However, today we salute another inspiring Dutch-American: Martin Van Buren.  President Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States, the first president to actually be born in the United States, and the first president from New York.  To this day, Van Buren is also the only president not to have spoken English as his first language.

Although Van Buren’s presidency was a bit troubled due to inheriting horrible economic policies, lingering wars with the Native Americans, and issues with Mexico, Van Buren did have one resounding success: Awesome Sideburns.

There isn’t another president in the history of the United States that had a set of mutton chops like Van Buren wore.  When I peruse through presidential photos of Van Buren, they all look like he’s smirking at me as if to say “That’s right buddy, you’ll never have a set of chops like these.” And believe me, I tried.  I grew a huge set of chops in college.  They traveled all the way across my cheeks and touched the corners of my mouth, making a fury triangle of Dutch-inspired awesomeness.   I could twist them up and stick them in my ear, or feather them out so far it would make Farrah Fawcett jealous.  However, my sideburns never measured up to Van Buren’s.  After a while, I figured out that the size of my sideburns might be inversely proportional to the amount of dates I was going on, and I shaved them off (PS – it didn’t help).

Anyway, if you’re keeping a list of amazing Dutch-American accomplishments in your wallet like I am, you can now add “Best Facial Hair by a US President” to the list.  That factoid sure makes me proud to be a Dutchman!

-G

So, while you have been taught that TR negotiated with other countries with the ever-present threat from a large military force, Teddy was actually just talking it out over some coffee and almond-filled, Dutch pastries.

Don’t believe me? Teddy won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his negotiation efforts and ending the Russo-Japanese war at (where else) the Hauge …in the Netherlands …where there is a TON of fresh banket for everyone. You can Google it and connect the dots for yourself.

To celebrate TR’s legacy, we are offering a new shirt with the ENTIRE quote. Help us set history straight, and let everyone know that banket makes everything better.

-G

Ingredients
•1 cup butter, softened
•1 cup almond paste
•2-1/4 cups sugar, divided
•2 eggs
•1 teaspoon almond extract
•2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
•1/2 cup slivered almonds

Directions
•In a large bowl, cream the butter, almond paste, and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and extract. Gradually add flour just until moistened.
•Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining sugar; top with almonds.
•Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Facts: 1 square equals an explosion of almond goodness in your mouth. I find that half a pan ends up being the typical serving size.