Welcoming October: National Dessert Month

by Ruth Storkel.

Remember as you were growing up how it took a little while to learn the difference between a “Desert” and a “Dessert”? There are a few people who love deserts more than desserts, but I am not one of them. (One of my California cousins wanted to move out of California…….she had always lived in desert areas, and when coming up to scout out the land in Oregon, she decided she couldn’t live in Oregon. All those trees were just “too oppressive”! So she moved to the desert of Nevada instead.)

I much prefer desserts to deserts, so I was glad to learn that October is “National Dessert Month.”

Various Desserts (123rf.com) — *Various sweet temptations (123rf.com)*

Happy Dessert Month to our Readers!

As we move into fall, it’s an excellent time to find your favorite dessert recipes and decide which ones to make in celebration of “Dessert Month.” Or start checking out some of your favorite hometown bakeries and see what enticements they offer. One favorite in Burien is Bakery Nouveau, 426 SW 153, Burien (open Wednesday through Sunday.) In 2023, it received the People’s Choice Award for “Best Bakery.”

October was chosen as dessert month by President Ronald Reagan. In 1984, he created it to highlight the joy and variety of the sweets Americans love! Its purpose is to appreciate the significance of desserts in our lives, as delicious endings to our meals and bringing people together socially.

Says Canadian food writer and cookbook author Gail Simmons: “There is no better way to bring people together than with desserts.”

Definition of Dessert

Here’s the Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definition of DESSERT:
“A sweet course or dish usually served at the end of a meal.”

*Turkish Sutlac Rice Pudding (123rf.com)*

Desserts Around the World

Desserts are enjoyed in many countries; what are they called in different languages?

Italian: dolce
Japanese: dezato
Arabic: alhulwaa
Spanish: postre
Afrikaans: nagereg
Irish: milseog
Latin: secunda mensa
French and German: dessert
Dutch: toetje
Portuguese: sobremesa

The word “dessert” came from the French word “desservir,” meaning “to clear the table.” It usually comes at the end of a meal and is something sweet.

Desserts are a marvelous way to explore different cultures. Each national dessert will have an interesting story behind it. In very early civilizations, fruits and honey played a big role in sweetening one’s diet.

Celebration Ideas

Bake a new dessert each week of this month. Try some new recipes you’ve never made before.
Host a Dessert Potluck, inviting friends to bring their favorite dessert. You will enjoy the variety of treats as well as some “catch-up” time with good friends.
Sign up for a baking class that will teach you some new dessert recipes. This will be great fun, being taught by expert chefs.
Host a DIY dessert bar in your home. Invite both adults and children to create their own perfect dessert as you provide toppings and decorations. Take pictures of the new dessert creations!
Visit local bakeries and try their delicious creations.
Go to the library and check out some recipe books that specialize in baking/desserts.
Try international desserts! Take a “culinary journey” each week to a new country. Buy desserts online, or go to Trader Joe’s, IKEA, etc. and purchase some of their imported desserts. Find recipes of different countries online (or in cookbooks); try out an unusual dessert from abroad.
Bake a dessert to give away to a friend or neighbor’s family. Attach a card that says: “Happy Dessert Month!”
Go to a restaurant with friends, skipping the main course. Instead, order a round of desserts to share with people at your party.