Raisin pie doesn't get the credit it deserves. It has no glamorous origin story, no famous patron who made it fashionable. What it has is staying power. This pie shows up in medieval English kitchens, in the servants' hall at grand Edwardian country houses, and in the farmhouses … [Read more...] about The Humble Raisin Pie: A History That Spans Continents and Centuries
Gilded Age
Champagne Cup: The Drink That Kept Edwardian Parties Going All Afternoon
Before the cocktail hour, there was the cup. A jug of champagne, cupped on a warm afternoon, was as essential to Edwardian entertaining as the guest list. If you have ever wondered what the guests at a Downton Abbey garden party were drinking while they stood on the lawn making … [Read more...] about Champagne Cup: The Drink That Kept Edwardian Parties Going All Afternoon
Beaten Biscuits: The Southern Staple That Almost Disappeared
Before baking powder, there was muscle. Beaten biscuits are what Southern cooks made when they needed a biscuit that lasted for days, and they are worth every minute of effort. Beaten biscuits are not like any biscuit you have made before. They are dense, pale, and crisp. They … [Read more...] about Beaten Biscuits: The Southern Staple That Almost Disappeared
Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling: The Side Dish Your Holiday Table Is Missing
Pennsylvania Dutch potato filling is what happens when thrifty farmhouse cooks decide that the best parts of the meal—mashed potatoes and bread stuffing—should share the same dish. Day-old bread is cubed and toasted in butter with plenty of onion, celery, and parsley, then … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling: The Side Dish Your Holiday Table Is Missing
Decadent Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These fudgy, brownie-like chocolate crinkle cookies are a beloved American Christmas tradition — and while they weren't gracing Gilded Age cookie platters, their roots run deep into that era. The "crinkle" cookie was born in the kitchen of Helen Fredell, a Minnesota home baker … [Read more...] about Decadent Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
