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Category: Cooking

Man wearing a tie and apron barbecuing steaks on an outdoor grill.

Beyond Father’s Day: The Story of the Backyard Barbecue

Posted by: Rachel Gordon

Marking Father’s Day with a cookout is as American as apple pie. As I was thinking about how to organize this most traditional of celebrations for Sunday, June 18th this year, I wondered about the custom itself.  What’s the history of grilling, and of the backyard barbecue? When and why did “the man of the …

Two women and a girl seated at a table set for afternoon tea

A Celebration Tea For Mother’s Day

Posted by: Rachel Gordon

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, falling on Sunday, May 14th in the U.S. this year. If you’ve already cycled through giving flowers, chocolates, and similar traditional gifts, why not hold a Mother’s Day tea? Like many British people, I grew up experiencing a mid-afternoon tea break as a widespread institution at home and at work. …

Five different kinds of homemade candy, cream caramels, Christmas keepsake fudge, peanut brittle, sponge candy and fondant stars.

Cooking Up History: Candy Recipes for the Holidays

Posted by: Rachel Gordon

The winter holidays are almost here! If you can’t face any more shopping, prefer to make gifts, or would simply like to brighten someone’s day, this post has suggestions for last-minute treats you can whip up yourself. Homemade candy is a welcome seasonal confection that’s perfect to share. It’ll mean a trip to the grocery …

Roadside cart with bagged and boxed apples.

Recipes and Collections for “October, the Apple-Scented Month”

Posted by: Rachel Gordon

“October is the apple-scented month… Apples into boxes, into baskets, apples in transit; gold and scarlet pyramids and in the market place….Apples for bowls, apples for lunchboxes.” These lines from a 1959 newspaper column perfectly sum up the sight in stores, farmers’ markets, orchards and roadsides at this time of year. Apples are everywhere. There …