A woman harvests cacao pods by hand at a company-owned plantation in Ghana. The main ingredient in chocolate, cacao is one of Africa’s largest export crops.
© Ron Giling from Peter Arnold, Inc.

On a cold winter night there is nothing better than a mug of hot chocolate to warm you up. Though it is a simple drink, there is a long history behind the warm treat. Many say the first people to drink chocolate beverages were the Maya. The Maya were an Indigenous (native) people who developed a civilization in Central America and southern Mexico. ​​As far back as 500 B.C., the Maya made a drink containing ground-up cacao, chili peppers, corn meal, and water. The word chocolate comes from chocolatl, a word Spanish conquerors may have created by combining the Maya word chocol, which means hot, with the Aztec word atl, which means water.

While there are many records on the history of hot chocolate, no one knows for sure who invented chocolate milk. Some historians believe Jamaicans had been making a hot drink with cacao shavings boiled with milk and cinnamon since the 1500′s. Some people credit the British physician and botanist Sir Hans Sloane. In the early 1700′s, Sloane lived in Jamaica. There, he was served cocoa to drink. Cocoa is made from a tropical tree called the cacao. Botanists believe the cacao tree originated in the northern Amazon River Basin in South America. Sloane added milk to the cocoa to improve the taste. Sloane brought the mixture with him when he returned to England. The beverage was originally marketed as a medicine. While you can heat up chocolate milk to make hot chocolate, it will not be as dense and creamy as traditional hot chocolate.

An Aztec sculpture found in Amatlan, Mexico, shows a man holding a cacao pod. The Aztec people ruled an empire in Mexico in the 1400′s and early 1500′s.
Museum Collection Fund, Brooklyn Museum

What most people call “hot chocolate” is actually hot cocoa. The difference is that hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, sugar or sweetener, and hot water or milk. Hot cocoa does not contain the fat and calories of chocolate. Hot chocolate is made from melted chocolate, sweetener, and either dairy or non-dairy milk. In many places, hot chocolate is called drinking chocolate.

Manufacturers invented a press to force cocoa butter out of roasted cacao beans, forming dry cakes. The cakes are then ground into the reddish-brown cocoa powder that you can buy at the store. Dutch-processed cocoa powder is made from cacao that was soaked in a solution before being ground. The solution lowers the acidity of the chocolate. Dutch-processed cocoa powder has a darker color and a less bitter flavor than regular cocoa powder.

Whether you drink hot cocoa or hot chocolate, you can put some marshmallows or whip cream on top for some added sweetness. However you enjoy your warm chocolate beverage, stay cozy!

A noodlemaker makes noodles by hand, using the roll-and-cut method. The dough is rolled out flat and then cut into long strips.
© Lyashenko Egor, Shutterstock

October 25 is World Pasta Day. Pasta has been around for thousands of years. It comes in more than 100 shapes and sizes. Some of the best known are macaroni, which consists of hollow tubes; spaghetti, which is made into long cords; and of course, noodles, which are flat strips.

The noodle is a long, thin strip of starchy dough that is usually boiled before eating. Noodles can be made from a variety of ingredients, including rice, wheat, or mung beans. Some of the most popular noodles include rice noodles, made of rice flour and water; udon, made of wheat flour, water, and salt; and cellophane noodles, made of water and mung bean, potato, or sweet potato starch. Egg noodles are made with wheat flour and eggs. Italian noodles are made of pasta, generally a mixture of semolina (coarsely ground durum wheat) and water. Pasta noodles are often served with sauce. In Asia, noodles are traditionally served with hot broth. Noodles are popular throughout the world. They are sold at restaurants and grocery stores. People can also make noodles at home.

Ramen, a traditional Japanese dish of noodles in broth
© Hans Geel, Shutterstock

Such noodles as udon and soba ( buckwheat noodles) are made using the roll-and-cut method. First, the noodlemaker prepares a dough and then leaves it to rest. The dough is then pressed through rollers to form long sheets. The sheets are cut into strands of the desired width. The long strands dry slowly in a special room. The noodles are then cut and packed. Noodles can also be prepared fresh. They are cooked after drying.

One popular noodle dish is ramen. Ramen is a Japanese dish of noodles in broth with other ingredients. Another popular noodle dish is pad thai. The dish is from Thailand and includes such ingredients as rice noodles, eggs, peanuts, and vegetables.

No one knows when noodles were first made. Experts believe that noodles were first produced thousands of years ago in central Asia. Noodles are mentioned in a dictionary from the A.D. 200’s in China. The earliest Chinese noodles were not strands of dough. Instead, they were shaped into little chunks. They were then cooked in boiling water.

Peanut butter
© iNews Foto/Shutterstock

Peanut brittle, peanut butter cups, pad thai, ice cream sundaes, and the famed PB&J would be nothing without the salty, crunchy peanut. The peanut is a plant grown mainly for its fruit. It belongs to a group of plants called legumes. Legumes bear fruit in the form of pods (shells) that contain one or more seeds. The peanut is more closely related to peas than to nuts. Most peanut pods have two seeds, which are also called peanuts. These seeds rank among the world’s most popular foods, whether eaten alone, mixed into candy or cookies, or processed into the lunchtime favorite of kids and parents everywhere: peanut butter.

Peanut butter is a creamy food spread made of roasted peanuts and salt. It can also include sugar and vegetable oils. People consume peanut butter in a variety of ways. It may be spread on bread or crackers or used in a dessert or other treat, such as peanut butter cookies. Like other nut butters, peanut butter is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, although added fats and sugar can reduce its nutritional value. Despite the nutritional benefits of peanuts, however, a growing number of people have developed peanut allergies.

It is a common misconception that the Black American scientist George Washington Carver invented peanut butter. Carver made more than 300 products from peanuts, but he did not invent peanut butter. The ancient Inca and Aztec ground roasted peanuts into a paste. Several key inventions in the 1800’s and 1900’s improved the production and distribution of peanut butter. In 1884, the Canadian chemist Marcellus Gilmore Edson patented peanut paste. In 1895, the American nutritionist and inventor John Harvey Kellogg patented a way to use roasted peanuts to create peanut butter. He marketed the product to people who could not chew solid food. The American physician Ambrose Straub patented a peanut butter-making machine in 1903. In 1922, the American chemist Joseph Rosefield discovered a way to make smoother peanut butter. His peanut butter was much like the peanut butter popular today.

Peanut butter is available in a variety of types. It can be either smooth or crunchy. Bits of coarsely ground peanuts give crunchy peanut butter its texture. Natural peanut butter contains only peanuts and salt. Manufacturers often add such foods as chocolate, almonds, and honey to peanut butter.

Peanut butter is often paired with chocolate or jelly. Several candies, including the peanut butter cup, combine peanut butter and chocolate. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a popular food item among American children. The sandwich consists of bread, peanut butter, and jelly. United States Army troops ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during World War II (1939-1945), helping to popularize them.

Cinco de Mayo celebration in Austin, Texas
© Stephanie Friedman, Alamy Images

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo, a holiday to commemorate the victory of Mexico over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Many Mexicans and Mexican Americans celebrate the day. Its name is Spanish for Fifth of May.

The battle occurred after Emperor Napoleon III of France sent troops to Mexico to conquer the country. The Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, won the battle, even though the French force was larger and better armed.  Despite the Mexican victory at Puebla, the French later gained control of Mexico City and established a French-supported government there. In 1866 and 1867, however, France withdrew its troops from Mexico because of resistance by many Mexicans and pressure from the United States. The French-backed government soon fell.

Cinco de Mayo, a holiday celebrated by Mexicans and Mexican Americans, commemorates the victory of a Mexican army over a French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Its name is Spanish for Fifth of May. These performers in Mexico City celebrate the holiday with a re-enactment of the battle. Credit: © Jorge Uzon, AFP/Getty Images

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated differently, depending on where you are. Some Mexican towns hold small celebrations, including parades or town meetings and speeches. In the United States, celebrations often include parades, folk dancing, speeches, carnival rides, and Mexican music.

Like so many holidays this year, Cinco de Mayo might look different than in years past. In many places, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of the pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. Such efforts often include social distancing, meant to limit contact among people and thus the spread of germs. But, limiting the spread of germs doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

One socially distant way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to make a popular Mexican food: tacos. A taco consists of a folded tortilla filled with such ingredients as meats, vegetables, and cheeses. Common fillings include beef, pork, and spicy peppers. Authentic Mexican tacos are topped with cilantro and white onions. The simple, informal nature of the taco helps to inspire creativity among chefs. So, we encourage you to make your taco unique! However you choose to celebrate, we hope you have a safe and happy Cinco de Mayo!

A toothsome tray of traditional Peepmobiles
Credit: WORLD BOOK photo

For many people, Easter is a time of spiritual reflection. In addition, Easter celebrates the end of winter in some parts of the world and the promise of spring. The holiday also brings fun, in the form of candy and crafts. These two collide in one of our favorite traditions, the Peepmobile!

Think of the Peepmobile as a fast and furious twist on the gingerbread house. A Peepmobile is a sugary sports car driven by a steely-eyed marshmallow bunny (marketed under the trade name Peeps). You can try making a Peepmobile yourself—it’s a fun and creative way to use up any extra Easter treats.

A traditional Peepmobile is made with a snack cake chassis. With the help of an adult, cut or hollow out a small space to accommodate the marshmallow bunny. Miniature cookies make good tires, and a miniature pretzel is perfect for the steering wheel. A dab of frosting can help to hold the whole thing together.

“The Fast and the Fluffy” by Jeff De La Rosa
Credit: WORLD BOOK photo

Most years, we at World Book take a break from our duties to share a tray of Peepmobiles in fun and fellowship. But this year, with social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our Peepmobile rally looked a little different.

“Candy Paint (feat. Dua Peepa and Ariana Grandelicious)” by Madeline King
Credit: WORLD BOOK photo

We couldn’t share treats in person, so we turned the event into a do-it-yourself celebration of custom car culture—a contest we called Peep My Ride. Each of the participants created a custom racer. The only rule was that all the parts had to be edible. Then, we gathered online to share photos of our tricked-out treats and vote on the winner.

“Be Peep-Pared” by Will Adams
Credit: WORLD BOOK photo

The creativity exceeded all expectations. There was an elegant Peeps-drawn carriage, a Girl Scout cookie-powered roadster, and even an appearance by Dua Peepa and Ariana Grandelicious. In the end, only one winner could be crowned, and that prize went to the tart-looking Sour Striker.

“Peep-Drawn Carriage” by Echo González
Credit: WORLD BOOK photo

We hope you will try your hand at this fun holiday tradition, and share your results with friends and loved ones, whether in person or in pictures. Most of all, we hope you have a happy Easter!

“Sour Striker” by Lauren Kelliher
Credit: WORLD BOOK photo

Saint Patrick. Credit: © Shutterstock

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. A patron saint is a saint chosen to protect the interests of a country, place, group, trade or profession, or activity.

Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland in the A.D. 400′s. He converted the Irish to Christianity. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with many people of Irish descent.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is primarily a religious holiday. People honor Saint Patrick by attending special religious services. They also enjoy family and community gatherings. They celebrate by wearing shamrocks. According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity to the Irish.

In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is primarily a secular (nonreligious) holiday. Many people wear green clothing. They also hold parties and march in parades. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in what is now the United States was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Today, more than 100 U.S. cities hold parades. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City, is the largest.

St. Patrick’s Day is often associated with the color green. The Chicago River is dyed bright green every year. A common St. Patrick’s Day dish is corned beef and cabbage. And, while the cabbage might lose its vibrant color during cooking, it celebrates the many plants that turn green this time of year.

Like so many holidays this year, St. Patrick’s Day might look different than in years past. In many places, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of the pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. Such efforts often include social distancing, meant to limit contact among people and thus the spread of germs. But, limiting the spread of germs doesn’t mean you can’t have a joyous St. Patrick’s Day!

One way to celebrate is to have a virtual cooking class with friends and family. You can make traditional Irish soda bread, a delicious baked good filled with such sweets as raisins or currants. While you wait for your bread to bake, try Irish dancing. (If you live in an apartment, apologize to your downstairs neighbors by leaving them some slices of soda bread!) No matter how you choose to celebrate, we hope you have a safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day!

Stuffed toys in a Chinatown market celebrate the Chinese year of the ox.
Credit: © lennykaiser, Shutterstock

Friday, February 12, marks the first day of the Chinese New Year, the most important festival of the Chinese calendar. The date of the Chinese New Year is based on the cycles of the moon. It begins each year between January 21 and February 20. In ancient China, the monthlong festival marked the end of one farming season and the beginning of a new one. Today, the Chinese New Year festival usually lasts only a few days.

One important part of Chinese New Year is the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac, also called the Eastern zodiac, is a cycle of 12 animal signs used in a system of astrology practiced in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and some other Asian countries. This system assigns an animal sign to represent each lunar year. A lunar year is a year measured by tracking phases of the moon, rather than changes in the sun’s position in the sky. Each animal sign represents an entire year, and the cycle repeats every 12 years. The 12 animal signs are, in order, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit (or hare), dragon, snake, horse, goat (or sheep), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (or boar). The year that begins in 2021 is the year of the ox.

Chinese people prepare for the new year by thoroughly cleaning and decorating the house. Decorations include spring couplets, red paper scrolls with phrases praising the renewal of life and the return of spring.

Family reunions are an important part of the celebration. Family members join in a festive New Year’s Eve dinner. Places are set at the table for absent family members to symbolize the unity of the family. Special foods that symbolize good fortune for the new year are served. For example, rice cakes, called nian gao, are a popular food for New Year’s Eve dinners. The Chinese word nian means year, and gao means high. This food signifies achievement in the new year. Children bow to their parents and grandparents to wish them a long life. Gifts of money in red envelopes are given to children to wish them luck and wealth in the new year.

On New Year’s Day, people visit relatives, neighbors, and friends. Dances featuring colorful dragon and lion costumes are often performed on this day. Parades are a popular New Year’s custom among Chinese communities in the United States and Canada.

However, like so many holidays this past year, Chinese New Year might look different than in years past. In many places, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of the pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. Such efforts often include social distancing, meant to limit contact among people and thus the spread of germs. But, limiting the spread of germs doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holiday!

One socially distant way to enjoy the holiday is to have a virtual cooking class with family and friends. You can make such foods as dumplings or nian gao. Both delicious dishes are traditional lunar New Year foods! To create a festive environment in which to eat your traditional foods, you can make paper lanterns and dragons for the table.

If you must visit friends or relatives, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after greeting others. Wearing a protective face mask when not eating can help prevent the spread of disease. However you choose to celebrate, we hope you have a safe and fun New Year!

Wally Amos, cookie entrepreneur
Credit: © David L Ryan, The Boston Globe/Getty Images

February is Black History Month, an annual observance of the achievements and culture of Black Americans. This month, Behind the Headlines will feature Black pioneers in a variety of areas.

No matter where you eat a bag of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, you are home. Well, it might not be your home. But in a way, it is the home of a woman named Aunt Della. She is the woman who inspired the American businessman and cookie entrepreneur Wally Amos to found the Famous Amos cookie company in the 1970’s. Amos worked as a talent agent before founding the company. After selling Famous Amos, he went on to found other cookie companies, write books, and eventually return as the spokesperson for his original brand.

Wallace Amos, Jr., was born on July 1, 1936, in Tallahassee, Florida. It was after his parents separated that he moved to New York City to live with his Aunt Della. She often baked chocolate chip and pecan cookies. Amos studied the culinary (cooking) arts for two years at the Food and Maritime Trades Vocational High School in New York City. He served four years in the United States Air Force. In 1957, Amos returned to New York. He worked at the department store Saks Fifth Avenue before getting a job in the mail room at the William Morris Agency, a talent agency.

Amos worked his way up at the William Morris Agency. In 1962, he became the company’s first Black talent agent. Amos signed the singing duo Simon and Garfunkel. He eventually became the head of the agency’s rock music department. There, he worked with such famous Black singers as Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Diana Ross.

In 1967, Amos moved to Los Angeles, California, to open his own management company. Without much business, he began baking chocolate chip cookies. He set out to open a cookie store using a version of his Aunt Della’s recipe. Amos got a loan from Gaye and the singer Helen Reddy. He staged a large advertising campaign and grand opening gala to launch his cookie business. In 1975, he opened the first Famous Amos cookie store in Los Angeles. Soon after, he opened two more stores on the West Coast and one in the Bloomingdale’s department store in New York City.

In 1985, Amos began selling off parts of Famous Amos. In 1988, an investment group purchased the company and repositioned the cookie as a lower-priced snack food. In 1991, Amos launched the Wally Amos Presents Chip & Cookie company. He was sued by the owners of Famous Amos for infringing on the brand and forbidden to use his own likeness to sell food products. In 1998, the Keebler Company purchased Famous Amos. Amos returned to the brand as a spokesperson.

In 1993, Amos and the distributor Lou Avignone launched the Uncle Noname Cookie Company. In 1999, it became Uncle Wally’s Muffin Company. In 2005, Amos started Chip & Cookie. In 2016, another Amos business, the Hawaii-based Cookie Kahuna, was featured on the television investment show “Shark Tank.”

Amos wrote many books, including the memoir The Famous Amos Story: The Face That Launched a Thousand Chips (1983, with Leroy Robinson). His other works include two inspirational books written with Stu Glauberman, Watermelon Magic: Seeds of Wisdom, Slices of Life (1996) and Watermelon Credo: The Book (2010).

Wally Amos was far from the first Black inventor to be obsessed with food. George Washington Carver (1864?-1943) won international fame for his agricultural research. He was especially noted for his work with peanuts. Carver made more than 300 products from peanuts, including a milk substitute, face powder, printer’s ink, and soap. He also created more than 75 products from pecans and more than 100 products from sweet potatoes, including flour, shoe polish, and candy.