Food Blog Spotlight : How to Cook Italian : Easy Recipes from CiaoFlorentina

Many people love Italian food. Although my late husband said he didn't. Even though he watched and sometimes recorded the cooking shows of Lidia Bastianich. When we subscribed to cable TV, he rarely missed an episode of Giada De Laurentiis. (O.o)

Image Credit:  Italian Food Map, Food Regions of Italy, by Nancy Nikko

I heart most things Italian, with food being at the top of my list. There are so many Italian food bloggers out there. In fact, my third post for this blog shone the spotlight on one of my favorite blogs: JovinaCooks Italian.

Here is another one of my favorite food blogs: Easy Italian Recipes – CiaoFlorentina.  Cooking advice is provided, and many recipes are gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian. A few selected posts appear below to ignite your curiosity to know more and whet your appetite for some tasty Italian cuisine.

Chocolate Covered Oranges with Red Pepper Flakes * Christmas Recipes

The ultimate Chocolate Covered Oranges: tangerine and orange slices dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with red pepper flakes for a nice kick. It is that time of year ago when our orange trees are so loaded the branches started breaking. Which means there are oranges and tangerines all over our kitchen.

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Replace potato chips with a healthier alternative. How to Make Brussel Sprout Chips (Crispy) *

Crispy and light baked Brussel sprout chips with just a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Easy to make and loved by all! Who is as excited as me about fall and baking trays upon trays of these Brussel sprout chips?

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Vegetarian Calzone Recipe *

Italian vegetarian calzone, pizza pockets stuffed with veggies and cheese, and grilled in a cast iron skillet, a vegetarian's dream! First of all, you absolutely gotta make this vegetarian calzone, you guys! I had them for breakfast ,and I'm not even ashamed to admit it.

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Do You Have a Favorite Summer Fruit and Do You Like Popsicles?

Don't you love it when you're listening to the weather forecast and they announce when the first day of a season will begin? I do. 

Even though spring is my favorite season, I get excited when they announce that summer will begin. Summertime means summer fruit!

Summer fruit just brings out everyone’s inner foodie, doesn’t it? One person is Team juicy‑watermelon‑drip‑down‑your‑arm, another is Team perfectly‑ripe‑peach, and someone else is fiercely loyal to their icy popsicle stash. Whether you’re Team creamy popsicles or Team icy popsicles, Team fruit‑chunks‑inside or Team silky‑smooth blends, there’s something fun about picking a side and celebrating the flavors that make summer feel like summer. 

I love summer fruit. My favorite is nectarines. I also love popsicles and found some recipes for you to enjoy your summer fruit as a popsicle.

Cold and sweet. It’s the perfect treat for a hot summer’s day or night! Don’t you think so? **

I rounded up some fun summer‑fruit inspiration from around the web — recipes, tips, and a few sweet treats that made me smile.  These video creators and tweeters have some of the most refreshing ideas for making the most of summer fruit.

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I love a simple fruit popsicle! What are your favorite summer sweet treats? #summertime #sweettreats pic.twitter.com/O0f67psHPz

— Playing W. Fire (@Playingwfirepc) July 7, 2019

Summer Fruit Popsicle Recipe Blog from The Fruit Company ~ #summerfruit #recipes #popsicles #cool and #sweet #treats
~ https://t.co/JiIMWFQWDH pic.twitter.com/buMryooB12

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) July 14, 2019

Cheesecake: A Slice of Heaven, Joy, and Pure Delight

Cheesecake heaven ... delight ... joy ... dressed up or plain.  No matter. It's the best dessert on the planet!!  Happy for any excuse to enjoy a piece of cheesecake! 😊

• FUN FACT:  Cheesecake is truly the food of love, and we can thank the Greeks. DID YOU KNOW? The Greek physician Aegimus wrote a book on making cheesecakes in the 5th century AD, and the oldest written cheesecake recipe is attributed to Athenaeus and dates back to 230 AD…. ❤️

Gourmet Cheesecake is the ultimate dessert gift for the ultimate dessert lover. There are many wonderful sites where you can purchase these fabulous gourmet food gifts online.

• The Cheesecake Factory
• Cheesecakes by David's Cookies
• The Original Cakerie

From classic New York Style cheesecake to Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake. Tough decision, huh? I know!  It's hard to decide if you want to be generous and buy it as a gift OR get it for yourself and eat it all? 😊

Hark!  Is that the voice of a diva?

What's that?  You're a domestic diva, and you prefer to make your own cheesecake instead of buying a gourmet gift online?  OK!  The listing of recipes below is for the Martha Stewart look-alikes. 

• Lemon Swirl Cheesecake — a classic baked cheesecake with homemade lemon curd swirled through the top. -  Mindees Cooking Obsession
  
• The Ultimate Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe – dessertsblog.com
• Baked Matcha Cheesecake – The Unlikely Baker
  
• Lavender Honey Cheesecake – Taste Of Home
  
• Mint Chocolate Cheesecake – Taste Of Home
  
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake – Restless Chipotle
  
• Matcha Swirl Cheesecake – A Cozy Kitchen
  
• Rainbow Cheesecake _ A cheerful “pot of gold” dessert.  - Tablespoon

July 30th is the official date set aside for National Cheesecake Day.  But for me, it's an occasion to extend throughout the entire year. 

EES shares recipes, cooking tips and all things foodie!

Everyday Exotic Spices

Thinking of the winter holidays?
- Easy Eggnog Cheesecake Recipe

- White Christmas Cheesecake

glitter-graphics.com

10 Healthy Valentine's Day Desserts | KaleJunkie ❤️ (Reblog)

Sweet, Simple, and Better‑for‑You Valentine’s Day Treats ❤️

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean complicated baking or sugar-heavy indulgence. Sometimes the most heartfelt desserts are the ones that feel good to eat and easy to make — and this collection delivers just that.

ETERSION Heart Cookie Cutter 5 Pieces 5 Sizes

👩‍🍳 This roundup comes from Nicole Modic, the creator behind Kalejunkie, known for her wholesome, approachable recipes. Her post, “10 Healthy Valentine’s Day Desserts” (2022), highlights treats that are festive, flavorful, and aligned with a balanced lifestyle.

🍓 

What You’ll Find in Her Roundup

Modic’s list features ten thoughtfully curated recipes ranging from chocolatey classics to fruity, no‑bake favorites. Each dessert leans into whole ingredients, simple methods, and nutrient‑forward swaps — perfect for anyone who wants to celebrate love without feeling weighed down. The post is easy to browse and offers options for different tastes, dietary needs, and time constraints.

🍫 

DID YOU KNOW?

Valentine’s Day desserts have evolved over centuries. The tradition of gifting sweets gained momentum in the Victorian era, when ornate confections symbolized affection and luxury. Chocolate, in particular, became tied to romance thanks to innovations in cocoa processing that made it more accessible and more decadent.

Heart‑shaped treats also have deep cultural roots. In medieval Europe (around the 13th and 14th centuries), the heart symbol was associated with courtly love, and by the 17th century, it became a common motif in pastries and decorative foods. Today, heart‑shaped cookies, cakes, and chocolates remain some of the most iconic Valentine’s Day desserts.

Sources (MLA 9):

• Grivetti, Louis E., and Howard‑Yana Shapiro. Chocolate: History, Culture, and Heritage. Wiley, 2009.
• Mintz, Sidney W. Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History. Penguin Books, 1985.

🔗 Explore the Full Recipe Collection

Modic, Nicole. “10 Healthy Valentine’s Day Desserts.” Kalejunkie, 10 Feb. 2022.

Healthy Dessert Recipes for Valentine’s Day 💖 (Reblog)

Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats Worth Falling For ❤️ 

If you think Valentine’s Day automatically means sugar overload, think again. There’s a whole world of desserts that feel indulgent but still keep things light, fresh, and nourishing—and this roundup delivers exactly that. 

Gift Boutique Valentine Heart Shaped Gift Boxes 3 Pack 

This delicious collection comes from Rachel Conners of Bakerita, who specializes in gluten‑free, dairy‑free, and refined‑sugar‑free baking. 

• Her post, “50+ Healthy Valentine’s Day Desserts (Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free)” (2021), is a treasure trove for anyone who wants festive treats without compromising on dietary needs.

🍓 

What You’ll Find in Her Collection

Conners curates more than fifty+ recipes ranging from chocolate‑dipped delights to fruity bars, creamy tarts, and elegant cakes—all crafted with whole‑food ingredients. The post is organized so readers can quickly browse categories and pick desserts that match their mood, skill level, or dietary preferences. It’s a celebration of flavor-forward baking that doesn’t rely on traditional dairy, gluten, or refined sugar.

🍫 

Valentine’s Day desserts have a surprisingly rich history.

Chocolate became tied to romance in the 1800s, when Richard Cadbury began marketing heart‑shaped boxes filled with cocoa confections—a clever move that helped cement chocolate as the holiday’s signature gift.

And strawberries? Their association with love goes back even further. In medieval Europe, they symbolized purity and passion, and were often served at festivals celebrating love and fertility. Today, pairing strawberries with chocolate remains one of the most iconic Valentine’s Day treats.

Sources (MLA 9):

• Grivetti, Louis E., and Howard‑Yana Shapiro. Chocolate: History, Culture, and Heritage. Wiley, 2009.
• Wilson, Bee. “The Strange History of Valentine’s Day Treats.” The Guardian, 14 Feb. 2015.

🔗 Explore the Full Recipe Collection

Conners, Rachel. “50+ Healthy Valentine’s Day Desserts (Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free).” Bakerita, 2 Feb. 2021.

Old-Fashioned Fruitcake Recipes | Vintage Recipes and Cookery (Reblog)

I have a fond memory of fruitcake. It dates back over 40+ years, and it was the time when my husband-to-be took me to his childhood home in The Bahamas to meet his parents. It was the Christmas holiday season.  His mother offered me a piece of fruitcake. I did not want to offend her, but I really was not a fan of fruitcake. She served me a slice with a cup of coffee. I don't know where my mother-in-law got her fruitcake, but to my surprise ... it was delicious!! That is a sweet memory, and that's why I was happy to reblog this post. It evoked that memory and took me on a sentimental journey. 

Most commercially-made fruitcakes are alcohol-free, but traditionally, fruitcakes usually contained alcohol; both for the flavor and to preserve the cakes for months. In the 1800s, wood burning stoves didn’t have temperature gauges, and oven temperatures varied based on the type and size wood used. You were supposed to learn how to determine the heat through experience. Some recipes ignored the oven temperature and others used terms such as a slow, moderate, or quick oven. ...

Continue reading ...

Old-Fashioned Fruitcake Recipes 

| Vintage Recipes and Cookery from the 1800s

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Did you know that food historians say fruitcakes were common in ancient Rome "when pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and barley mash were mixed together to form a ring-shaped dessert"? (Source)

Interesting facts about the history of fruitcake 🍰:

1. It dates back to ancient Rome
   Early versions of fruitcake were made by Romans using barley mash, honey, wine, and dried fruits like pomegranate seeds and raisins. It was more like an energy bar than a dessert.  (Pomegranate???  I've never had a fruitcake with this fruit.)

2. Fruitcake was once a practical survival food
   Because dried fruit, nuts, and alcohol preserve well, fruitcake could last for months. This made it popular for soldiers, sailors, and travelers in the Middle Ages.

3. It was banned at one point
   In the 18th century, fruitcake was banned in some European countries.  It was considered “sinfully rich” because it used too much butter, sugar, and alcohol during times of scarcity.  (That sounds reasonable.)

4. Alcohol helped it age, not spoil
   Traditional fruitcakes are often soaked in rum, brandy, or whiskey. The alcohol acts as a preservative, allowing some fruitcakes to be aged for years, sometimes decades.

5. It became a Christmas tradition in Europe during the Victorian Era (19th Century)
   Fruitcake evolved into a holiday food in Britain and Germany, eventually spreading to other countries. Each region developed its own version, like German stollen or Italian panettone.

6. The U.S. has extremely old fruitcakes
   Some American fruitcakes, especially from famous bakeries, have been kept for over 100 years as curiosities. One well-known fruitcake from 1878 is preserved in Michigan: the Ford Family Fruitcake: A 141-year-old (as of 2019).  The actual oldest known type of fruitcake is a ~3,500-year-old funerary offering from ancient Egypt, made with dates, honey, and nuts, found in the Tomb of Hatnefer and Ramose. Thebes, Egypt, 1492–1473 BC. 

Fruitcake by Country?  Here’s how different countries make fruitcake differently 🌍🍰:

1. United Kingdom 
   British fruitcake is very dense and dark, packed with raisins, currants, and candied peel. It’s usually soaked in brandy or rum and often covered with marzipan and icing for weddings and Christmas.

2. Germany 
   Germany’s version is Stollen, a lighter yeast bread rather than a cake. It contains dried fruits, nuts, spices, and sometimes marzipan in the center, and is heavily dusted with powdered sugar.

3. Italy 
   Italians make Panettone, which is tall, fluffy, and airy. It’s more like a sweet bread with candied citrus and raisins, and much less dense than traditional fruitcake.

4. United States 
   American fruitcake is often very sweet and rich, loaded with candied fruits and nuts. It’s usually baked in loaf form and sometimes soaked in bourbon or rum, especially in the South.

5. Caribbean 🌴
   Caribbean fruitcake (also called black cake) uses fruits soaked for months in rum and wine. The cake is very dark, moist, and intensely flavored, and is popular at Christmas and weddings.

6. Japan 
   Japanese fruitcake is light and sponge-like, often layered with fresh fruit and whipped cream. It’s much less sweet and focuses on freshness rather than long-term preservation.

Collin Street Bakery Pineapple Pecan Cake (1 lb 14 oz) in Collectible Gift Tin - 115 Regular Size 7” Cake with Pecans, Pineapple, & Honey

Similar or Related Content:

**

Tasting History with Max Miller (@TastingHistory). “The History of Fruitcake.” YouTube, 19 Dec. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGXXhthp_8.

Recipe Sharing: White Christmas Cheesecake That's Perfect For Valentine's Day (Guest Post)

Ever met a cheesecake you didn't like?  I haven't. This is a White Christmas Cheesecake that is also perfect for Valentine's Day.  Here's the recipe. 

ENJOY!

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A few interesting and fun facts tied to the idea of a “White Christmas cheesecake”, even though it’s more of a theme-style recipe than a single official dish:

🎄 Why it’s called “White Christmas”

• The name usually refers to the all-white color palette, inspired by snow and the classic song “White Christmas.”

• White chocolate, cream cheese, vanilla, and coconut are the most common ingredients used to keep the cake pale and festive.

🍰 A modern holiday twist

• Unlike traditional Christmas puddings or fruitcakes, White Christmas cheesecake is a modern dessert, gaining popularity as no-bake cheesecakes became trendy in the late 20th century.

• It’s especially popular in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, where Christmas desserts are often lighter and cream-based.

🤍 White chocolate’s role

• White chocolate isn’t technically chocolate (it contains cocoa butter but no cocoa solids), which helps:

  • Keep the cheesecake’s color bright

  • Add sweetness without bitterness

• This makes it ideal for festive decorations like snowflakes, curls, or drizzle.

❄️ Common festive add-ins

Many versions include:

• Coconut → mimics snow texture

• Macadamia nuts or almonds → popular holiday flavors

• Cranberries or raspberries → added sparingly for contrast, like holly on snow

• Vanilla bean → enhances the “clean” winter flavor profile

🧊 Often served no-bake

• White Christmas cheesecakes are frequently no-bake, which:

  • Makes them perfect for busy holiday cooking

  • Helps them stay light and creamy instead of dense

🎁 Presentation matters

• They’re often decorated more elaborately than everyday cheesecakes:

  • White chocolate shards

  • Edible glitter or pearl sprinkles

  • Powdered sugar “snow”

• The visual effect is a big part of the appeal.

🎶 Cultural crossover

• The dessert’s name is directly inspired by pop culture rather than tradition, showing how music and holiday nostalgia influence modern recipes.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

taste.com.au. “How to Make a White Christmas Cheesecake.” YouTube, 26 Nov. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3I_y-Y_p84.

🎄🎄 Visit My Foodie Luv on Tumblr for more wonder-filled holiday recipes.

Christmas Traditions: Delightful Treats: The Evolution of the Plum Cake (Not Pudding)

Plum cake can mean a couple of different things depending on where you are in the world 🍰.

🌍 Two Main Interpretations

• British tradition: "Plum" historically referred to raisins or dried fruits, not actual plums. So a plum cake is essentially a rich fruitcake made with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, often served during Christmas.
• Indian tradition: In Kerala and other regions, "plum cake" is a spiced Christmas cake made with dried fruits soaked in rum or brandy, baked into a moist, dark cake. It’s a holiday staple.

NOTE: Modern versions: Some recipes do use fresh plums, creating a lighter cake with tart-sweet fruit baked into the batter.

✨ Common Features

• Dried fruits: Raisins, currants, dates, or candied peel.
• Warm spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom.
• Alcohol soak: Rum, brandy, or wine for depth of flavor.
• Festive association: Often linked to Christmas or weddings.

I'm familiar with plum dessert being linked to the British.  But I found a delightful article published by an Indian writer.

Tales of a Christmas cake | The Hindu

The evolution of the plum cake from porridge and pudding to what it is now.

Origin as a porridge for Christmas Eve fasting

• The plum cake traces its roots back to a medieval English custom: on Christmas Eve, after a period of abstinence, people ate a porridge made from oats, dried fruits, honey (and sometimes even meat) to “line the stomach”. This porridge is considered the earliest ancestor of today’s plum cake. (The Indian Express)
• Over time, that porridge became richer and more complex — evolving into a boiled pudding (or “plum pudding”) and, eventually, to the baked version we now know. (Medium)

Transition in ingredients and cooking method around the 16th century

• In the 1500s, the original meal-like porridge began to be modified: oats and the possible meat were replaced by flour, eggs, butter (or suet), and sugar. This change turned the dish from a simple porridge into a dense, fruit-laden pudding or cake batter. (The Indian Express)
• The cooking method also changed: many people boiled the batter (wrapped in cloth), but wealthier households, who had ovens, started baking the mixture — moving it closer to the modern plum/fruit cake. (Medium)

Why “plum cake” doesn’t usually contain real plums

• Despite the name “plum cake” (or “plum pudding”), these cakes traditionally don’t contain fresh plums. Rather, the word “plum” in medieval English referred broadly to dried fruits — raisins, currants, prunes, etc. So the “plums” in “plum cake” likely meant dried fruit, not the modern understanding of plums. (Wikipedia)
• As a result, many classic plum cakes are more akin to what people now call “fruit cake”: rich, dense, with dried fruits and spices, and sometimes soaked in alcohol — a far cry from a simple plum-based dessert. (India Today)

(Primary Source: Krishna, Anubhuti. “Tales of a Christmas Cake.” The Hindu, 25 Dec. 2014, https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/evolution-of-the-plum-cake-from-porridge-and-pudding/article6725141.ece.)

Pandhal Cake Shop’s Mattanchere Spice #Eggless Matured #PlumCake!
🎄 https://t.co/gkDQmf2z2O
🍰 Richly spiced, perfectly matured, completely eggless — this 850g delight - tradition with a twist.
🌿 Authentic Mattanchere spices.#holiday #gifts #foodgifts #Festive #dessert pic.twitter.com/xGDbLooW25

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 9, 2025

Can You Name 5 British Desserts? (NO Googling!)

My youngest child is practicing (and hopefully improving) her writing skills. She picked a random topic and did some research.  The topic was British desserts, a subject matter which she definitely had to find out about on her own because: 

(A) Her American mother was clueless.
(B) Even though her late father was from The Bahamas, which at one time was beholden to the Queen of England, Bahamian food is in no way a reflection of British cuisine.  In other words, he was also clueless.

(Arctic Roll)

I was pleasantly surprised with the results of her search.
Has anybody ever tried any of these treats?
Can you name 5 more British desserts? ☺
(Supplied a link below if you can't think of any.)

1. Arctic Roll
2. Bakewell Tart
3. Eton Mess
4. Flies Graveyard
5. Rock Cake

Flies Graveyard?? Sounds perfect for celebrating Halloween.

1) Classic Arctic Roll

My mother;s favorite sweet treat was a jelly roll. It looks like the British Artic Roll. But the two recipes are completely different. I prefer the British recipe because it's made with ice cream. YUM!

2) Traditional Bakewell Tart

“... a traditional English baked dessert tart. It consists of a shortcrust pastry shell, spread with jam under a layer of frangipane, which is a sponge cake-like filling enriched with ground almonds.”

3) Eton Mess

From my favorite TV chef, Nigella Lawson. Made with strawberries and pomegranate juice. Don't know why anybody would you call it as mess.

4) Flies Graveyard

Also called “Fly Cemetery”. Flies Graveyard?? Sounds perfect for celebrating Halloween. But looks nothing like a Halloween treat. More like a breakfast treat.

5) Rock Cake

“... curious hybrid of a scone and a butter cake ...”

6) Spotted Dick (English Steamed Pudding)

We get that the “spots” refer to the dried currants used in this recipe. But nobody seems to know why it's called “dick”. “The first known recorded recipe of Spotted Dick is found in the mid-19th century cookbook, The Modern Housewife or Ménagère, by Alexis Soyer, one of Britain’s first celebrity chefs who seems to imply that the pudding had already been around for some time.”

♥️ I must say that my daughter surely picked a fun topic. 😋 😊

Also published here: Read.Cash

Box Cake Mix or Cake From Scratch - Throw Down!

American TV personality Martha Stewart is the richest and most famous housekeeper/homemaker diva in the world.  Various reports put Ms. Stewart's occupation as “Businesswoman”.  It should say “Phenomenal Businesswoman par Excellence”.  In 2011, Forbes.com reported her net worth at $638 million; and in 2017, it was $970 million. 

Image found on Pixabay.

On her Martha Bakes TV series, Ms. Stewart teaches you how to make all sorts of wonderful culinary delights, especially cakes, from scratch.

Jill Nystul, not as well-known as Ms. Stewart, but a diva in her own right, shares her tips on how to enhance a basic cake mix and turn your efforts into Crave-Worthy Cakes.

Stewart versus Nystul?
I'm in Nystul's corner.  ♥

Others Who Agree With Nystul: Related Articles:

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Foodie Nuggets: Strawberry Chocolate Cake

I watched this time travel Korean drama where an acupuncturist from the past (Joseon, 400 years ago) traveled to the future and met a lady doctor, a heart specialist. They fell in love and in one of the scenes, they were at a restaurant in Seoul. She told him to try the strawberry chocolate cake. She said it was one of the most popular desserts.  I have never had a strawberry chocolate cake, so that comment sent me searching for a recipe. Found one very easily published at one of my favorite food blogs. This looks like a dessert that should be made for a holiday or a special occasion.

Strawberry Chocolate Cake Recipe | two peas and their pod

Have you ever had strawberry chocolate cake?

Was it a holiday or special occasion? 

Were you dining out or dining in?

RELATED POST: Korean Drama TV Series: Live Up toYour Name (2017)

While you're here, check out some of my other food blurbs:

Japanese Fun Food

Zucchini Flowers

Who Invented Chicken Nuggets?

What Should Kids Drink?

WARNING: Delicacies Can Be Dangerous!

Five (5) healthy and holistic ways to get more energy

Let "em Eat Cake! Cake Loving Finds on My Instagram (and elsewhere on the web)

One good thing leads to another. Started my day scrolling through posts by Tumblr bloggers that I follow. One blogger who loves French inspiration and French-inspired things led me to a vintage picture of Petit Fours. From there the web opened its doors and I found these gorgeous cakes.  But since some of my Food Ways subscribers don't follow me via social media, I'm resharing the content here. Please enjoy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Oho Cake (@oho.cake)

https://pretty-sweet-vintage.tumblr.com/post/172834963196/petit-fours

Chocolate Daffodils | The Cake Blog https://t.co/8bKLJoGb3Z pic.twitter.com/D3w6gLw3mT

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) January 23, 2025

Cupcake Cafe is a classic cake experience, the go-to for gorgeous buttercream flower-embellished cakes. I love the cluster of blooms against the solid color of the cake. They are delicious and breathtaking.https://t.co/t8gFSN5G2C pic.twitter.com/uG05ySL929

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) January 23, 2025

Foodie Friday : Apples and Pumpkins

Autumn is the season for apples and pumpkins.  My favorite recipes are apple cobbler and pumpkin pie, which (in my humble opinion) are true American holiday cuisine.  I enjoy these desserts for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

FUN FACTS:

Cobblers originated in the British American colonies.  "The earliest recipe dates from 1824. Apple Cobbler – Cobblers (stewed fruit topped with batter, biscuit, or dumplings) originated in the British American colonies with the term “cobbler” recorded in 1859. Cobblers can be made with any type of fruit or berry and are also known as slumps, grunts, and pandowdy." (SOURCE: M. E. Bond)

A cobbler is not the same as Crisp, Crumble, Betty, Or Buckle?  What's the difference?  "Cobblers are a fruit dessert baked with biscuit-style topping. It's called a cobbler because its top crust is not smooth like a pie crust but rather “cobbled” and coarse. It's usually dropped or spooned over the fruit, then baked. Individual fruit cobblers." (SOURCE: Farmers' Almanac)

"Northeastern Native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins. The Native Americans brought pumpkins as gifts to the first settlers, and taught them the many uses for pumpkin. This led to serving pumpkin pie at the first Thanksgiving in America about 50 years later." (SOURCE: The History Behind Pumpkin Pie)

• Easy Apple Cobbler Recipe (Perfect Fall Dessert) - A Cozy Kitchen 

• Easiest-Ever Pumpkin Pie Recipe – Pillsbury.com 

Do you have a favorite recipe using these ingredients?

BONUS QUESTION:  Which do you prefer to top your apple cobbler or your pumpkin pie?

• Scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Huge squirt of whipped cream
• Other topping

History of Baked Fruit Desserts Like Buckle, Pandowdy, and Cobbler

Pumpkin Pie! A History!

Previous 5 Foodie Friday Posts;

YACR (Yet Another Chili Recipe)

Figs ~ Enjoy a Coconut Fig Slice

Childhood Memories:  COTTON CANDY

Upside-Down Cakes

Dinner Idea: Chicken with Blackberry Salsa

World Cuisine: Easy Dessert Recipe: Malpua

Do you love experimenting and tasting the food of other countries? Especially the desserts. Yum!

I'm sure I'm not the only foodie out there who loves global flavors. So I'll share this delightful recipe. It's a sweet treat popular in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Malpua is often served at holidays or festivals like Holi and Diwali.

You can find lots of variations of this recipe online. There is malpua served with rose and saffron syrup. There’s Bengali style. There’s banana malpua. There’s Mawa Malpua. (Image below.)

Cooking video: How To Make Malpua - Dessert Recipes



Related Link: How to make mawa - 5 ways of making mawa.

♦
If You Like This You Might Also Like:

• Sampling Fast Food World Cuisine is a Fun Do!
• Can You Name 5 British Desserts? (NO Googling!)
• Recipe for a Refreshing Summer Drink Made With Mango and Chia Seeds