P&K Insider

Be super smart and dazzle friends with your July 4 knowledge. If you want to see how to make cranberry pudding, be sure to tune into NECN on Friday, July 3 at 7:45 a.m. I’m going to attempt making one of President George Washington’s favorite recipes!
Uncle Sam’s long wait

Uncle Sam was created during the War of 1812 but wasn’t adopted as a national symbol until Sept. 15, 1961.

Bald eagle vs. turkey

Most of us know that Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, but who overrode his vote? It was John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who picked the bald eagle.

What do you call it?

Nicknames for the U.S. flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory and The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see all the people

In July 1776, the U.S. population was 2.5 million people, according to Census.gov. In 2009, the population is 307 million (and counting).

Where’s your watermelon from?

Georgia leads the U.S. in watermelon production at 1 billion pounds per year. Other leading producers of this popular Fourth of July dessert include California, Florida and Texas.

Made in China

In 2007, the U.S. imported $207 million worth of fireworks from China (and exported $15 million to the entire world), and imported $4.3 million worth of U.S. flags from China. (Source: Foreign Trade Statistics)

Eat like George Washington

Want to eat like our first president? Here’s a dish he likely ate:

Cranberry Pudding

- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/3 cup boiling water
- 1 1/2 cups sifted flour
- 1 1/2 cups cranberries, cut in half

Combine eggs, sugar, salt and molasses. In a separate container, put 2 teaspoons of soda in 1/3 cup boiling water. Add to egg mixture. Stir in flour and cranberries. Steam in a buttered rice steamer for 1 1/2 hours. Serve warm with the following sauce:

- 2 sticks butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup half and half

Melt butter. Add sugar and half and half and stir until sugar is dissolved. Full recipe serves 6 to 8. (Source: The Mount Vernon Cookbook)

Stay safe

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 6,400 Americans last year spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room.

Prevent Blindness America, an eye health and safety organization, offers a few fun, fireworks-free and family-friendly ideas to celebrate Independence Day.

- During the day, let the kids decorate T-shirts or hats with paint and glow-in-the-dark decals. Their creations will be ready by the time the sun goes down.

- Create your own noisemakers by using bicycle horns, whistles, bells, cymbals or pots and pans.

- Glo-sticks, glo-ropes and glo-jewelry can safely light the night for kids.

GateHouse News Service