Happy Donut Day!

Tomorrow June 5th is National Donut Day! On the first Friday of June each year America celebrates the sugary, fried, ring of dough we call the doughnut. According to Wikipedia: National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers behind the front lines in France. Wow, who knew?

Now I have a shocking confession to make, I actually do not like donuts. Gasp! I know, who doesn't like donuts? Me. I never have and probably never will, which I'm guessing is a good thing since the average donut has about 20 grams of fat and as much as 480 calories. Donuts are just too sweet for me, especially in the morning. I'm more of a bacon and eggs kind of gal. I have nibbled on the occasional Boston Creme Donut, but really that's not even a real donut, it seems more like the cousin of the Eclair that somehow lost its way from the French Bakery to the Donut Hut. I do admire the donuts ability to weasel its obvious desert self into the breakfast category. Donut, you so crazy!

Maybe growing up in Boston is also partly to blame for my my aversion to donuts. Day after day of hearing people say "Aw dude I freakin' gotta get some Dunkins coffee wicked bad" just lured me away from the D&D. Fact, Bostonians (besides me) love Dunkin Donuts. Love it.

Not only can I not handle the sugar overload of these squishy rings of sweetness, I am also bewildered by the spelling of donut...or is it doughnut? Either way, the name donut/doighnut is adorable. Doughy things are just cute in general like the Doughboy (Pillsbury not Stay-Puft).

And how did the donut become so associated with police officers? When did the donut + cops = true love 4eva stereotype start and is it true?

Oh donut, you are a magical pastry of mystery!

Be sure to stop by your favorite donut spot tomorrow, lots of shops are celebrating Donut Day by giving away...you guessed it- free donuts! For example Dunkin Donuts is offering a free donut with the purchase of any beverage. Yay dude, that's wicked freakin awesome!

And while you're enjoying your donut tomorrow, be sure to dedicate a bite to the The Salvation Army since the donut is a symbol of the good work this organization has done and continues to do.

(Photo credit D Sharon Pruitt/Creative Commons)