January 29, 2016 – NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY – NATIONAL CORN CHIP DAY

                                         

Exercise your problem brain with a puzzle. January 29th is National Puzzle Day.
Whether it’s a crossword, jigsaw, word searches, brain teasers or Soduku, puzzles put our brains to work.
Studies have found that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we use both sides of the brain, and spending time daily working on puzzles improves memory, cognitive function and problem solving skills.
Word searches and crossword puzzles have the obvious benefit of increasing vocabulary and language skills.
Sudoku, a puzzle sequencing a set of numbers on a grid, exercises the brain as well. By testing memory and logical thinking, this puzzle stimulates the brain and can improve number skills.
The bottom line is, puzzles stimulate the brain, keeping it active and practicing its skills.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Spend time putting together a jigsaw puzzle with a friend, or grab a cup of coffee and complete a Sudoku or crossword puzzle.   Use #NationalPuzzleDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Started in 2002 by Jodi Jill, National Puzzle Day was created as away to share her enjoyment of puzzles.  As a syndicated newspaper puzzle maker and professional quiz maker, Jodi Jill developed classroom lesson plans especially for National Puzzle Day and the popularity has grown year after year.

National Corn Chip Day – January 29

NATIONAL CORN CHIP DAY

January 29th is a great day to enjoy a corn chip topped with salsa or a little cheese.  It is National Corn Chip Day.
The corn chip or friotes are not to be confused with the tortilla chip. Both are made from cornmeal which is baked or fried in oil.
Differing steps for processing the corn separates the tortilla from the corn chip. The corn for a tortilla chip is soaked in a lime-water solution that breaks down the hulls. This creates a crisper, milder chip. A corn chip is sturdier with a richer corn flavor. Both were popular snacks originating in Mexico.
There are two men credited with patenting and marketing the corn chip in the United States. First, Isador J. Filler often ate a tostada (a hard corn tortilla with toppings) while traveling in San Antonio, Texas as a salesman. He struck on the idea of making them in rectangles and marketing them as a chip. In 1932 he patented his idea.
Around the same time, Elmer Doolin was also traveling in San Antino and was enjoying friotes. According to the story, he paid $100 for the recipe. Experimenting in his home until he created the perfect chip, he then started selling them from the back of his Model T Ford. When he began mass producing them under the name of Frito Corn Chips, they were a hit.
In 1945 Doolin came to an agreement for Herman Lay (of potato chip fame) to distribute Doolin’s Fritos across the country. The two companies merged in 1959 after Doolin’s death.

HOW TO OBSERVE
Enjoy some corn chips and use #NationalCornChipDay to post on social media.
HISTORY  
Within our research we have been unable to identify the creator of National Corn Chip Day.