Tag Archives: Invention

Cranberry Sauce

By | |
Leave a comment
Cranberry Sauce

Always have cranberry sauce with your turkey.

  • Cranberry sauce is a culinary condiment or sauce used to flavour other food dishes.
  • ‘Cranberry sauce’ is also known as ‘cranberry jelly’, and it is bought in cans or jars from supermarkets, or made at home.
  • The primary ingredients of cranberry sauce are sugar, cranberries and water, and sometimes other ingredients and flavourings are added.
  • Cranberry sauce is typically made by mixing together and boiling the ingredients, as in jam making, causing the elements to combine and thicken and the cranberries to burst.
  • Cranberry sauce can be a semi-liquid or a jelly-solid, and it is usually served scooped out of a jar with a spoon, or sliced.

Cranberry Sauce, Red, Traditional, Liquid, Plate, Ten Random Facts, Condiment

  • Cranberry sauce is traditionally eaten on either Thanksgiving or Christmas, often accompanying a turkey dish, and it is also sometimes served with other meats.
  • The general taste of cranberry sauce varies from country to country; American versions are generally sweet, while European versions tend to be a bit sour.
  • The earliest known recorded mention of cranberry sauce was in 1663, in a cookbook; more than 40 years after the first Thanksgiving dinner in the United States.
  • Commercialised cranberry sauce became available in cans in 1912 and were popularised in the 1930s with the introduction of Ocean Spray’s version.
  • Cranberry sauce is high in vitamin E, fibre and manganese, and it also contains significant quantities of sugar.
Bibliography:
Cranberry Sauce, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberry_sauce
Hallowell B, The History Behind 5 Thanksgiving Traditions Americans Love, 2013, The Blaze, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/28/5-thanksgiving-traditions-americans-love-a-brief-history-of-turkey-wishbones-football-and-more/
Why Canned Cranberry Jelly Became a Thanksgiving Icon, 2014, The Kitchen, http://www.thekitchn.com/why-canned-cranberry-jelly-became-a-thanksgiving-icon-food-history-213299

Amazon:     

Paper Knife

By | |
Leave a comment
Paper Knife

One of the most decorated desk items – the paper knife.

  • A paper knife is an item used in a similar way to a typical knife, but is used to cut open folded papers, like envelopes and pages in a book.
  • ‘Paper knives’ are also known as ‘letter openers’, although originally they differed in appearance and purpose.
  • Paper knives typically consist of a blade and a handle, sometimes made of one material; and the blade is generally flat and blunt.
  • Paper knives became popular by the 1800s, when it became the norm to own the object as a standard desk item.
  • A paper knife commonly has a blade made from metal, like stainless steel, however the whole letter opener can also be made from ivory, wood or plastic, that is thinned out in the blade area to make it suitable for slitting paper.

Paper Knife, Letter Opener, Metal, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Desk, Stationary, Koala, Wood

  • Paper knives were used in Europe from the 1700s to open book pages that were not cut during the manufacturing process, and they replaced pen knives that were typically used to sharpen a quill, as pen knives would cut the paper inaccurately due to their very sharp blade.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. was stabbed by Izola Curry, using a paper knife in 1958, ten years before he was assassinated, and the knife had to be surgically removed.
  • Paper knives were not used to open envelopes until the mid to late 1800s, and they were manufactured specifically for this purpose with a narrower and pointier blade than the original paper knives.
  • The handle of a paper knife is commonly ornamental, featuring an aesthetic pattern or sculptured depiction.
  • The primary concept of a paper knife has been translated into electronic machinery, that functions in much the same way.
Bibliography:
Kane K, A Paper Knife was not a Letter Opener, 2013, The Regency Redingote, http://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/a-paper-knife-was-not-a-letter-opener/
Paper Knife, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_knife

Amazon:     

Christmas Gift

By | |
Leave a comment
Christmas Gift

Do you look forwards to Christmas gifts during the Christmas season?

  • Christmas gifts are items given to other people during the Christmas season, and they can be given from a range of people including individuals, families, groups, and businesses.
  • The idea of giving Christmas gifts is often believed to have been inspired by the three gifts that the wise men or magi gave to Jesus after he was born, as well as the suggestion that gifts also symbolise Jesus, God’s gift.
  • The giving of gifts in December was practised by the Ancient Romans during the festival season of Saturnalia, which may have influenced the giving of Christmas gifts at a later time, and in the 1200s French nuns gave gifts to those less fortunate in early December for Saint Nicholas’ Day, and this tradition is still practised in some countries.
  • Christmas gifts only became a common tradition later in the 1700s; and prominent commercial Christmas advertising appeared by the 1820s.
  • Christmas gifts are commonly bought from retailers in October to December, when many shops start advertising their Christmas goods.

Christmas Present, Gift, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Religon, Shapes, Assortment

  • Christmas gifts are commonly given and opened on Christmas Eve, the 24th December, or on the 25th of December, Christmas Day, although as late as the 6th of January is common in some countries.
  • One can often find Christmas gifts gathered around a Christmas tree or in Christmas stockings, closer to the designated date of opening.
  • The concept of Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus or the Christ Child (Kris Kringle) providing Christmas gifts, is not uncommon among children.
  • The influence of Christmas gifts has been discussed controversially; some say the gifts detract and distract from the true meaning of Christmas.
  • Christmas gifts are often exchanged between parents and children, extended family members and work colleagues, and gifts can range from simple home-made items that can include food, to extravagant expensive purchases.
Bibliography:
Cooper J, Christmas Present, 2014, Why Christmas?, http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/presents.shtml
Dowdey S, How Christmas Works, 2014, How Stuff Works, http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/christmas2.htm
Gift, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift

Amazon:     

Christmas Wreath

By | | ,
Leave a comment
Christmas Wreath

Do you know the tradition of Christmas wreaths?

  • A Christmas wreath is an ornamental object that is used during the Christmas season, and its use today originates from a Christian-based custom.
  • Christmas wreaths are typically shaped as a ring, made with living, dried or imitation vegetation, including twigs, flowers and leaves, as well as ribbons and other Christmas-related objects.
  • ‘Christmas wreaths’ are also known as ‘Christmas crowns’, ‘advent crowns’ or ‘advent wreaths’.
  • The tradition of Christmas wreaths is said to have begun in Germany in the 1500s, by Lutherans, and the idea possibly stems from the use of wreaths in Ancient Greek and Roman times, that were used to crown those with significant achievements or community rank, or placed on their door.
  • Traditionally, Christmas wreaths contained four candles; three purple and a pink, with one lit each week in December, often on a Sunday; and a fifth white candle was sometimes also included.

Wreath, Christmas, Green, Purple, Pink, Door, Ten Random Facts, Season

  • The idea to use candles in Christmas wreaths to countdown the Advent, was possibly invented by a German pastor, Johann Wichern, in the mid 1800s, as a daily advent calendar for children.
  • The traditional idea of a Christmas wreath has became a popular Christmas decoration and they started being hung on doors by the 1900s, and are now commonly found on doors without candles.
  • Christmas wreaths are commercially available during the Christmas season, and the most common wreaths obtainable are factory made objects.
  • Christmas wreaths are often made with the colours of red, green, white or purple, traditionally symbolising Jesus’ blood, life, joy and sacrifice or forgiveness.
  • The making of Christmas wreaths is a common Christmas craft activity and the base can be made from wire, styrofoam, cane or other material, and other supplies can include fabric, wrapped lollies and candy, or numerous other items.
Bibliography:
Advent Wreath, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_wreath
History of the Wreath, 2014, ProFlowers, http://www.proflowers.com/blog/history-of-the-wreath
History of the Wreath, n.d, Northwoods Inspirations, http://www.northwoodsinspirations.com/wreath%20History1.htm
Wilson G, History of the Christmas Wreath, n.d, Wilson Evergreens, http://www.wilsonevergreens.com/christmas-wreath-history/

Amazon:     

Meringue

By | |
Leave a comment
Meringue

Light and airy meringues.

  • Meringues are a light weight and traditionally white food made by whipping ingredients, and they are often eaten as a sweet dessert.
  • Meringues are made primarily of sugar and egg whites that have been whipped together, and sometimes binders, such as cornstarch; acids, such as cream of tartar; and flavouring, such as vanilla, are included.
  • Meringues are typically sweet flavoured and have a crisp outer surface, with either a light chewy or crisp textured interior, and food colouring can be added for decorative effects.
  • The earliest known record of the word ‘meringue’, is found in the 1692 cookbook written by the chef François Massialot of France, in Europe, although it is believed that the food has its origins in the 1500s.
  • One of the first documented meringue recipes was from an early 1600s recipe book written by Lady Elinor Fettiplace, from England’s now Oxfordshire in Europe, and the recipe was named ‘white biskit bread’.

Meringues, Small, Factory, White, Pink, Green , Coloured, Three, Group, Culinary, French, Ten Random Facts

  • The shape of meringues is generally achieved by using spoons or a piping bag, and once formed to the desired shape, they are generally cooked in an oven on a low temperature.
  • The primary reason for beating the whites of eggs is to break certain bonds, which causes the mixture to stiffen, and if the sugar is not well incorporated into the mixture by significant beating, it will cause small droplets of moisture to appear on the exterior once cooked, which is known as ‘sweating’.
  • There are three main types of meringue: Italian; Swiss; and French; each made using different procedures, and the latter is the most common.
  • Meringues can be used as an ingredient in many other desserts, notably tarts, pavlovas, puddings and cakes.
  • Meringue never contains fat, as its inclusion would cause the mixture to cave in, although it does contain a significant portion of sugar and protein.

 

Bibliography:
Meringue, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meringue
Muster D, The Origins and History of the Meringue, n.d., In Mamas Kitchen, http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/FOOD_IS_ART/meringue2.html

Amazon:      

Refrigerator Magnet

By | |
1 Comment
Refrigerator Magnet

Life is not complete without refrigerator magnets.

  • Refrigerator magnets are decorative objects that can be magnetically attached to flat metal surfaces such as fridges.
  • ‘Refrigerator magnets’ are also known as ‘fridge magnets’.
  • Refrigerator magnets are often used for decorative purposes as well as to hold objects in place, such as paper for convenience or as a reminder.
  • There is a very large diversity of refrigerator magnets, with various colours, images, designs, shapes and sizes.
  • The magnetic part of a refrigerator magnet is generally set out in a ‘Halbach array’, with both north and south poles in an alternate pattern on the same side, which adds to the magnet’s strength and is more cost effective.

Refridgerator Magnets, Collection, Flat, Square, Shapes, Note, Picture, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Decorative

  • Refrigerator magnets are collected by numerous people; and the largest collection in the world is owned by Louise Greenfarb from the United States’ Nevada, and in 2013 the collection consisted of at least 35,000 magnets.
  • The unofficial term for a refrigerator magnet collector is a ‘memomagnetist’, coined by an enthusiast from Russia.
  • Originally, the magnets of refrigerator magnets where manufactured in the shape of a rectangular prism or cylinder, but they are commonly now thinner and often more flexible.
  • Do-it-yourself refrigerator magnets can be easily made, due to the increasing availability of magnetic material suitable for this purpose, and it has become a common craft activity.
  • Some refrigerator magnets can be used for educational purposes, especially those that depict letters, to make words, and these have been available since the mid 1900s.

 

Bibliography:
Refrigerator Magnets, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator_magnet

Amazon:      

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...