Pray for Paris

Over the weekend we read about some heinous and vicious attacks that occurred around the world and affected so many innocent people. Each time I hear about such horrific acts of violence, whether home or abroad, it never ceases to make me ask or understand why. Please join me in praying for the people of Paris, France and for the victims who succumbed to these horrendous terrorist attacks. 

Celebrating Diwali

Happy Diwali

Today is National Candy Day

What is your favorite candy? There are thousands of different types of candy and we have been consuming these sweet confections for thousands of years. Today we celebrate National Candy Day and oh how sweet it is!

Whether it is hard, brittle or soft, candy is characterized by using sugar as a principal ingredient. According to Wikipedia:

Candies can be classified into noncrystalline and crystalline types. Noncrystalline candies are homogeneous and may be chewy or hard; they include hard candies, caramels, toffees, and nougats. Crystalline candies incorporate small crystals in their structure, are creamy that melt in the mouth or are easily chewed; they include fondant and fudge.

Believe it or not, candy was often considered a form of medicine to calm the digestive system or used for a sore throat, before the Industrial Revolution. Honey was the principal ingredient before sugar was readily available. This delicious treat is made by dissolving sugar in water or milk to form a syrup, until it starts to caramelize.

The invention of the candy press, also known as a toy machine in 1847 made it possible to produce a variety of shapes and sizes of candy at once. A few years later revolving steam pans were used to boil sugar. Whatever your choice of candy is, why not savor these sweet treats today as we celebrate National Candy Day!