Cupcakes or Out of the East

Cupcakes

Author: Susannah Blak

There's something irresistible about cupcakes, whether it's the pretty frosting or the childhood memories they evoke. Here, Susannah Blake offers a delightful collection of delicious little cakes. Begin with easy-to-make Simple Cupcakes. From classic Maple and Pecan Cupcakes to melt-in-the-mouth Orange and Almond Cupcakes, you won't be able to resist whipping up a batch. Celebration Cupcakes offer a new take on tradition. How about a tower of snowy-white Wedding Cupcakes, a plate of Christmas Cupcakes, or even adding some sparkle to your 4th July party with a plateful of Firework Cupcakes? When you need a little comfort, turn to Indulgent Cupcakes. Gooey Chocolate and Hazelnut Cupcakes offer a taste of heaven, while Coffee and Praline Cupcakes make an elegant treat. For a simple dessert, whip up a batch of Fresh Fruit Cupcakes.

Interesting textbook: Simplifying Sugar Flowers or Early American Herb Recipes

Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination

Author: Paul Freedman

The demand for spices in medieval Europe was extravagant and was reflected in the pursuit of fashion, the formation of taste, and the growth of luxury trade. It inspired geographical and commercial exploration ,as traders pursued such common spices as pepper and cinnamon and rarer aromatic products, including ambergris and musk. Ultimately, the spice quest led to imperial missions that were to change world history.

 

This engaging book explores the demand for spices: why were they so popular, and why so expensive?  Paul Freedman surveys the history, geography, economics, and culinary tastes of the Middle Ages to uncover the surprisingly varied ways that spices were put to use—in elaborate medieval cuisine, in the treatment of disease, for the promotion of well-being, and to perfume important ceremonies of the Church. Spices became symbols of beauty, affluence, taste, and grace, Freedman shows, and their expense and fragrance drove the engines of commerce and conquest at the dawn of the modern era.

 

Table of Contents:

Preface     ix
Introduction: Spices: A Global Commodity     1
Spices and Medieval Cuisine     19
Medicine: Spices as Drugs     50
The Odors of Paradise     76
Trade and Prices     104
Scarcity, Abundance, and Profit     130
"That Damned Pepper": Spices and Moral Danger     146
Searching for the Realms of Spices     164
Finding the Realms of Spices: Portugal and Spain     193
Conclusion: The Rise and Fall of Spices     215
Notes     227
Bibliography     245
Index     259