Welcome to your Morning Cuppa for December 30th, 2007
Today is National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

Bicarbonate of Soda is probably one of the most commonly found items in kitchens around the world, though you might not know it by that name.  Most of us simply know it as baking soda.  Or perhaps as the main ingredient in most antacids.  I personally feel that such a versatile chemical deserves its very own day.  There have been several meals that I’ve eaten in the last year that owe part of their composition to this substance, and I owed my thanks to it after I had finished.

Today in Food History:

1781 John Turberville Needham died. He was an English naturalist, and one of those who believed in the spontaneous generation of life. He boiled some mutton broth, sealed it in glass containers and when he found living organisms present after a few days, he believed they came from nonliving matter. He was wrong - boiling does not destroy all bacterial and fungal spores.
(Still not a bad science project, though!)

1817 The first coffee is planted in Hawaii.
(Thank all the Gods, Goddesses and any other deity that wishes to take credit.  Kona Coffee is the best !)

1851 Asa Griggs Candler was born. In 1887, Asa Candler (1851-1929) a wholesale druggist, purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from John S. Pemberton an Atlanta pharmacist for $ 2,300. He sold the company in 1919 for $25 million.
(Now if that’s not good business, I don’t know what is.  to top it off, it’s good business with bubbles!)

2003 The FDA banned the use of ‘downer’ cattle from the human food supply, due to ‘Mad Cow’ fears.
(The thought of that video still makes me cringe…)

Your Morning Recipe:

Irish Soda Bread Recipe , from recipes4us.co.uk

Today in food history information is gathered by FoodReference.com . Check out their food trivia quizzes and more!