National Gingerbread Day
Make some gingerbread treats #NationalGingerbreadDay
5 June is celebrated annually by gingerbread lovers worldwide as National Gingerbread Day, a day created to bring attention to gingerbread.
Many people are familiar with the gingerbread houses we see at Christmas time, but there are some other delicious recipes for gingerbread that are perfect for any time of the year, including cakes, bars, biscuits and cookies.
The term ‘gingerbread’ originally referred to preserved ginger, and later referred to a confection made up of honey and spices.
Gingerbread is a sweet food that typically uses molasses or honey, rather than just sugar, and is flavoured with ginger. It ranges from a soft, moist loaf cake, to something closer to a ginger biscuit.
It is believed that ginger was first brought to Europe in 992 by an Armenian monk who lived there for seven years while teaching the French priests and Christians the art of gingerbread cooking, until his death in 999.
Sources also indicate that in 1444, Swedish nuns were baking gingerbread to ease congestion.
Gingerbread biscuits were sold to monasteries, pharmacies and town square farmer’s markets in the 17th century. During the 18th century, gingerbread became widely available.
To celebrate, search for recipes online or page through your your grandma’s trusted recipe book, and make some gingerbread-inspired dishes. Some recipes to search for include:
• Old fashioned gingerbread
• Gingerbread pancakes with fruit topping
• Gingerbread holiday cupcakes.
Use #NationalGingerbreadDay to post on social media.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
