Jams, jellies, and preserves are all wonderful ways to use up leftover fruit. And who can refuse a scone with strawberry jam ? But why are there so many names for fruit cooked with sugar, and is there really a difference between them ? Why the different names ? Are they just different names for …
Everyone’s got some sort of jam tucked away in their pantry or fridge, and everyone has a strong preference for this fruit over that. So, naturally, everyone gets upset when they open their favorite jar to find that it’s…not right. It’s got fuzzy white patches and it doesn’t feel sorry at all. Why does jam …
Homemade jam is a beautiful thing, and a really good reason to be proud. Your family can enjoy it in any way they like, and you can make entire batches for the winter. Be careful though, once you catch the jam bug you’ll be overrun by jam jars with no place to put them (because …
Vanilla is probably one of the most common flavors all over the world, yet suffers from severe price hikes. For a flavor that is everywhere, you’d expect it to be cheaper and the price to be somewhat constant. But why is vanilla so expensive ? What drives the price up, and how does it grow …
Buttercream is possibly the most common way to fill and frost a cake, and it can take on so many flavors. Then there’s cream cheese frosting, with a tangy and rich flavor that doesn’t lend itself to just everything, but where it does it’s heavenly. So how do you choose between buttercream and cream cheese …
If you’re any sort of dessert lover, you’ve definitely has both whipped cream and buttercream. But you may not have made either of them at home, and you may not have been faced with the decision of which to ice and entire cake with. Or maybe just some cupcakes, the decision is still something to …
Whipped cream is a white, fluffy, and usually sweet icing on many cakes and pastries. Or you could even find it on top of your morning coffee at some point. If you’re in a position where you need to think about the amount of sugar you take in – say, diabetic, or simply want to …
Cookies are a popular sweet treat, and they’re highly customizable. Each family has their favorite recipe, and each person likes their cookie a different way. One thing always baffles those who are new to baking cookies: how much they spread. You work on a great cookie dough, place your cookie balls on a baking sheet, …
Tiramisu is an amazingly delicious dessert, and it’s pretty much perfect any day of the week, and time of the year. It’s got all the best flavors out there, especially for coffee lovers, and it’s hard to say no to. So, naturally, you may end up making more tiramisu at one point. Can you freeze …
Tiramisu is a wonderfully refreshing and not overly sweet dessert that just screams Italy at you. The coffee, the mascarpone, the ladyfingers, everything is just delicious. One thing has always been up for debate though: does tiramisu have any alcohol in it ? Ad if yes, can you get drunk off it ? This is …
Cheesecakes are a delicious treat in every way you can imagine them. How you make your own cheesecake may be different from your neighbors, but one thing is always the same: the cheese. For newcomers, the very name ‘cheesecake’ may not sound appealing at all. After all, going just by name you expect a cake …
Cheesecake seems to be everyone’s favorite dessert, but there seems to be a disagreement over how to make a cheesecake in the first place. The original cheesecake was the baked one, and it’s the one most people grew up with. Then, at some point, no-bake cheesecake came around, along with springform pans. And now everyone …
If you’re any sort of fan of maple syrup, you definitely know how expensive it can get. Real, pure maple syrup costs a pretty penny and it’d be a shame to let it go to waste. So, naturally, you wonder just how you should best store this bad boy. Do you keep it on the …
Maple syrup is a staple of morning pancakes, cold weather, and feeling all cozy and bundled up inside. It costs a pretty penny but luckily there are many brands to choose from, some more affordable than others. The problem is, that those affordable ones are not actual maple syrup. So we’re left with two options: …
So you’ve just brought home that nice jar of honey you’ve been eyeing for a couple of weeks, and everything’s great. You end up eating about half of it, and you store it in the pantry. But after a while, you forget about it and only come back later. Now your honey is solid, opaque, …
Honey seems to be on everyone’s mind lately, what with bee populations going down, and the general interest in natural products going up. Honey is the old way of sweetening anything, because long before sugar there was honey. And it was a highly prized food item that not many could afford. Today it’s still viewed …
Apple pie is as American as hotdogs, baseball, wide open roads, and really a damn delicious pie ! There are a few other desserts that are distinctly American, but apple pie reigns supreme. But why is that ? Why is apple pie so American ? Why not another fruit ? Why pie ? What about …
Summer’s coming right up and so is fruit. And what other way to enjoy fresh, delicious fruit than to bake them with a bit of pastry dough ? Now you have the option to choose just what you’ll be baking. If it a pie ? Is it a cobbler ? The cobbler vs pie discussion …
Pies are beautiful, delicious little things and they always put you in a good mood. Most of the time they’re sweet and you can’t get enough of them. Sometimes they’re savory and incredibly filling. One thing is clear: pies are loved by all, and they’re a staple for nearly every holiday you can imagine. So …
Pies are so many things to so many people. To some they’re patriotic, to some they’re nostalgic, and to some they’re an extra hassle when the holidays roll around. But there’s one thing we all know about pies, whether we like them or not. Pies are round, and there is no other shape for them. …