Food news antipasto

August 16, 2020 by
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Interested in the juncture between cookbooks and history? A new publicly available searchable database called The Sifter might be right up your alley. The Sifter, conceived by food historian Barbara Wheaton, "is designed to be a tool to aid in finding, identifying and comparing historical and contemporary writing on food and related topics," according to the site's mission statement. Modeled… read more

Ten European dishes that chefs think everyone should try

August 15, 2020 by
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Although the EU has drawn together much of Europe into a common market, the food remains more diverse, with each country and even regions within countries having their signature dishes, styles and ingredients. The Guardian (UK) recently asked a dozen chefs (some Michelin-starred and several of the World’s 50 Best) to tell them about local dishes on the European continent… read more

This week: Let’s talk fermenting, recipes, cookbook giveaways, and previews

August 15, 2020 by
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What is fermentation? Fermentation is a process that produces chemical changes in the natural environment in which an organism lives through the action of enzymes (proteins that accelerate chemical reactions). In the context of food, it may refer to any process in which the activity of microorganisms - specifically bacteria, yeast, and mold - brings about a desirable change to… read more

The case for having a bread box

August 14, 2020 by
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When most people think of a bread box, they probably conjure an image of an old-fashioned kitchen or perhaps a scene from a 1950s television program wherein a dress- and pearl-wearing housewife pulls a loaf of bread out of its storage container to make her young child a sandwich. Whether you call it a bread box or a bread bin,… read more

The art and logic of ice cream cake

August 13, 2020 by
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Ice cream cakes are not just the province of Dairy Queen. You can make your own showstopping dessert if you know the right tips and tricks, says food writer Tara O'Brady. She provides a handy primer that lays out the potential pitfalls and shows you how to make your own magnificent, cold, creamy ice cream cake that puts the store-bought… read more

Cookbooks can be life-changing

August 12, 2020 by
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I do not have to work very hard to convince readers of our blog about the magic of cookbooks. They have woven a spell over our lives, enchanting us with their descriptions of faraway lands, mesmerizing us with detailed scientific explanations of baking chemistry, and wowing us with evocative images and stories. It never gets old seeing others discover the… read more

Don’t throw away these valuable liquids

August 11, 2020 by
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For years, I poured two valuable substances down the drain because I didn't know what else to do with them. I don't mean that time I put a colander in the sink but forgot to put a bowl underneath it and poured an entire batch of chicken stock through it before I realized my error, I am talking about the… read more

Everyday Barbecue – Cookbook Giveaway

August 11, 2020 by
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Enter our giveaway open to US/CA/AU/NZ/UK to win one of three copies of Everyday BBQ: All Year Outdoor Grilling by Andreas Rummel. With this new reference work on barbecuing, the season can last all year long! Learn how to prepare perfect meats, fish, and vegetables and discover creative marinades and dips that will stun your guests. Vegetarians, too, will have… read more

When it’s time to spice things up

August 10, 2020 by
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Spices in jars
When you have extra time on your hands, it can be all to easy to lounge about scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest. While that is a fun pastime, it gets old after a while. If you are looking for something to do that doesn't involve the computer and is cooking-related, head over to The Washington Post, where Becky Krystal is… read more

Perspective is everything – an open letter to the Great British Bake Off

August 10, 2020 by
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As I was not feeling well this morning, I decided to watch comfort television before I began my day, which always is The Great British Bake Off. You may recall my harsh judgments of the last series in my recap posts. Butterscotch coffee cake [butterscotch sauce] (my photo) While watching the beginning of Cake Week again, I began to scrutinize my… read more

Food news antipasto

August 9, 2020 by
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Running out of things to watch in your Netflix or Amazon Prime queue? We have the answer with a new short film that dives into the world of Japanese cooking via one of its most iconic elements: dashi. The brainchild of chef Shinobu Namae and filmmaker Eric Wolfinger, the show explores each step of the dashi-making process through the eyes of the Michelin-starred… read more

Hats off to grocery workers

August 8, 2020 by
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Due to the pandemic, I have finally succumbed to doing some of my grocery shopping online. This service has been offered for a few years at my supermarket, but I haven't been interested in it before. Grocery shopping is my happy place - I find zen in the aisles as I inspect new products, compare ingredient lists, and carefully pore… read more

Storecupboard Vegan – Cookbook Giveaway

August 8, 2020 by
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Enter our giveaway to win one of three copies of Storecupboard Vegan by Laura Veganpower and Sébastien Kardinal open to members in US/CA/UK/AU/NZ. Here are 300 easy, fast and inexpensive recipes that use ready-made vegan preparations, such as tofu sausages, smoked tofu, seitan, tempeh, soy steaks, vegan cheeses, and dairy-free yogurt as well as regular storecupboard staples like tins of… read more

Cookbook Shelf and Kitchen Detective for Hire

August 8, 2020 by
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Today, I came across an article in the NY Times, "The Celebrity Bookshelf Detective is Back." While I am a voracious reader, I am not interested in what celebrities, or even what my friends are reading. I can make up my own mind in that regard. But what I enjoy figuring out are what cookbooks are in the kitchens of… read more

This week: Recipes for peaches and taking care of yourself, cookbook giveaways and EYBD Previews

August 8, 2020 by
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Instagram famous Leslie Jordan begins almost every video with "hello fellow hunker downers, how you all doin?" I have been wondering how all of our members are coping during this time? I watch Leslie's videos every day and they bring a smile to my face. Lately, I feel as if I'm in a continual loop of Groundhog's Day, the Twilight… read more

Historic Mexican recipes now available as e-books

August 7, 2020 by
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In February we reported how the University of Texas in San Antonio was in the process of digitizing hundreds of historical Mexican cookbooks. The pandemic has delayed this effort, but instead of just putting the whole project on hold, the university is now releasing recipes from the collection as free e-books. The first mini-cookbook was released earlier this month. Postres: Guardando… read more

The three essential baking pans everyone needs in their kitchen

August 6, 2020 by
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I recently made several pound cakes in this Nordic Ware loaf pan to give to friends and neighbors. One neighbor, witnessing the Facebook posts of my pandemic baking spree featuring myriad layer cakes, breads, Bundts, and other baked goods, asked me how much room I needed to store my baking pans. The answer is...a lot. Since my kitchen is not… read more

Sourdough, yes, sourdough again

August 6, 2020 by
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While Darcie has recently broken up with sourdough, I've decided to rekindle my relationship. I admit that I am a serial killer. Many a jar of sourdough has met an unseemly death under my watch. Selfishly (and repeatedly) in the past, I have neglected my jar of starter to die a lonely, cold death. I have no issues creating a… read more

All about eggplants

August 4, 2020 by
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Some foods get an undeserved bad reputation because it is all too common to encounter them in badly prepared dishes. Eggplant (aka aubergine) is one such food, and its very mention can conjure images of a soggy, slimy, tasteless vegetable. Perhaps eggplant haters could be converted to lovers if they experienced it expertly made, and to that end, Becky Krystal… read more

Washington Wine + Food – Cookbook Giveaway

August 4, 2020 by
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Enter our US/Canada giveaway to win one of two copies of Washington Wine + Food: The Cookbook by Julien Perry Julien Perry is the author of Seattle Cooks: Signature Recipes from the City's Best Chefs and Bartenders, one of Figure 1 #cooksandeats series which are some of my favorite cookbooks. They provide a taste of a particular city and are… read more

To the restaurants I never knew, and those that I love

August 4, 2020 by
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At the beginning of March, I wrote about missed opportunities to eat at some of the world's finest restaurants that had closed their doors forever. My motivation for that article was not, as you might think, the impact that the coronavirus was having on the restaurant industry. I had been thinking about restaurants like Fäviken, which served its last meal… read more

Food news antipasto

August 2, 2020 by
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Kitchen cleaning hacks are constantly being shared on social media, and one that has been making the rounds lately involves a trick for cleaning your glass oven door - use a dishwasher tablet. There are some nuances to this that make it more effective (you apparently need to get the tablet a little wet but not too much), but people… read more

How to clean up a floury mess

August 1, 2020 by
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The coronavirus pandemic might have made bakers out of us all, but once the bread is in the oven, the hard part of baking begins: clean up. As Margaret Eby of Food and Wine explains, combining flour and water is necessary to make bread, but the other byproduct of combining the two is glue. She provides several tips on how… read more

This week: Summer recipes, EYBD cookbook previews and giveaways

August 1, 2020 by
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Sweet August has arrived and in thirty-one days, September will be embraced by my open arms. As temperatures are still sweltering here in the US, many cooks are looking for options to feed their families that can be accomplished on the stovetop. I think I'm one of the only ones who will endure the inferno of a hot oven to… read more
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