewrabbithole.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/the-majestic-fjarargljufur-canyon-of.html

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Pretzel

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Pretzel

Try not to let pretzels get you twisted!

  • A pretzel is a kind of bread that is formed so that it has the appearance of a knot, and it is often coated with salt, chocolate, seeds, sugar, nuts or other flavours.
  • Pretzels are typically twisted into a shape that has three holes and is roughly symmetrical.
  • Though there are many theories regarding the origins of pretzels, it is thought that they were first invented in the earlier centuries AD, possibly made in European monasteries and distributed to those children that prayed.
  • Pretzels are made of dough, commonly containing yeast, and are shaped and sometimes dipped in a lye solution before being baked in an oven.
  • The pretzel knot is traditionally known to represent a person praying with crossed arms, and to form the typical three hole bread shape with one’s arms, cross them over the chest, and place each hand on the opposite shoulder or upper arm.
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Pretzels
Image courtesy of Bryan Ochalla/Flickr
  • Pretzels have been popularised by Europe’s Germany over the centuries, and the first known illustration of the bread in 1185 also hails from Germany.
  • Pretzels can be hard or soft in nature, with textures ranging from crispy, flaky, smooth and rough, and the dough can be plain or sweetened prior to baking.
  • The term ‘pretzel’ comes from the German word ‘prezel’ or ‘brezel’, (other German words include ‘bretzel’, ‘breze’ and so on), which originally came from the Latin word ‘bracchiatus’ which means ‘with arms or branches’.
  • On average, an American will eat 700 grams (1.5 pounds) of pretzels on an annual basis, though if you live in the US state of Pennsylvania where they are very common, consumption is more likely to be 5.4 kg (12 pounds) each year.
  • There are many traditions associated with pretzels, one of which was that they were commonly hidden in the Easter period, in a similar way that eggs are hidden today.
Bibliography:
How Did the Pretzel Get Its Shape?, 2015, Wonderopolis, http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-did-the-pretzel-get-its-shape/
Pretzel, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretzel
Upton E, The History of Pretzels, 2013, Today I Found Out, http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/06/the-history-of-pretzels/

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Buttonhole

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Buttonhole

Buttonholes are relatively new in comparison to its button partner.

  • Buttonholes are a slit or hole in fabric that can hold a button, and normally as a result, hold two pieces of fabric together.
  • The edges of the hole designed for buttons are generally stitched over to prevent unravelling of the fabric and to limit wear on the hole edge, and this is done by sewing machine or hand, and the latter method typically uses a stitch called ‘buttonhole stitch’.
  • Many traditional garments for men have buttonholes located on the left hand side, while women have them on the right, and there are a number of speculations as to why, with one being that it was due to the slits needing to face the right way on women’s clothes, so that their maids could do up their buttons more easily, while men did their own buttons themselves.
  • A button is secured in a buttonhole by sliding the side of the button into the back of the hole and pulling through to the front on one side, and then sliding the other side of the fabric edge behind the button so that the button sits in front of the hole.
  • The French word ’boutonnière’ means ‘buttonhole’, and both terms are used for flower/s that are typically inserted into a slit that usually looks the same as those used for buttons, located on the lapel of a jacket or coat.

Buttonhole, Shirt, Trousers, Striped, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Clothing, Fashion, Dress, Assorted, Buttons

  • Buttonholes are most often found on clothing items like jackets, shirts and coats, but they are also used on pants, and they are usually just long enough to comfortably fit the appropriate button through the slit.
  • Button loops were originally used before buttonholes, though they serve a similar purpose, but holes, rather than loops are now more commonly used on clothing.
  • In the 1200s in Germany, Europe, practical buttonholes were first recorded, although Persians may have invented the idea, and the 1400s saw much more widespread use of them across Europe, primarily due to the increased use of buttons themselves.
  • Buttonholes generally sit horizontally, especially on jackets, as vertical slits allow for the button to slip and unbutton more easily, while the horizontal ones allow for more flexibility in fitting, but on the fronts of shirts they are mostly vertical, as they take up less room on a narrow placket and they will allow the button to sit more centrally on it.
  • Keyhole buttonholes are a slit with a hole at one end, and this allows buttons with shanks to sit in the hole without puckering the fabric.
Bibliography:
Buttonhole, 2014, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttonhole
The History of the Button, 2013, h2g2, http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A23623616
Parthasarathi V, Who Invented Buttons and Buttonholes on Shirts?, 2013, Quora, https://www.quora.com/Who-invented-buttons-and-buttonholes-on-shirts

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