Why aren’t more spices grown locally?

December 28, 2017 by
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  In our regular #SpiceSupport articles we dive into all aspects of spices, including where they originate and where they are now grown. As you may have noticed, a great of the spices are grown in countries other than the ones where most of our Members reside. But why is this so, especially given the recent emphasis on locally sourced foods?… read more

Get ready for New Year’s Eve

December 27, 2017 by
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  2017 is ready for the history books (and what a year it's been). There's one holiday left before we turn over the calendar page, and it's one that is suited for both the quiet, introspective types who will reflect on the year that has passed, and the people who revel in a raucous party, who will cheer as the… read more

Tips for cleaning silicone baking mats

December 26, 2017 by
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  Silicone baking mats and other silicone tools are indispensable to chefs and home cooks alike. They allow you to roll out dough using less flour and to bake gooey items without fear of sticking. The downside to these wonderful tools - besides a fairly steep price tag - is that they tend to absorb odors. Indexed blog Food52 provided… read more

Keeping the time by the Christmas leftovers

December 25, 2017 by
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It's been a delightful day, as for a change of pace we didn't travel or host over the Christmas holiday. This means I was able to spend the day in the kitchen, cooking, baking, and tidying from the rush of holiday baking. In addition, I took some time to scroll through my social media feeds, enjoying the many posts of… read more

What books do cookbook authors give as gifts?

December 24, 2017 by
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  As EYB Members well know, cookbooks make fantastic gifts. There is one to suit every palate and level of experience, and part of the joy of giving these as presents is seeing someone embrace cooking or baking, and sharing in their discovery. Deciding on which book to give can be a daunting task, as the number of great titles… read more

Solving the ‘incompatible food triad’

December 23, 2017 by
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  Can you think of three foods where any two of those foods taste good together, but all three combined taste disgusting? That's the philosophical thought problem deemed the "Incompatible Food Triad", which seems to have been first pondered by Wilfrid Sellars, a University of Pittsburgh philosopher. Sellars used to bring the problem up over dinner with his students and colleagues.… read more

When life hands you lemons…

December 22, 2017 by
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  It's coming up on peak citrus season, one of the best parts of what can be a dreary time in northern latitudes. There is something so cheery about the fruits - their bright colors, fresh flavors, and wonderful aroma make everything seem a bit better. Indexed blog The Kitchn revels in one of the most versatile of all the… read more

The birth of a regional specialty

December 20, 2017 by
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  Every region has its own special food that both divides and unites locals. Locals stand together to claim pride in their area's unique food, even though disagreements about which purveyor is the best in the area can spark heated arguments. While we know about longstanding regional favorites - Cumberland sausage, deep-dish Chicago pizza, Southern fried chicken - few of… read more

The most Googled recipes of the year

December 19, 2017 by
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  What did we ever do before Google? It's difficult to imagine a world without it - it's become the go-to source for finding the answers to almost every question. Naturally, many people use the world's most popular search engine to look up recipes (only because they don't know about EYB!). Last week Google reported which recipes were searched for… read more

In-depth with the Instant Pot

December 18, 2017 by
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  Few appliances have taken the world by storm as much as the Instant Pot, which has rocketed to kitchen superstardom. It's hard to believe the appliance is less than a decade old. If you're curious about the history (short as it is) of the IP, as fans often call it, head over to the New York Times, which takes… read more

Another cooking school bites the dust

December 17, 2017 by
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  It's been a rough few years for cooking schools in the U.S. Despite the glamorization of chefs, including many television shows and even a few movies, mainstream cooking schools have struggled to find students and several have shut down. In 2015, Le Cordon Bleu succumbed, and now we have learned that another school is closing. The latest casualty is… read more

Tips for your improving your holiday cookie tray

December 16, 2017 by
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  It's the home stretch for bakers intent on making holiday cookies. The recipes are printed or bookmarked, the ingredients are at hand, and now the fun can begin. Sometimes the fun turns to frustration, however, when doughs stick unexpectedly, gorgeous designs go cattywampus, and things that are supposed to be soft get crunchy and vice-versa.  We've lined up a… read more

Allegations against Johnny Iuzzini derail Great American Baking Show

December 15, 2017 by
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The 'Great American Baking Show', a spin off of the phenomenal hit series 'The Great British Bake Off', had just started its third season when news broke that one of the show's hosts, pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini, was facing allegations of sexual misconduct. When parent company ABC heard about the allegations, it pulled the remaining episodes of the show.  The… read more

Cook Book Stall in Philadelphia is closing

December 14, 2017 by
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Our list of favorite cookbook stores around the world is again getting shorter. The Cook Book Stall, which has been a fixture of Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia for 35 years, is closing down on December 29. Current owner Jill Ross, who purchased the store from original owner Nancy Marcus, has helmed the spot for the past 15 years. While… read more

How to choose the ‘keeper’ cookbooks

December 13, 2017 by
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  Whenever you face cookbook overload - the shelves are bulging, and there is hardly any room left for even one volume - naturally, that means you will see several new 'must have' books. How do you decide which books are worth buying and taking up that precious real estate, or which of your current collection can be passed on… read more

Holiday cocktail ideas

December 12, 2017 by
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In the rush of holiday meal planning, it's easy to overlook the drinks. But having the right cocktail can make the dinner or brunch special, and Australian Gourmet Traveller has the goods, with a list of 20 Christmas cocktail ideas. The recipes range from traditional to contemporary.  On the traditional side you'll find champagne crustas, eggnog, sangria, and a Bajan… read more

Batali steps down following sexual harassment allegations

December 11, 2017 by
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  After reports that four women have accused the culinary megastar of sexual misconduct, Mario Batali announced that he would be stepping back from day-to-day operations of his restaurant ventures. ABC has also asked the chef to step away from the daytime talk showThe Chew, where Batali is one of the hosts. Three of Batali's accusers worked for the chef,… read more

Vanilla extract in an instant

December 10, 2017 by
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A couple of weeks ago we discussed vanilla in our Spice Support on baking spices. There was a blurb about a shortcut to homemade vanilla extract - and now we have details to go along with that blurb. The Kitchn recently posted a tutorial on how to make vanilla extract with an Instant Pot.  While traditional recipes require weeks or… read more

In praise of ugly food

December 9, 2017 by
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  If you spend any time on Instagram, you may start to feel a bit insecure about your cooking and baking. Impeccably staged, lushly lighted, stunning photographs featuring glistening vegetables, intricately decorated pie crusts, and artfully composed plates could make anyone eye their grilled cheese sandwich with disdain. But just because a dish is not gorgeous doesn't mean is not… read more

Neapolitan pizza-making achieves UNESCO World Heritage status

December 8, 2017 by
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Naples, the city where pizza was perfected, just received major recognition for its world-famous pies. UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, recently added pizzaiuolo -- the art of Neopolitan pizza-making  -- to its 'Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. More than two million people had signed a petition in support of the Italian city's bid for world… read more

‘Tis the season for gifts from the kitchen

December 7, 2017 by
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  Every year my holiday wish list gets smaller but my holiday treats list grows. I've come to enjoy making cookies, candies, and other non-food handmade items for friends and family. I know that they enjoy them too, because they save the tins for months and always manage to return them a couple of months prior to year's end. I… read more

The plating trend that some chefs find vexing

December 6, 2017 by
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  When you eat at a fine-dining establishment, it's become commonplate to find precisely arranged droplets of sauce or a discrete schmear of puree on your plate. The trend started many years ago and shows no signs of abating, but not everyone finds it pleasing, says Nina Martyris on NPR's 'The Salt'.  In an article titled 'Haute Dots of Sauce… read more

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s non-traditional wedding cake preference

December 5, 2017 by
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  With all of the negativity that seems to be invading my news feed these days, I must admit I am a sucker for food-related posts that lighten my mood. Today's winner in that regard was the announcement of the type of wedding cake that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly favoring.  Food and Wine reports that the royal… read more

How the Food Network went from low budget to high influence

December 4, 2017 by
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  It seems impossible to imagine cooking today without mentioning food television shows or chefs that rose to stardom cooking on TV. Yet it wasn't that long ago when the commercial food television industry was in its infancy. To be sure, there were shows on public television, but you could count food personalities on one hand. That all changed starting… read more

Holiday gifts from your favorite authors

December 3, 2017 by
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  Jenny has already provided some amazing lists of wonderul holiday gifts for cooks and cookbook lovers. In addition, we have a listing of sites featuring holiday hampers and gifts from the most popular chefs and cookbook authors around the world. Some of these items can be shipped and others need to be picked up in store. These gifts would… read more
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