FOOD HOLIDAY: The History Of Deviled Eggs

November 2nd is National Deviled Egg Day. Deviled eggs took off as picnic and cocktail party fare after the Second World War. But their roots date back to ancient Rome. The cooks of wealthy Romans boiled eggs, seasoned them with spicy sauces, and served them as a first course (known as gustatio). Serving these deviled…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Breadcrumb Topping On Pasta

TOP PHOTO: Mac & cheese, crumbed for crunch and glamour. Photo courtesy Morgans Hotel | NYC. BOTTOM PHOTO: Linguine tossed in olive oil, Parmesan and herbs, topped with bread crumbs. Photo courtesy All’onda | NYC.   If you peruse recipes for mac and cheese, you’ve likely noticed that the better recipes—certainly those by name chefs—regularly…
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Boston Cream Pie Recipe & History For National Boston Cream Pie Day

October 23rd is National Boston Cream Pie Day, but don’t let the name fool you. Boston Cream Pie is a layer cake: two layers of buttery sponge cake sandwiched with crème pâtissière (pastry cream or vanilla cream filling) or custard filling and topped with a glaze of chocolate ganache. The history and recipe follow, but…
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HALLOWEEN: Jack O’Lantern History & Macarons

Yummy jack o’ lantern macarons from Williams Sonoma. Here’s the history of macaroons and macarons. Photo courtesy Williams-Sonoma.   We love these jack o’lantern macarons, made exclusively for Williams-Sonoma by Dana’s Bakery. We asked ourself: We know the history of Halloween, but not how the jack o’lantern got its name. So we researched it, and…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Top 10 Pasta Cooking Tips

It seems like a no-brainer to boil pasta, yet there are several “best practices.” For National Pasta Month, here are some basic pasta tips that many people—including our interns—don’t know. 1. USE A LARGE, LIDDED POT. Pasta needs room to cook without sticking: 4-5 quarts of water per pound of pasta. Although it may seem…
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