“Halloween is an opportunity to be creative” -Judy Gold

Halloween Food History

With fall upon us, harvest time brings new foods to the table. From pumpkins to apples and corn, these new foods inspired some of our favorite Halloween dishes. Spiced cakes were a tradition for early cultures, and apples were considered a symbol of love and were offered alongside nuts and other fruits to ensure a large harvest. As for trick or treaters, for many years baked goods were traditionally handed out until the 1970s when candy became mainstream because they were store-bought and sealed.

Halloween’s Frightening Facts!

Did you know that more candy is consumed during Halloween than during the Holidays or Valentine’s day? Wow!

This week’s recipe is Moroccan Chickpea Stew!

Morrocan History

Morroco is a country located in the northwestern region of Africa. Moroccan cuisine is considered to be one of the most historic cultural foods. Interestingly, Morrocco has a history of colonizers and migrants who influenced the development of Morrocan cuisine. The first inhabitants, the Berbers, influenced common dishes such as tagine and couscous! Then, the Arab’s brought spices, nuts, and other fruits which lead to sweet and sour combinations. Later, the Moors introduced olives, and even later, the Ottoman Empire introduced kebabs to Moroccan cooking! As each culture brought their unique cooking styles to Morocco, the cuisine evolved to the incredible dishes we enjoy today.

Chickpea Stew History

Chickpeas are the world’s second most widely grown legume surpassed only by the soybean! It is also considered one of the first crops grown in the early days of agriculture. Chickpea cultivation originated roughly 7,500 years ago in the Middle East! Talk about a history!

Chickpea Trivia

Did you know that chickpeas are known by lots of different names all over the world? They are sometimes called garbanzo beans, Bengal grams, Egyptian peas, Ceci beans, and Kabuli chana!

Next time you’re at the dinner table, ask if someone can pass the Kabuli chana!

The Premier Cooking School for Kids and Teens

We hope you enjoyed this week’s recipe! Fall is finally here, so give your child a head start with a Fall Cooking Class!

To see a list of our upcoming classes, click here!

Also, what spooky treats you have planned for this Halloween season? Which food fun fact was your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below!