PRODUCT: Benne Wafers (Cookies)

Benne wafers are small brown-sugar cookies seasoned with sesame seeds. They’ve been popular in the South since the 18th century. How did sesame, which many Americans associate with Asian cuisine, end up in the American South? Before we get to the cookies, here’s: A HISTORY OF SESAME The plant, Sesamum indicum grows wild in Africa;…
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PRODUCT: Chili Flakes Grinder

Some people use chili flakes—a.k.a. red pepper flakes or crushed red pepper—as frequently as they use salt and pepper. The spice a popular table condiment in countries as dispersed as Hungary, Korea and the Middle East. In the U.S., you’re more likely to find the liquid equivalent, a bottle of hot sauce. A pinch of…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When it gives you a bottle of vodka and some vanilla beans, make vanilla extract. Commercial vanilla extracts are 35% alcohol, by law. The alcohol is a neutral spirit, like vodka. So imagine how good your extract will be if you use a good-to-excellent vodka: Good enough to…
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