Just when you pancake it any longer, it’s time to celebrate – National Waffle Day. On August 24, 1869, the first waffle iron was patented in the U.S. by Cornelius Swarthout.
13th Century A.C. – Ancient Greeks cook flat cakes between two metal plates. These early waffles were called obleios and were primarily savory in nature, prepared with cheeses and herbs.
1620 – The pilgrims bring Dutch “wafles” to America.
1735 – The word “waffle” – with two “f”s – appears in English print for the first time.
Late 1800’s – Thomas Jefferson returns to the U.S. from France with a long handled, patterned waffle iron.
1869 – Cornelius Swarthout patents the first U.S. Waffle Iron.
1953 – Frank Dorsa’s Eggo Frozen Waffles are sold in Supermarkets for the first time.
1964-65 – Brussels restaurateur Maurice Vermersch brings his wife’s Brussels Waffle recipe to the World’s Fair in New York. The fluffy yeast-infused waffle becomes a huge hit and becomes known as the Belgium waffle.
Pop-Tarts – introduced on this day in 1964. I think it is interesting that Pop-Tarts are sold in the US, Canada, England and Ireland, but have been discontinued in Australia. These cardboard-like toaster items (I think “pastries” is too strong a word to use in this instance) have been the focus of news and lawsuits over the years from their fat content, leading to low-fat Pop-Tarts, to allergy recalls, and toaster fire warnings.
As with creme brulee, I think Pop-Tarts are best plain – no frosting, no sprinkles. I prefer brown sugar cinnamon or strawberry, but I am willing to give the s’mores flavor a chance sometime.
Paula Poundstone on Pop-Tarts:
Here’s a list of flavors available from the Kellogg’s website via Wiki:
Gunsmoke and Knitting 