So if you read the previous post, Maya wrote about peanut butter. If you haven’t already guessed, I’ll be writing about its soulmate ||drum roll, please...|| jelly.
Originating in Europe, the first recipe for jelly appears in the first known cookbook: De Re Coquinaria, or The Art of Cooking, which dates from the 1st century A.D. Early settlers in New England brought their own recipes with them, with the first recorded book on making jelly appearing in the 17th century. They used sweeteners such as molasses, honey, and maple sugar, which differs from the high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners we use today.
In the early 1800s, the United States experienced a surge westward, and the legendary Johnny Appleseed walked through the Midwest planting apple orchards with a purpose of providing crops for pioneers. About half a decade later, one of those pioneers Ephraim Wales Bull achieved his goal of cultivating the perfect grape: big, early-ripening, and black with a robust, tart flavor.
In 1869, Dr. Thomas Branwell Welch used the Concord grape to launch his grape juice company. Name sound familiar? Yes, Dr. Welch was the founder of Welch Foods Inc., commonly known as Welch's. But it wasn't until the WWI that Welch's grape jelly, which his descendant Paul Welch dubbed "Grapelade," gained notoriety. After returning from war, troops demanded more Grapelade, and it finally started being mass-produced for the entire nation.
Grapelade followed the soldiers into WWII, but this time accompanied by peanut butter. The legendary combination was featured on the U.S. Military ration menus: while peanut butter was a high-protein, shelf-stable ingredient easily carried on marches, jelly was there to add that sweetness and taste of home the soldiers missed so much. It didn't take long for good ol' PB&J to become part of the average American soldier's daily life.
Today’s modern standards provide jelly maker’s the freedom to explore. Flavor combinations are as endless as our imaginations, and this delicious condiment can be enjoyed by everyone, from soldiers in battle to kids at school.
Sources:
https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/news/who-invented-the-peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich.htm
https://www.lunagrown.com/the-history-of-jam-jelly/
https://patch.com/massachusetts/concord/ephraim-w-bull-and-the-origin-of-the-concord-grape
https://thejellyqueens.com/blogs/blog/jelly-lessons-4
Showing posts with label pb&j. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pb&j. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Peanut Butter...
With the US being the leading exporter of peanut butter and consuming $800 million of peanut butter annually, this food paste has always been a prevalent part of American culture and even US history.
The earliest reference to peanut butter can be traced back to Incas and the Aztecs who ground roasted peanuts into a paste. In 1895, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented a process for creating peanut butter from raw peanuts which was marketed it as a nutritious protein substitute for patients that lacked teeth. This product was served at expensive health care institutes and as such subject to classicism with peanut butter initially only being a food for wealthy people.
Peanut butter didn't gain much publicity until the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Then in 1903, Dr. Ambrose Straub received a patent for a “mill for grinding peanuts for butter.” Bayle Food Products of St. Louis went on to become peanut butter’s first American vendor. Around this time, peanut butter started to appear in places beyond expensive health care institutes and appeared in upscale tea rooms in New York City. However, it was still subject to classicism and considered a delicacy.
A major leap was made in 1922 with chemist Joseph Rosefield inventing a process for making smooth peanut butter that kept the oil from separating by using partially hydrogenated oil. He then licensed his invention to the company that created 'Peter Pan’ peanut butter" in 1928 and in 1932 he began producing his own peanut butter under the name "Skippy," a brand that is still very popular today.
Despite this endorsement by commercial brands, peanut butter did not become the popular product that it is today until WW2. Peanut butter provided an inexpensive and high protein alternative to meat for soldiers and they used to call it “monkey butter.” It was also a shelf-stable ingredient and easily portable on long marches thus it was quickly embraced by the military. Additionally, when nationwide food rationing was instituted in the United States, peanut butter was not rationed. As a good cheap alternative (peanut butter sold for 24 cents a jar) and a readily available source of protein, it quickly became very popular.
When soldiers came home from the war, peanut butter sales soared even more along with jelly sales and the PB&J sandwich quickly became an icon in American society. If you happen to be curious about the marvelous substance known as "jelly," you should check out Stella's post. (No we are not doing this on purpose ;) )
The earliest reference to peanut butter can be traced back to Incas and the Aztecs who ground roasted peanuts into a paste. In 1895, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented a process for creating peanut butter from raw peanuts which was marketed it as a nutritious protein substitute for patients that lacked teeth. This product was served at expensive health care institutes and as such subject to classicism with peanut butter initially only being a food for wealthy people.
Peanut butter didn't gain much publicity until the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Then in 1903, Dr. Ambrose Straub received a patent for a “mill for grinding peanuts for butter.” Bayle Food Products of St. Louis went on to become peanut butter’s first American vendor. Around this time, peanut butter started to appear in places beyond expensive health care institutes and appeared in upscale tea rooms in New York City. However, it was still subject to classicism and considered a delicacy.
A major leap was made in 1922 with chemist Joseph Rosefield inventing a process for making smooth peanut butter that kept the oil from separating by using partially hydrogenated oil. He then licensed his invention to the company that created 'Peter Pan’ peanut butter" in 1928 and in 1932 he began producing his own peanut butter under the name "Skippy," a brand that is still very popular today.
Despite this endorsement by commercial brands, peanut butter did not become the popular product that it is today until WW2. Peanut butter provided an inexpensive and high protein alternative to meat for soldiers and they used to call it “monkey butter.” It was also a shelf-stable ingredient and easily portable on long marches thus it was quickly embraced by the military. Additionally, when nationwide food rationing was instituted in the United States, peanut butter was not rationed. As a good cheap alternative (peanut butter sold for 24 cents a jar) and a readily available source of protein, it quickly became very popular.
When soldiers came home from the war, peanut butter sales soared even more along with jelly sales and the PB&J sandwich quickly became an icon in American society. If you happen to be curious about the marvelous substance known as "jelly," you should check out Stella's post. (No we are not doing this on purpose ;) )
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