Food news antipasto

Edd Kimber, the first winner of the long running Great British Bake Off (which as Jenny noted on Friday returns September 13), recently released another fantastic cookbook, Small Batch Bakes. The book was inspired by the time Kimber and his partner spent in lockdown, when there wasn’t a crowd to bake for. Kimber shares this information and more in an interview with the Independent.

Are you a fan of hummingbird cake? Featuring tropical flavors like pineapple and banana, the cake, which has become synonymous with southern US hospitality, was created in the 1960s. However, its origin story does not begin in the South and actually comes from farther afield – Jamaica to be exact. Learn more about this decadent Southern dessert.

Editor and food writer Dianne Jacob has a 3-hour Zoom class on Sunday, September 11, titled “So You Want to Write a Cookbook?” People who have previously taken this class from Jacob provide rave reviews, so if you are at all interested in publishing a cookbook, you’ll want to sign up.

If you have ever lived in the southern US, you will know the name White Lily, a brand of soft wheat flour revered by generations of bakers. Like most flour companies, White Lily published many small cookbooks over the years to inspire its customers to bake more (and, by extension, to use more of its products). The company maintains an online store, which is currently offering 14 free downloadable vintage cookbooks that were published from the 1940s to the 1990s.

In the “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” category, Heinz (the maker of ketchup and other condiments) recently announced a collaboration with online thrift store brand ThredUp. They are released a limited edition of used clothing that features authentic Heinz ketchup stains. In a statement the company said “Because when it’s Heinz, it’s not a stain, it’s a statement.” Since the stains are real, they will likely fade over time. Next time I spill on myself, I will say it’s a designer option.

Fans of the Choco Taco don’t have to wait for the beloved treat to possibly return, says Americas Test Kitchen. Instead, they can make one themselves and the best part is that the DIY-version only requires four ingredients.