European Food and Dessert: The Questions You Have, Answered

History of Pretzels: Pretzels were first created in 610 A.D. by a monk. He used them to reward his students when they recited their prayers correctly. Bread is made from water, flour, and salt. This simplicity is what made it popular with the Catholic Church to be consumed by the people during Lent. Quickly, pretzels became a source of good luck, almost like a charm. The quote “tying the knot” originated from couples incorporating pretzels into their wedding ceremony in the 17th century. After that, pretzels moved to America, presumably on the Mayflower by the pilgrims in order to trade with the indians. Once in America, specifically Pennsylvania, which was and still is the largest pretzel-making city in America, the first ever commercial bread bakery was opened in Lititz Pennsylvania in 1861 by Julius Sturgis. Sturgis is also credited with officially inventing hard pretzels, which ended up being more popular than soft ones and had a longer shelf life, along with the...

What are Stroopwafels? -  Stroopwafels, otherwise known as syrup waffles, are a Dutch dessert that are unique to the Netherlands. They are made up of two thin waffles that are glued together with a "special caramel syrup." Honey or hazelnuts could also be added to them for added flavor. They could also be dipped in chocolate, along with many other delicious combinations. Often the stroopwafel is eaten at room temperature, or warmed over a cup of coffee or tea. This is done by placing the round cookie onto the top of the cup and allowing the heat to warm it up. (As seen in the picture on the left.) This is done in order to allow the caramel interior to melt so that the cookie becomes a gooey treat. If you aren't able to wait to chow down, eating them out of the box is also delicious. A Background on Stroopwafels -  Stroopwafels have a history that dates back to 1784 to a town called Gouda. A baker used leftover crumbs and spices to create the waffles, ...

In this article, I will be informing you about the most wonderful food ever to be created by mankind. Crepes. Overview of Crepes: Crepes are "very thin, cooked pancakes" that are usually made from wheat flour.  Crepes can be made of normal ingredients including cheese, ham, artichoke, and meat products, or they can be a dessert by filling them with sweet ingredients including fruits, melted chocolate, and Nutella. Sweet c repes are usually filled with mixed berries, fresh fruit, or lemon cream. They are often covered with syrup (regular or fruit flavored) or chocolate. This dish is considered the national dish of France, and although it originated in Northwest France, it is now widespread in Europe and around the world. Creperies: Creperies range from being a sit down restaurants to fast food or street food. Because of the wide varieties of ingredients that can be used to make a crepe, crepes can be a main meal or a dessert, along it to be served in many diffe...