The Types Of Asian Noodles & The Noodles-Pasta Difference

Pasta originated in China. Scholars credit the Chinese with making noodles from rice flour as early as 1700 B.C.E., the 17th century before the common era (or before Christ, if you still use the old system). The pasta-centric Italians believe pasta dates back to the ancient Etruscans, who inhabited the Etruria region of Italy (the…
Continue reading “The Types Of Asian Noodles & The Noodles-Pasta Difference”

HALLOWEEN: Barmbrack, An Irish Tradition

Fruitcake lovers and tea cake lovers: It’s time for barmbrack, also known as barm brack, barnbrack or simply brack. Brack? The original barmbrack was a sweet yeast bread with raisins and sultanas. Barm is the term for the yeast filtered out of beer in the final stage of production, a cheaper yeast source than commercial…
Continue reading “HALLOWEEN: Barmbrack, An Irish Tradition”

TIP OF THE DAY: 25+ Uses For Bacon Fat, Bacon Grease, Drippings Or Whatever You Call It

Our mom loved to cook bacon: She loved the aroma. She also had a great exhaust hood, a kitchen with pocket doors to prevent the aroma from escaping to the rest of the house, and a window and a back door to let in fresh air. She bought thick-cut bacon and cooked it slowly over…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: 25+ Uses For Bacon Fat, Bacon Grease, Drippings Or Whatever You Call It”

RECIPE: Pumpkin Lasagna & Pumpkin Ravioli Lasagna

[1] Pumpkin lasagna made in a Dutch oven (photo © Williams Sonoma).   How about a festive pumpkin lasagna for Halloween or Thanksgiving? One of the tips to enjoy a rich, hearty dish like lasagna is to serve it in smaller portions as a first course. Our friend Ruth’s Italian-American mother always served a pasta…
Continue reading “RECIPE: Pumpkin Lasagna & Pumpkin Ravioli Lasagna”