1917

Doughnuts {header photo} take a huge step towards becoming an American and global favourite on this day thanks to the enterprise of Salvation Army volunteer Helen Purviance, while she caters for US soldiers in France.

"Her culinary creativity on a rainy day in a World War I army camp led to the doughnut being one of the most beloved snacks in the United States today. . .

"It had been raining for 36 straight days. Helen had grown increasingly worried about the health of the soldiers, as they were vulnerable to illness and infections from spending so much time in wet and cold battlefield trenches. Helen wanted to feed them something that had more nutrition and substance than fudge, but was still sweet and comforting. That desire sparked her trip to the commissary, where she grabbed all the available ingredients she could find to combine with the eggs the local villagers donated daily: lard, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and canned condensed milk. . . Helen decided to try to make doughnuts. . .

"The soldiers lined up, in the rain, for their chance to enjoy a special treat. “And you should have seen their faces,” she recalled. The first soldier in line reportedly said “If this is war let it continue!”

"Doughnuts were not very popular in the United States until after World War I. When the soldiers got home, they craved the treat that had given them so much comfort. The military created a “how-to booklet” to guide veterans who wanted to open doughnut shops."