Headlines:
1) American Food—its History is a Mystery
2) Where our food actually comes from
3) A Background Check for our Food
Even though we Americans live in the most obese country in the world, the insight on some of our most renowned foods is masked behind its scrumptious appearance. How some of America’s popular food brands first appeared onto our plates is a mystery to many, so here is the history of some American grub we love to chow down on a regular basis.
As a comfort food of the century, Macaroni and Cheese actually started out as simple noodles with real cheese, not the powdered cheese that comes many Mac and Cheese boxes that are found in the pasta aisle of a local grocery store. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of our country, not only was a Founding Father, but was also the Father of Mac and Cheese who introduced America to the first pasta machine, starting the country’s hit sensation of this simple, yet delicious side dish. When someone says you can’t be the next doctor-lawyer in space, shun them because Thomas Jefferson was a political philosopher and a food inventor.
Microwave popcorn is the perfect accompaniment when watching a movie, whether you’re at home or catching the next film at a movie theater. In 1946, Dr. Percy Spencer was experimenting with a tube that makes magnetic currents and creates heat, usually found in microwave ovens. When he noticed that his chocolate bar that was left in his pocket suddenly melted when near the tube he experimented by putting popcorn kernels, as well as an assortment of other foods, near the heat output and voila! Microwave popcorn was created.
With rumors such as ‘gelatin is made from crushed animal bones or horse tongue,’ we have a skeptical outlook on such a jellylike dessert. The actuality of gelatin itself is made of a protein called collagen usually from cow or pig bones, hooves, and connective tissues. Throughout the Middle Ages, many ran out of collagen, so they got the source from deer antlers, calves’ feet, and even calves’ knuckles. Even during the ancient Greek civilization, they used gelatin for functional purposes, such as to preserve food. Jell-O was a more recent concoction, when a woman from New York, May Wait, thought of the idea to add sugar and flavoring to gelatin; however, her creation was patented by a man with the name of Peter Cooper nearly fifty years later.
The sausage was invented way back in 9th century B.C. when it was mentioned in believe it or not, Homer’s The Odyssey. And yes freshman, useful things actually came out of this epic poem. From that point on, the sausage evolved into many different forms, which included the hot dog. In Germany, the frankfurter was created in 1484, which is why we call many fatty, juicy sausages “franks.”
Although one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, we Americans are known for our eating. Well, what the heck. Cheers to living to eat and remember where your American food came from before it lands in your mouth.
1) American Food—its History is a Mystery
2) Where our food actually comes from
3) A Background Check for our Food
Even though we Americans live in the most obese country in the world, the insight on some of our most renowned foods is masked behind its scrumptious appearance. How some of America’s popular food brands first appeared onto our plates is a mystery to many, so here is the history of some American grub we love to chow down on a regular basis.
As a comfort food of the century, Macaroni and Cheese actually started out as simple noodles with real cheese, not the powdered cheese that comes many Mac and Cheese boxes that are found in the pasta aisle of a local grocery store. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of our country, not only was a Founding Father, but was also the Father of Mac and Cheese who introduced America to the first pasta machine, starting the country’s hit sensation of this simple, yet delicious side dish. When someone says you can’t be the next doctor-lawyer in space, shun them because Thomas Jefferson was a political philosopher and a food inventor.
Microwave popcorn is the perfect accompaniment when watching a movie, whether you’re at home or catching the next film at a movie theater. In 1946, Dr. Percy Spencer was experimenting with a tube that makes magnetic currents and creates heat, usually found in microwave ovens. When he noticed that his chocolate bar that was left in his pocket suddenly melted when near the tube he experimented by putting popcorn kernels, as well as an assortment of other foods, near the heat output and voila! Microwave popcorn was created.
With rumors such as ‘gelatin is made from crushed animal bones or horse tongue,’ we have a skeptical outlook on such a jellylike dessert. The actuality of gelatin itself is made of a protein called collagen usually from cow or pig bones, hooves, and connective tissues. Throughout the Middle Ages, many ran out of collagen, so they got the source from deer antlers, calves’ feet, and even calves’ knuckles. Even during the ancient Greek civilization, they used gelatin for functional purposes, such as to preserve food. Jell-O was a more recent concoction, when a woman from New York, May Wait, thought of the idea to add sugar and flavoring to gelatin; however, her creation was patented by a man with the name of Peter Cooper nearly fifty years later.
The sausage was invented way back in 9th century B.C. when it was mentioned in believe it or not, Homer’s The Odyssey. And yes freshman, useful things actually came out of this epic poem. From that point on, the sausage evolved into many different forms, which included the hot dog. In Germany, the frankfurter was created in 1484, which is why we call many fatty, juicy sausages “franks.”
Although one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, we Americans are known for our eating. Well, what the heck. Cheers to living to eat and remember where your American food came from before it lands in your mouth.