Though there are a few myths about its origin, Boston Cream Pie, the definitive dessert of the named fair city in Massachusetts, was first whipped up at the Parker House Hotel in Boston. The Boston Cream Pie was originally a pie consisting of white cake with custard filling topped with a thick layer of chocolate…
Tag: fun facts
Capers: More Than Mere Adventures! When & Why to Use this Highly Under-rated Little Green Orb…
Capers are a tasty pungent additive or seasoning for many Italian, Mediterranean and French dishes. Many Foodies are simply crazy about the flavor that they impart. Caper berries are mainly olive green in color and are about the size of a small pea. Usually available in a pickled form, capers are an important commercial plant…
How Many Cups in a Gallon? How Do I Go Gluten Free? Ready to Convert? Conversion Charts 411 & 101
I began today’s offering with a noble intent; to help all of you reading take the guess work out of your cooking adventures. How many times have you wondered how many teaspoons were in a tablespoon? Or quarts in a gallon? Is my baking pan the right size? The charts are endless, but necessary when…
Puttanesca! This Pasta Has a Past!
The history of Pasta alla Puttanesca carries many colorful Italian folk tales. This quick, tangy, salty, tomato-based pasta sauce is not simply that—it has a past! Some believe that this sauce was initially created by a restaurant owner who had many guests come to his restaurant to eat late one night as he was about…
Are You a Cookie Monster? Allow Me to Introduce You to Ruth!
What do Toll House and Ruth Wakefield have in common? They were both formally introduced to Nestle for one. Ruth, wife, mother, former dietitian, author, baker and tourist lodge owner, made a boo boo in Whitman, Massachusetts on a cold winter’s day in her kitchen at the “Toll House Inn” in 1937—so she’s the first…
What Are Your Fondest Mother’s Day Memories? Celebrating All Around the Globe
Wherever in the world they may be, “Mothers” are the main focus of today’s family celebrations and traditions. Mother’s day is a day to honor mothers and other mother figures in varying forms. Families make a special effort to visit, take cards and gifts to her and may treat her to brunch, lunch or high…
Scones, Biscuits & Crumpets: For the Love of Muffins
Blueberry, corn, cranberry, or oatmeal raisin, just to name a few. We fill our much-loved, portable breakfast indulgences with sweet fruits, grains and creams. Often times making them healthy, often times not. Yet, our satisfying breakfast delicacies possess an origin and a past… The word muffin comes from the French word moufflet which is often…
The British Afternoon Tea; Where Did it All Begin & What is Served?
There is no more quintessential British ritual than the ceremony and serving of Afternoon tea. It is believed that credit for the custom goes to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford in the early 19th century. The usual habit of serving dinner between 8 and 9 pm left the Duchess hungry and with a ‘sinking…
Scones; Fit for Royalty & Not Just a Plain Old Biscuit
Ahhhh, Lovely Scones! Biscuits, as we American’s know them, but sweet and light with a crisp exterior and soft, flaky interior—quite enjoyable. These buttery, mouth-watering delicacies can be eaten alone or, more traditionally, served with tea, jam and clotted cream, just as the British. Scones have gone through centuries of ovens, the first declaration in…
“There must be more than this, surely?” Observations of a Welshman
This is a personal interview and the observations of Thai food by our good friend, Jackson Stones. Thank you, as always, Jackson, for your crystal clear, sobering yet, haunting visions turned into the cherished written word. The scent of Thai spices permeate the air as I write this; here in the middle of the Arizona…
Once Upon a Spice 