National Pots De Crème Day!

Today we celebrate a delicious custard dessert, Pots De Crème.  This day is observed annually on August 27th.

Pot de Crème is a French dessert custard dating to the 17th century.  Pot de Crème means a “pot of cream”, which also refers to the porcelain container it is usually served.  This custard is usually looser than other custards, flans, or crème caramel.

Pot de Crème is usually made of eggs, egg yolks, cream, milk, and the flavor vanilla or chocolate.  The milk cream is usually heated and flavored, before mixing it into the whisked eggs and egg yolks.  Then the mixture is strained and poured into cups, which are baked in a water bath at low heat.

Since it is a French dessert, the French are credited for the invention of serving dessert in a cup.  The custard dessert is not as thick as “Crème Brulee” or a “Flan”, because of its looser consistency.  It may look like a fancy dessert but it is actually beyond easy to make.

So, today celebrate this day, by looking for a recipe online and make some for dessert.  You can make a vanilla or chocolate flavored Pot de Crème and serve and share for dessert with your family.  Share on social media some photos if you made some yourself using #PotDeCremeDay.

1955 “The Guinness Book of Records” debuts

On August 27, 1955, the first edition of “The Guinness Book of Records” is published in Great Britain; it quickly proves to be a hit. Now known as the “Guinness World Records” book, the annual publication features a wide range of feats related to humans and animals.

The inspiration for the record book can be traced to November 1951, when Sir Hugh Beaver, managing director of the Guinness Brewery (founded in Dublin in 1759), was on a hunting trip in Ireland. After failing to shoot a golden plover, Beaver and the members of his hunting party debated whether the creature was Europe’s fastest game bird but was unable to locate a book with the answer.

Thinking that patrons of Britain’s pubs would enjoy a record book which could be used to settle friendly disagreements, Beaver decided to have one produced. He hired twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter, the founders of a London-based agency that provided facts and statistics to newspapers and advertisers. The book was intended to be given away for free in pubs to promote the Guinness brand; however, it turned out to be so popular the company started selling it that fall and it became a best-seller. An American edition debuted in 1956 and was soon followed by editions in a number of other countries. The McWhirters traveled the globe to research and verify records. Ross McWhirter was involved in compiling the book until his death in 1975 at the hands of Irish Republican Army gunmen; his brother Norris continued to serve as the book’s editor until 1986.

(excerpted from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-guinness-book-of-records-debuts)