Why Solstice Celebrations Are an Important Part of Pagay Culture

By admin

Solstice celebrations are ancient cultural traditions that mark the changing of seasons, particularly the summer and winter solstices. These celebrations can be found in various cultures around the world, and they often involve unique rituals and customs. The summer solstice, which takes place around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, is the longest day of the year. It is seen as a time of abundance, growth, and vitality. Many solstice celebrations during this time focus on the power of the sun and its role in providing sustenance and energy. People may gather at ancient stone structures, such as Stonehenge in England, to witness the sunrise and participate in ceremonies.



Magic middle cookies keebler

These were definitely the best cookies ever made. There hasn't been any cookie made since that are better than magic middles. The double chocolate milano cookies by Pepperidge farm are good but still not the same. So hurt there gone.

Cassie - May 02, 2011 - Report this comment

I used to eat magic middles all the time as a kid! I remember one of my favorite birthday presents when I was six years old was a box of magic middle cookies from my best friend. Magic middles are the best cookie in the world!

Greg Boudreau - May 22, 2011 - Report this comment

Although NOTHING can replace the original Magic Middles, you will find one brand of cookie that comes 99.9% close to the real thing. Pepperidge Farm brand Milano "Melts" dark classic creme. Recent articles I found on the net that likened these cookies to the treasures that were Magic Middles encouraged me to buy a few packs this evening. All I can say is WOW. it made my heart and tastebuds both melt as memories of my favorite childhood cookie came back to me. If you miss the original Magic Middles, give these copycats a try. You won't regret it!

Niki - August 03, 2011 - Report this comment

Today, August 3, 2011, I am looking in the weekly Valu King circular and what do I see? An ad for Keebler cookies, including Magic Middles, on sale for $2.58 a package. The package of the Magic Middles has, "NEW" stamped on the top. Also, a Google search led me to finding Magic Middles listed on Walmart's website. Don't know if this is real or a mistake or what. Just thought that I'd let you guys know. I never had these cookies so I hopes these are the real deal, I really want to try them!

Niki - August 07, 2011 - Report this comment Hope I didn't get anyone's hopes up but apparently, this was "false advertising"!! Holly - September 17, 2011 - Report this comment BEST COOKIE EVER. Tommy - September 30, 2011 - Report this comment

Greg is right, the Pepperidge Farm "Melts" version of these are incredibly close to the Magic Middles. They are very very good and did in fact bring those memories back.

marlisa - October 06, 2011 - Report this comment

I remember these cookies and they are so good I've been looking for them for a long time..upset that I havent seen any..They are so good:)

Kat - December 12, 2011 - Report this comment

I loved those especially the minis. I wish my kids could enjoy them as much as I did!! Bring Them Back Please!

sonya - December 13, 2011 - Report this comment

those were my ALL TIME FAVORITE!! i loved the chocolate gooeyness inside. please keebler bring them back..

Chantelle - March 04, 2012 - Report this comment

Oh yes they were my favorite. Those were some good cookies. I used to get them all the time when I was a little kid now I am 34 and I still remember those cookies because they were do good. They should bring them back.

Mandy - July 12, 2012 - Report this comment they have somethign similar today with cheesecake flavor in the middle Liz - July 16, 2013 - Report this comment

They were good. There is a similar cookie by peppridge farm called Milano melts which is a Milano cookie that has gooey melted chocolate inside the cookie. Not the same but just as good. Hope you try these.

Charlie - February 02, 2014 - Report this comment

Came out in the late 80's (89?) and were available in original shortbread, chocolate, and chocolate chip.

Mia - April 06, 2014 - Report this comment I think I recently saw these in the grocery store yesterday christi totally 80's - August 31, 2014 - Report this comment

you know your getting old when you look up old childhood snacks that you can't find anymore these were my fav by keebler miss these so bad i heard wal-mart carries them still but i haven't seen them there or at any grocery store for that matter ive seen keebler has put out a cheesecake middles but these kind from back in the day was the stuff totally

Xione - October 21, 2014 - Report this comment

I loved these cookies. I bought them 3 and 4 packages at a time. I still reminiss* to co-workers and friends about them. They also brought out mini-middles too. The Pepperidge Farms Milano Melts cookies are pretty good. Not quite the same as the Magic Middles, but close enough. I hope they bring these back in my life time. I would like to taste them just once more before i die lol.

Shannon - May 24, 2015 - Report this comment

I have been looking for these cookies for years. I searched Keebler's site with no luck in finding these cookies. Walmart.com has them but when I took the UPC to the local store today, I was told they weren't able to identify what store had them in stock. In other reviews, it says that Keebler discontinued this cookie to use the machine for a different product. Everyone I knew growing up loved these cookies. I remember getting these weekly (2 bags) every Thursday from our local grocery store. Like everyone else has said, the Pepperidge Farm Milano Melts aren't even close the taste of the old Keebler Magic Middles. I have found a Bring Back Magic Middles page on Facebook with more than 1000 likes. I wonder if Keebler now has enough supporters to bring this cookie back now?

Liz - June 04, 2015 - Report this comment

I was in elementary school when these existed, and I remembered the perfectly round, soft cookies with creamy chocolate centers. Nothing else tasted quite like them. It wasn't until a few years ago that I learned what they were called. It's not uncommon for my husband to check the cookie aisle when we're in different grocery store chains to see if they have these mythical morsels of my childhood. He's been on the quest for several years, poor thing.

Now On Kickstarter, Delicious Magic Middles Shortbread Cookies

Now seeking community support via Kickstarter, a brand of shortbread cookies filled with chocolate fudge.

Kamal Grant, an accomplished U.S. Navy veteran and pastry chef from Atlanta, Georgia, has announced an exciting crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to support the relaunch of a delicious brand of cookies, Magic Middles.

A staple of Kamal’s childhood, Magic Middles were mouth-watering shortbread cookies filled with gooey chocolate fudge that dotted store shelves until they were discontinued by Keebler, their manufacturer. Years later, Kamal sought to leverage his talents as a pastry chef and entrepreneur to bring back this nostalgic, rich, and delicious snack. Each cookie in his forthcoming relaunch of the iconic brand will resemble traditional Magic Middles that people like Kamal came to know and love and inspire a new generation to embrace these tasty shortbread cookies. Kamal’s take will feature an updated recipe that captures his love for sweet treats and nostalgic snacks, and promises to satisfy the tastebuds of thousands worldwide.

He is currently ready to send the first batches of Magic Middles to production. He successfully bought the Magic Middles trademarks, partnered with a manufacturing company, and perfected his updated recipe. The first packs of Magic Middles are expected to ship worldwide in March 2023.

To learn more and support bringing Magic Middle back to life, please visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magicmiddles/magic-middles-cookies

Funds raised from the crowdfunding campaign will be used to support the release of Magic Middles. Starting today, pledge as little as $10 to show support for the project. Other rewards, including packs of Magic Middles, signed homemade cookbooks, and the ability to create one’s own Magic Middles flavor, are also available, but may be limited. Act fast and visit the Kickstarter campaign page today.

About

Kamal Grant is a U.S. Navy veteran and pastry chef from Atlanta, GA. He recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring back Magic Middles, a shortbread cookie filled with chocolate fudge that defined his childhood, but was discontinued by manufacturer Keebler years ago.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies (aka Magic Middles)

Ask the internet about magic middles and you’ll be told they are a Keebler product, all the rage in the ’90s, but since discontinued. In 2012, Serious Eats’ Stella Parks brought them back to life when she whipped up her own version—a sugar cookie with a chocolate belly—calling long-lost magic middles America's Most Wanted Cookie (you know, in a good way).

For what it’s worth, this was the most-wanted cookie in my family when my brother and I were growing up. The only catch is that “magic middles,” to us, means a totally different thing.

Instead of a vanilla-outside and chocolate-inside, our version has a chocolate-outside and peanut butter–inside. My mom says she scored the recipe from another mom at a school bake sale a few years pre-millenium, but…did she?

When I started digging into this almost two years ago for an article, the closest lookalike I could find was in King Arthur’s The Cookie Companion, which was published not in the ’80s or ’90s, but in 2004 (hat tip to King Arthur’s Baker’s Hotline for the detective work). Which means that either my mom and I are confusing timing, or the recipe we got preceded the book—but then, where did it come from?

When I wrote about my conundrum last year, our community hopped right in with clues:

“I looked in Google Books and found a recipe from a 1991 Beta Sigma Chi cookbook for “Magic Peanut Butter Middles,’” Jenne wrote. “Looks like Keebler Magic Middles were introduced in 1989, so my guess is that it started as a copycat recipe—there was also a version called ‘Peanut Butter Filled’ that looks pretty much exactly like these.”

“The recipe appeared in my newspaper coupons, with coupons for Pillsbury flour, Skippy peanut butter and Mazola margarine,” J.K. added. “There is no salt in the recipe. The earliest expiration on the coupons is January 19, 1991.”

According to Steffany: “My mom came across the recipe and asked me to bake these one Christmas, it would have been right around 1989 or 1990. She loved them so much I've made them for her every Christmas since, almost 30 years now.”

“I've been making these since about that time as well—the recipe was printed in a lot of community/church fundraising cookbooks,” Brenda replied. “I still have one or two! No attribution there other than the woman who shared it.”

Add all this up and you’ve got this: an influx of not-Keebler magic middles sometime in the early ’90s, and a bunch of families who can’t stop craving them to this day.

Of course, I couldn’t help but put my own spin on my mom’s index card–documented, cocoa powder–stained recipe. I swapped out the sweetened peanut butter with unsweetened (this means you can sub in any nutty/seedy cousin, from cashew to sesame); bumped up the salt; decreased the flour for a fudgier vibe; and increased the cookie-smush so they turn out extra-slim.

You should know that these are a project, and a messy one at that. But messy in a satisfying way, a way that reminds you that you baked something good. You should also know they freeze perfectly—if there’s a better late-night snack, I need not know it. —Emma Laperruque

Test Kitchen Notes
  • Test Kitchen-Approved

People may gather at ancient stone structures, such as Stonehenge in England, to witness the sunrise and participate in ceremonies. The winter solstice, occurring around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, is the shortest day of the year. It is a time of darkness and introspection, as well as the turning point towards longer days and the regeneration of life.

Solstice cekebrations pagay

Many solstice celebrations during this time involve lighting fires or candles to symbolize the return of light and hope. Festivals like Yule in Norse and Germanic traditions and Dongzhi in Chinese culture often center around these themes. In addition to these two main solstices, other cultures also celebrate the equinoxes - the points during the year when day and night are equal in length. These special times signify balance and harmony, and are often observed with rituals and feasts. One common thread in solstice celebrations is the focus on reconnecting with nature and the cycles of the earth. These traditions remind us of our interconnectedness with the natural world and the importance of honoring and respecting it. Whether through dance, music, storytelling, or other forms of expression, solstice celebrations serve as reminders of the beauty and wonder of the changing seasons. In modern times, solstice celebrations have become popular events that bring communities together. Festivals, parades, and gatherings often feature live music, art installations, and various activities for people of all ages to enjoy. The solstice serves as a time for relaxation, reflection, and reenergizing, as well as a chance to celebrate the unique customs and traditions of different cultures. Overall, solstice celebrations offer a glimpse into our shared humanity and our deep connection to the natural world. They remind us to pause and appreciate the cyclical nature of life and honor the changing seasons. By participating in these celebrations, we can strengthen our sense of community and find joy in the rhythms of the earth..

Reviews for "Exploring the Different Customs of Pagay Solstice Celebrations"

1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with Solstice Celebrations Pagay. The organization of the event was chaotic and the staff seemed unprepared to handle the crowd. The performances were subpar and lacked creativity. Additionally, the food stalls ran out of food halfway through the event, leaving many attendees hungry and frustrated. Overall, the experience was underwhelming and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I had high expectations for Solstice Celebrations Pagay, but it turned out to be a complete disappointment. The event was overcrowded, making it difficult to move around and enjoy the activities. The music was too loud, making it impossible to have a conversation with friends. The only redeeming quality was the ambiance, but that was overshadowed by the overall disorganization and lack of effort put into the event. I regret attending and would not attend again in the future.
3. Michael - 2/5
Solstice Celebrations Pagay was not what I anticipated. The event lacked diversity in terms of entertainment and food options. The performances were repetitive and didn't bring anything new to the table. The food stalls were limited, and the prices were exorbitant for the quality provided. The event felt like it was thrown together without much thought or effort. I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable solstice celebration experience.
4. Emily - 3/5
Solstice Celebrations Pagay had its moments, but overall it fell short of my expectations. The lineup of performers was promising, but the execution was lacking. The sound system was subpar, making it difficult to enjoy the music. The event layout was confusing, and it was challenging to find the different activities and attractions. The food options were also limited, and the prices were inflated. While there were some enjoyable aspects, I don't think I would attend again in the future.
5. Alex - 2/5
I was not impressed with Solstice Celebrations Pagay. The event had a lackluster atmosphere and seemed unorganized. The activities available were underwhelming and didn't make up for the high ticket price. The event felt rushed and poorly planned, leading to a disappointing experience overall. I would not recommend attending this event if you're looking for a memorable and enjoyable solstice celebration.

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