Today’s blog is somewhat of a repeat from a few posts ago, but in the theme of cupcake week, wanted to include the recipe for making boxed cake taste like homemade with the “how to eat a cupcake” tutorial–isn’t she a sweetheart? All home bakers want to learn how to make boxed cake taste like…
Category: Fun Facts
Raspberry Filled Yellow Fairy Cakes with Lemon Buttercream
So, what are Fairy Cakes anyway? Fairy cakes are not, as their name might imply, themed cakes designed and decorated to the liking of mystical, fantasy enthusiasts. They are, simply stated, smaller versions of cupcakes. They’re widely popular in the UK, and tend not to pile on the icing in the same way that American…
Incredibly Simple Eggs Benedict with Blender Hollandaise & a little history
This week we’ve celebrated the wonders of American Fare. Served up today is another U.S culinary phenomenon, Eggs Benedict! Contrary to popular belief Eggs Benedict’s origin is not that of foreign ground. Yep, it’s all American! It even possesses its own National Day, April 16th, which I missed this year. Better late than never,…
Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes & a little history
Pineapples have been around forever, right? Yes! Well, almost. In reality, canned pineapples that we use in our beloved upside down cakes were not available until 1903 when Jim Dole of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (now Dole Pineapple) perfected a way to tin them. So where did people get the idea of putting fruit at…
Pony Express Cowboy Beans: A Taste of the American West
: Pony Express Day, held on various days in April, commemorates those courageous men who risked hide & hair to ensure the delivery of our US mail. Back in the days of the Wild West there were no fast mail delivery services like there are today; no cars, no planes and ships would most likely…
Gelato! Ice Cream vs il Gelato; There IS a Difference!
If you’ve ever visited Italy, you’ve more that likely had the pleasure of experiencing velvety, luscious Italian gelato or possibly an icier version similar to American ice milk gone Italian ice. Maybe you assumed the only reason it seemed richer and more flavorful than American ice cream was because you were enjoying it in the…
Crema Greek Yogurt Pane: Big Flavor with No Biga!
According to Wiki, Biga is a type of pre-fermentation used in Italian baking. Many popular Italian types of bread, including ciabatta, are made using a biga. Using a biga adds complexity to the bread’s flavor and is often used in breads that need a light, open texture with holes. Apart from adding to flavor and…
Pasta Sauce: The Nectar of the gods? a little history
Spaghetti or pasta with tomato sauce, also known as marinara, is a staple of southern Italian cookery or almost anywhere that southern Italians live today. However, spaghetti with marinara hasn’t always been a pillar of southern Italian cuisine. It’s actually a relative newcomer. Let’s briefly touch on pasta. Once upon a time every school child…
Italy’s Easter Eggs & Easter Friday
In Italy, there are no Easter egg hunts, no marshmallow Peeps and definitely no jelly beans. Instead, there are chocolate eggs — massive, elaborately decorated, beautifully wrapped chocolate Easter eggs that fill shop windows across the country. The sweet treats are considered Italians’ food gift of choice at this time of year; each one comes…
“Festa della Primavera” A Spring Festival & Italia in Full Bloom
Spring and summer offer the most stunning flower festivals in Italy. The displays of fiori colori are breathtaking! Simply find a street “camminare lungo una strada” and you are enveloped in Italian spring… Today, on March 20th the celebration “Festa della Primavera” offer guests, of most every town in Italy, streets covered with gorgeous, multicolored flowers,…
Once Upon a Spice 