Happy Birthday, Sundae!
Today, SUNDAY, April 3rd, is the 119th Anniversary of the Ice Cream Sundae!
How is that for random? :-p
Late last night, I was googling an Indian word for this post (which I'll explain in my next post, as the Sundae clearly deserves our undivided attention today), and this image popped up:
Thank you Google, for informing me of this ever-so-important holiday! ;-p
Apparrently, the ice cream sundae was invented on Long Island in 1892! Read more about this delectable dessert's history at the official website.
"A sundae is not just any dish, but a dessert that is original, enduring, and authentically American. For well over a century, the ice cream sundae has been a symbol of our abundance and appetite, our ingenuity, and our never-lost youth. In their assembly, sundaes provide an unrestrained opportunity to express our essential character. They acquire personality not only through their combination of ingredients, but through the history that they witness."
My recommendations for the very best sundae bases (aka the ice cream!):
Traditional: Haagen Dazs Five Vanilla Bean
Fancy: Ben and Jerry's Creme Brulee
Salty/Sweet: Ben and Jerry's Late Night Snack <---(contains fudge-covered potato chip clusters!)
Vegan: Almond Dream Vanilla <--- (Loove!)
Decadent Vegan: Coconut Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter
Light: Breyer's Smooth and Dreamy Vanilla
Will YOU be celebrating today?
****GIVEAWAY****
A few weeks ago, Safeway contacted me about reviewing their new Simple Nutrition program. Basically, Simple Nutrition highlights particular health components of foods by tagging shelf products with terms like, "gluten free," "natural," "calorie smart" "low cholesterol," "organic" etc.
Yoohoo: low in saturated fat and cholesterol...but does that mean it's healthy?
From the press release:
“Consumers are inundated with conflicting nutrition information and are often skeptical of the nutrition claims on packaging,” said Safeway’s Barbara Walker, group vice president, consumer communications and brand marketing. “SimpleNutrition is an ‘at the shelf’ program that simplifies and personalizes the grocery shopping experience so that shoppers can feel confident about making more informed food choices. While SimpleNutrition is not a replacement for the nutrition panel found on food and beverage packages, it provides shoppers with a quick snapshot of the nutrition and ingredient benefits that best match their nutritional needs.”
If you read this blog regularly, you know that I have become well-acquainted with Social Safeway in Georgetown. I shop at Safeway for many "staple" items, and was therefore very excited to review this program.
After perusing the newly-labeled aisles for about an hour, I came to this conclusion:
I think SimpleNutrition is most beneficial for consumers who are adopting a new diet that requires them to add or avoid specfic foods/ingredients/allergens. Because these shoppers may be unfamiliar with which products are "safe," the tags will help them quickly identify safe foods without reading nutrition labels. The average shopper, however, may look past the labels, and grab whatever is familar to them, regardless of what the tag says.
I hope that Safeway will expand the program, and begin tagging items in the store that aren't processed or packaged. Fresh fruits and veggies are "gluten free," "low in cholesterol," "calorie smart, "organic" (some), and "natural," yet they carry none of the SimpleNutrition labels.
Overall, though, I commend Safeway for helping consumers identify products that best fit their dietary needs!
And now for the fun part!
Safeway has so kindly offered to give one lucky reader a $25 gift card, redeemable at any of the following stores:
- Vons
- Dominick's
- Genuardi's
- Randall's
- Tom Thumb
- Pavillions
- Carrs
- Safeway
I'd like everyone to be able to participate in this giveaway, so if you don't live near any of the listed stores and you win the giveaway, I will personally go to Safeway, redeem $25 worth of goodies for you, and send them your way (all I'd ask is that you not select super heavy items, like bags of flour or sugar! ha). ;-)
To enter: Please tell me your favorite ice cream (brand/flavor) and what you top your sundaes with!
Addtional entry: Tweet about this gveaway on Twitter and leave a comment telling me. :-)
GOOD LUCK!!
I'll be back Wednesday with a food-filled post!
Quote for today:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
<3 <3 <3
