Curses! I was so distracted by other things that I failed to notice some very important culinary holiday zooming by. Happy National Penuche Day, my friends.

*I’ll wait while you go look it up. I had to.*

And a happy belated National Ice Cream Day (July 20th) as well as National Lollipop Day (also July 20th). I can’t believe I missed either one. Yesterday was National Creme Brulee Day which I would have been more excited about when I was younger (much like I would have been about creme brulee itself).

I take solace in the fact that July 23rd is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day so I haven’t missed the ice cream bandwagon entirely. People who dismiss vanilla ice cream as boring are people who have obviously never had first class vanilla ice cream. I don’t say you have to like vanilla ice cream. It isn’t to everyone’s taste. But boring? no. More on the joys of vanilla ice cream in another post.

But what about today? What culinary creation or fantastical food are we highlighting today? Well, it’s a new one to me, friends. Penuche. I liked the sound of it. Anything in the fudge familiar deserves serious consideration. And it sounds from this and other descriptions like it would also be similar in taste though slightly heavier in texture to dulce de leche.

Thing is – because it sounds as if it’s closer in taste to dulce de leche than traditional fudge (which is, obviously) chocolate, I’d be more likely to add nuts to penuche. I don’t mind my caramel being puntcuated by nuts but chocolate is a whole different pan of confectionery goodness.

I shall have to try it out and get back to you about it in more detail once I’ve tried it. I shall have to convince someone to make me some or find a good Gotham based source for it (This is New York – someone has penuche. I am sure of it). In the meantime, stock up on vanilla ice cream my friends. Tomorrow we scoop!