Other Foods
Wassail
Today most would associate wassail with the traditional holiday drink or the carol “Here we come a-wassailing,” yet the term is derived from the Old English was hál which was a traditional toast wishing good health and good fortune. The drink itself was considered a true treasure during the Middle Ages as wine and... »
Bûche de Noël
Back in Napoleon’s time, winter drafts were thought to cause disease. So Napoleon mandated that all chimneys be closed in the winter to prevent drafts. The French were no longer able to celebrate with a Yule Log in their hearths. French bakers instead created a chocolate frosted, sponge cake that literally looked like a... »
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
The origins of the Pineapple Upside Down Cake cannot be definitively traced. But a myth surrounds the cake that states that James Dole (of Dole Pineapple) opened up a contest in 1925 for the best use of his canned pineapples. The top 100 recipes would be published in a cookbook. According to the tale, 60,000... »
Olive Symbolism
Olives – In ancient Greece, the victor at the Olympic games wore a crown of olives that represented the god Zeus. Olives are also associated with Athena and Apollo. Biblically, God sent a dove with an olive branch in its mouth to signal the ending of the great flood. For this reason, the olive... »
Onion Symbolism
Onion – With its strong smell, onions have often been used to ward off evil, especially the dangerous powers of the moon. As the multiple layers of an onion are pealed off, each can represent an area of wisdom until the center containing total wisdom is revealed. The onion also symbolizes the cosmos and... »