In the early 90’s, I was fortunate enough to live in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. There I encountered many wonderful Jewish families and their incredible, authentic beliefs and recipes. One precious experience that still resonates with me today was given to me by a kind, yet strong elderly woman named Mrs. Weinstein. She claimed…
Tag: nomnom
Why Do Crackers Have Holes? The Origin of Saltines & EASY Sweet & Saltine Toffee Bark
Thar’s holes in them thar hills! Well, I believe the term originally stated “gold” but I’m on a roll, cracker roll 🙂 Saltines, Wheat Thins, Triscuits, Ritz Crackers, grahams, you name it — there’s hardly a cracker anywhere that doesn’t have a pattern of little holes in it. And no, the 18 holes in a…
Happy Accidents: The Origin of Teabags & How to Brew a Perfect Cup of British Tea
Thomas Sullivan, an American tea merchant, with his love of labor-saving devices, was the first to develop the teabag. In around 1908, Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, started to send samples of tea to his customers in small silken bags. Some assumed that these were supposed to be used in the same way as…
Baked Parmesan Ranch Chicken; Simple-y Scrumptious!
There are never enough chicken recipes, Right?! Also, there are many versions of this simple, moist & scrumptious chicken recipe floating around in cyberville and here’s another; mine 🙂 It takes about an hour from prep to table and is always a hit running the gamut of family, friends or guests. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone,…
Catsup or Ketchup? The Victorian Era Cure-All & Some Other Saucy Claims
The British-based “ketchup” or American-named “catsup” is a tomato-based table sauce used for dunking fries, spiraling on hot dogs and glazing meatloaf…on and on. However, in the Victorian Era, it held some pretty saucy claims. European traders were first introduced to the thick red pottage while visiting the Far East in the late 17th century….
Northern Italian Peasant Fare: Tuscan Rosemary Lemon Chicken
This is a quintessential example of vintage Northern Italian Peasant fare. Since we have fountains of fresh rosemary flourishing in our Arizona garden and are always searching for ways to put this pungent, woody, citrusy herb to good use, I decided to showcase a Mama Carmela classic. This luscious, lemony, herb-packed delight was my mama’s “go to” Sunday chicken dish…
Guest Chef Wednesday! Mamul by Lynn from Lynz Real Cooking!
Mamul is a baking masterpiece offered by my dear friend Lynn of LynzRealCooking. She’s an amazing women with extreme diverse culinary talents whom I hold in high regard and close to my heart. Please check out her blog–it’s nothing short of incredible! Lynn says, “Mamul is a traditional Middle Eastern cookie that is made for the Eid…
The Best Pound Cake Recipe & First Pressed Vintage Recipe Dated 1796
Pound cake got its name from its original recipe, dating back to 1796, which called for a pound each of butter, eggs, sugar, and flour. A successful pound cake should be moist, buttery, dense yet light and full of flavor. Here’s the recipe I have used for years and the one that gets the most requests,…
Balsamic: The Real Deal or Knock Off?
Did you know that real aged balsamic vinegar actually costs anywhere from $75 to $400 or more? Here are a few reasons why: Balsamic vinegar is NOT like other vinegars. What defines vinegar is the fermentation of alcohol — typically wine but also beer or cider — into acetic acid. Red wine vinegar, white wine…
Dutch Baby: The Eggsellent, Super Easy, Delectable, Dutch Delight
This Pennsylvania Dutch cross between custard, pancake and semi-sweet popover is puffy and roundish on the the outside and flat in the center offering the perfect nest for sliced fresh fruit, jam, preserves, apple butter or a combination. This “baby” is airy, light and makes a beautiful presentation with a little added whipped cream. The…
Once Upon a Spice 