Crispy “Greek donut holes” and honey are a
special treat. Photo courtesy Stix
Mediterranean Grill | NYC.

Loukoumades are a fried-dough honey pastry popular in the Mediterranean. Deep fried dough is soaked in sugar syrup or honey and cinnamon, and sometimes sprinkled with sesame. A modern analogy is a yeast “donut hole,” but much tastier.

The name (loo-koo-MAH-dess) derives from the Turkish word lokma, meaning mouthful or morsel. In ancient Greece, these deep fried dough balls were served to winners at the Olympics; so they’re a perfect treat for a champion mom.

Loukoumades can be served in one, two or more pieces, loose or on skewers, for dessert. A cup of tea is an excellent companion. For something more elaborately with ice cream and a drizzle of honey.

These crispy fried dessert dumplings are made with yeast; the dough must rise.

 
Use top quality honey: The better the honey, the more delicious the loukoumades.

Ingredients

1. DISSOLVE yeast in water and let set for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. SIFT flour and salt together. Make a hole in flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix gently while continuously adding warm water until a soft, sticky dough is formed. Cover dough with clean, damp dishtowel. Let the dough rise until it doubles in size.

3. MAKE the syrup: Combine the sugar, honey and water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 6 minutes. Remove from high heat; cover to keep warm.

4. HEAT oil in deep fryer. Use a tablespoon to drop batter into hot oil. When batter floats and is golden and puffy, remove to drain on paper towel.

5. POUR syrup over hot loukmades and sprinkle with cinnamon.
 

FIND MORE OF OUR FAVORITE PASTRY RECIPES.

We love garnishing dishes with fresh herbs: We snip them onto everything from breakfast eggs to soup, salad and sandwiches to main courses and sides. But what if you don’t have any on hand? Reach for the dried herbs and spices.

If you frequent finer restaurants, you may notice that the chef sometimes sprinkles dried herbs or spices as a garnish around the rim of the plate or bowl.

Why? It ads artistry and color as well as flavor; you can dip forkfuls of food into the garnish.

You can use fresh or dried herbs or spices, chopped nuts or seeds. How many of the following do you already have in your pantry?

TAKE YOUR PICK

FOOD 101: GARNISH

To garnish means to provide something ornamental; to adorn or decorate.* With food, it means something that adds flavor or decorative color. One of the classic food garnishes in America: boiled potatoes garnished with chopped parsley.

MORE WAYS TO GARNISH EVERYTHING

See our article, Garnish Glamour, for many ways to garnish both savory and sweet foods.

*In the law, garnish means to attach money due or property belonging to a debtor.

Make a pound cake even more delicious with
Meyer lemon juice. Photo courtesy
Melissas.com.

Bake this cake in a 4-5 cup nonstick loaf pan. Serves 6.
MEYER LEMON & GINGER POUND CAKE RECIPE

Ingredients

Ingredients For The Glaze

1. PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Generously butter pan, then flour it, gently tapping out excess. Chill 10 minutes.

2. FINELY GRIND together fresh ginger and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor (mixture will be wet).

3. WHISK together flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and salt. Stir together milk and vanilla in a small bowl.

4. BEAT together butter, remaining 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer, until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

6. SPOON batter into pan, smoothing top. Bake in middle of oven until golden brown on top and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Carefully loosen edges with a knife and immediately invert cake onto a rack to cool completely.
7. MAKE the glaze. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar to 1 tablespoon lemon juice, whisking until smooth. Add more juice, 1 drop at a time, if glaze is too thick. Drizzle decoratively over top of cake. Serve with a side of whipped cream.

 
ABOUT MEYER LEMONS
Once grown only as an ornamental garden lemon and frequently found only at farmers’ markets, the Meyer lemon has slowly graduated into commercial production. Unlike its two popular counterparts, the Eureka and Lisbon lemons, the Meyer lemon has mild, sweet, juicy flesh.

Although too tart to eat out-of-hand, Meyer lemons are beloved by chefs for flavoring both savory and sweet dishes. Use Meyer Lemons as a low calorie seasoning on fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit desserts. The juice is a fresh alternative to high fat salad dressings and sauces.

As with other lemons, Meyer lemon juice retards browning on cut avocados and apples, while vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower and turnips will stay white when cooked in water accented with lemon juice.
 

SEE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEMONS.

Today’s tip is to purchase a Fair Trade product. May 11th is World Fair Trade Day.

Fair Trade is a practice that seeks to aid economically challenged, small-scale farmers around the world. Many of them labor in poverty to produce the cacao, coffee beans and other crops we take for granted. Because of the “system,” they often earn less than it costs to produce the crop.

While America’s small farmers often endure severe economic hardships, American children go to school and families have access to public health care and other assistance. In third world countries, however, these “essentials” can be hard to come by. And since school is not mandatory in certain countries, many children instead work in the fields to contribute to the household income.

Why is the situation so bleak? Most small family farmers live in remote locations and lack access to credit, so they are vulnerable to local middlemen who offer quick cash for their crops, at a fraction of their value.

Through Fair Trade, farmers and their families earn better incomes for their hard work. This allows them to hold on to their land, keep their children in school and invest in the quality of their harvest.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: BABY STEPS

Use your purchasing power to make an impact on the lives of small farmers and their families.

 
THE FAIR TRADE MOVEMENT
Certified Fair Trade products now comprise a multi-billion dollar industry, with over 10,000 products in the marketplace. Consumer demand for fairly traded products has steadily risen over the last decade, thanks to the tireless work of dedicated advocates and advocacy organizations, committed companies and student activism.

Fair Trade is a business practice that protects the environment while improving livelihoods.
The fair trade movement, which includes different certifying agencies, has a vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices, so that farmers can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood. Read more about it at FairWorldTradeProject.org.

You’ll see different logos on Fair Trade products: There are many organizations around the world dedicated to the promotion of fair trade and its values. In North America, the leading organizations are the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), TransFair USA, and the Fair Trade Resource Network.

Internationally, the big names are World Fair Trade Organization and FLO International. Here’s more about Fair Trade certifying agencies and the logos to watch for.

Thanks in advance for pitching in this great cause.
  

While President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the National Prohibition Act (informally known as the Volstead Act), his veto was overridden by the House and the Senate.

Prohibition became law on October 28, 1919, as the 18th amendment to the United States Constitution.

The amendment prohibited the production, sale and transport of “intoxicating liquors,” although it did not define what “intoxicating liquors” might be.

Prohibition became effective at midnight on January 17, 1920.

Rather than turn America into a more decent society, it engendered disrespect for the law and the rapid growth of organized crime. By 1933, public opposition to Prohibition had become overwhelming.

Why did Prohibition become law in the first place? In the first two decades of the 20th century, America was a church-going, God-fearing culture. The Temperance Movement was instrumental in generating negative feelings about alcohol. By 1916, legal prohibition was already in effect in 26 of the 48 states.

The history lesson is over; how about some cocktails?

The Southside was the signature cocktail at New York’s legendary 21 Club, a former speakeasy. It’s also said to have been the favorite drink of notorious Prohibition-era bootlegger Al Capone and his gang, whose home turf was the south side of Chicago.

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. MUDDLE one mint sprig with lime and simple syrup. Add gin and shake well.

2. POUR into a collins glass over crushed ice and stir until the outside of the glass frosts. Top with soda and garnish with sprig of mint.

The White Lady cocktail—probably not a favorite among gentlemen. Photo courtesy Tanqueray Gin.

Ingredients

 
Preparation

Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker, fill with ice, shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

FIND MORE OF OUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL RECIPES.