“That’s wacky, Ma.”Henry Birch watched doubtfully as his mother dug three craters into a dry mixture of flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt that she’d just whisked together in a greased glass baking pan. “What do you mean, honey?” asked Edna Birch. “We’ve got no eggs, Ma. You can’t make a cake without eggs.”“Rationing has made things tough,” said Edna. “No eggs. No butter. I used to
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Northeast Boy Finds Love, Peace and Chicken Grease in Memphis
Fat sizzles in the fry pan and the Blues sizzle on Beale Street in Memphis.I have to admit, I’m a neophyte when it comes to Southern cooking, although I’ve managed to do an admirable job of self-education when it comes to baking with Jack Daniels.I’ve got twenty-four hours in Memphis with just enough free time to check out the local cuisine. My guide on this culinary odyssey is Dan McCleary, a
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Junda's Pastry, Crust and Crumbs: Heirloom Baking on Long Island's North Fork
When you bite into the heavenly-scented babka or buttery apple strudel available at Junda’s Pastry Crust and Crumbs, it is more than a sweet indulgence. You become an honored guest at master baker Christopher Junda’s extended family table. Ancestry, local history, antiques and heirloom recipes are all essential ingredients baked into the classic breads, cakes and pastries found within the
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Nesting – Black Bean Pizza with Smoked Cheddar, Avocado and Whole Wheat Crust
Everyone’s talking about the nice spring weather, but the truth is, it’s been about a 50/50 gamble most of the time. On those days when it’s cold and gloomy, I’ve been nesting, just been hanging around the house and taking life slow. Some days, I don’t even set foot outside. Maybe I’m just one of those late blooming spring bulbs. This nesting is almost an economic necessity. You can only
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Good Grief! The Peanuts Cook Book (1970)
Charlie Brown as a celebrity chef? Happiness is “The Peanuts Cook Book” which Scholastic Book Services (the eventual beneficiary of Harry Potter’s U.S. fortune) published in 1970. With a price tag of sixty cents, this was a favorite cook book of my formative years. The lime-green-covered paperback with hot pink pages contained 21 recipes interspersed with Peanuts cartoon strips exploring all
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A Little Dose of Macaroni Healing
I got a little bruised this week. Nothing serious and it was probably my own fault. Sometimes the mouth and the brain just aren’t working together. So as the weekend arrives and I’m searching for something more productive for the oral cavity to engage in, I stumble upon this curative recipe in The Gourmet Cookbook. It’s billed as “arguably the best mac and cheese on the planet.” That
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