by B.L. Unkel | Feb 26, 2022 | History
How many of you have planted and tended a vegetable garden? It’s a lot of work, but, as I’ve said before, there’s nothing more rewarding (or tastier) than growing and eating your own veggies. Many things go into making your garden successful. It needs good soil;...
by B.L. Unkel | Feb 5, 2022 | Baking
I love winter. “Real” winter is one of the things I’m going to miss when I move back to the Texas Gulf Coast. What’s better than snuggling under a blanket in front of a roaring fire with a mug of hot chocolate in one hand and a book in the other while snow falls...
by B.L. Unkel | Dec 18, 2021 | Baking
Fairy floss. A magical name for a delightful, wispy spun-sugar delicacy. As early as the fifteenth century, chefs in Italy made spun-sugar desserts. But being a very labor-intensive process, the sweet wasn’t cheap and so could only be enjoyed by the rich. It wasn’t...
by B.L. Unkel | Oct 30, 2021 | History
Throughout history, one mineral has been prized above all others. Salt. Animals and people alike want it. Today we think of it as a seasoning, but in the past, it was much more. Many societies bartered with it, using it like money. The salary paid to a Roman soldier...
by B.L. Unkel | Oct 23, 2021 | Baking
As we approach Halloween, I thought I’d share historical myths and superstitions involving blackberries. There are more than you might imagine. Blackberries and the Devil The most well-known superstition is: Don’t eat fresh blackberries after “Michaelmas day.”...
