On not reinventing the wheel
One of my favorite pastimes is to find recipes that recreate classic American snacks like Oreos and Twinkies. I look for recipes that are not exact duplicates, but rather better versions of these iconic treats (this is…
Eat Your Books blog archive
Transporting pie can be as easy as, well, pie
Before I discovered my secret to transporting cakes, pies, and other delicate food items safely, I went through a lot of trial and error. I tried various types of containers and boxes, built up "dams" around the object…
The GBBO has been secretly filming its next season
With much of the world in lockdown for the spring, when The Great British Bakeoff (known in the US as The Great British Baking Show) is usually filming, most GBBO fans probably thought that there would not be a 2020…
Quick Bites - Kate McDermott
Kate McDermott is the queen of pie. Her debut cookbook Art of the Pie: A Practical Guide to Homemade Crusts, Fillings, and Life is beloved by bakers worldwide. This title made most of the best book lists of 2016 as well…
Food news antipasto
Whenever someone asks me the question, "If you could start over, what profession would you choose?" my answer is "professional baker." There are many reasons that never happened, and recently my excuse has been that I…
Crumb coatings make everything better
My husband and I have a running joke that the only thing that cannot be improved by deep-frying is iceberg lettuce. What makes deep frying so special? One reason is the breading or coating that adds a pleasant crunch to…
This week: Pastry, cookbook previews and giveaways
As you may have deciphered from my Fear of an empty pantry, part two – the baking edition article last week, or any other baking-related piece I've shared (and there have been many), I am a baker. While I love all…
Spice support: green garlic
Perhaps I'm stretching the definition of spice a bit by including garlic, but it is generally treated more like a spice than a huge part of the meal (chicken with 40 cloves of garlic notwithstanding). Anyway, this post…
Summer Kitchens - Cookbook Giveaway
Enter our giveaway to win one of three copies of Summer Kitchens: Recipes and Reminiscences from Every Corner of Ukraine by Olia Hercules open to US members and EYB is providing one additional copy worldwide. Olia…
Flower cakes that are wobbly works of art
Gelatin cakes are gaining in popularity partly because they are gluten-free and partly because they are fun to eat. While they are often gorgeous to view, they usually don't taste that great. Pastry chef Jena Derman…
Breaking up with sourdough
Back in the early days of the pandemic (I'm sad that I even have to type that phrase), when yeast was nowhere to be found on store shelves, intrepid bakers rolled up their sleeves and went to work making bread the…
Eating (and cooking) as a coping mechanism
Confessions of a stress-eater: I really didn't need that second homemade mint-chocolate chip ice cream sandwich, but I ate it anyway. It was delicious and I regret nothing. Perhaps when I am forced to wear regular pants…