Once upon a time, there was a blacksmith named Jack, who was also a drunkard. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Jack was a liar, con man and cheat of such renown that even the devil heard of him. Some even said that Jack was a bigger liar than
In the early 19th century, Johnny Appleseed planted seedling apple orchards across the midwest. And as the crops came in, the small, bitter apples were pressed into cider. Meanwhile, farmers found it easier to distill whiskey than ship their grain overland. With whiskey priced at about 25 cents per gallon,
In the northern hemisphere, fall is Harvest Time. Pumpkins & winter squash, sweet potatoes, root vegetables, and various fruits, including pears, grapes, cranberries, figs & pomegranates. But today, my focus is on apples. Seventeenth century apples bore little resemblance to the many apple varietals we harvest today. The Puritans brought
It’s time to get out your dirndls and lederhosen in preparation for Oktoberfest which, despite its name, is held throughout the world in September. In the U. S., for example, Oktoberfest takes place in Philadelphia, Tulsa, San Francisco and numerous other cities and towns. The largest Oktoberfest in North America
Earlier this month, I baked a Red Velvet Cake from scratch. Judging by the number of recipes on-line, this is a very popular cake. I eventually settled on a recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction, which turned out to be a good choice. I was a bit surprised by some of
Food was an important part of my travel tour in southern Italy and Sicily, so it’s only fitting to complete my vacation memories with a few stories about Italian cuisine. I’m always up for a visit to the local outdoor market. The one in Locorotondo was especially enticing. Among the
The city of Herculaneum was small in comparison to the better-known city of Pompeii, a town for high-ranking Romans seeking an escape to the seaside with its cooling breezes. It was blazing hot the day I visited. Over the years, Herculaneum sank beneath the earth that grows above ancient cities,
It’s hard to imagine the past. As an historian, my imagination can stretch as far back as the 18th century. With a little extra creativity, I can reach the 17th century. But earlier times are elusive unless I can connect with the material culture to build a bridge that connects
“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.” — Brian O’Driscoll, Rugby Player Botanically, the tomato is a fruit. According to botanists at the New York Botanical Garden, fruits are usually sweet and eaten as a dessert. In
Have you planted tomatoes in your garden or windowsill pots yet? You might even be on your second planting by now. Statistically, 55 percent of American households have a garden. About 43 percent of those gardens grow food, and tomatoes are planted in 86 percent of food gardens. In fact,
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