Sugar. Oh, Honey, Honey…

July 5, 2024.

by Bridget O’Donnell

Routine bloodwork brought our attention to a few numbers that have slowly encroached on borderline to moderately elevated, with cholesterol and glucose in the forefront. Despite a lifestyle of predominately clean eating and regular exercise, I’ve tentatively watched my numbers continue to rise a nominal amount for the last two years. Now that we both needed to make a more concerted effort, I felt the time spent reading about how we might begin to do this was overdue.

Charts provided by: healthline.com

Current government websites generated from a google search seem to gloss over how someone might begin to reverse the anomaly and improve their numbers. By suggesting a handful of foods to eat or avoid, and encouraging daily but light exercise, resources like the American Heart Association and Dietary Guidelines (.gov) can speak to a wider audience. Unfortunately, (or to be honest, fortunately), people have different bodies, heredities, lifestyles and goals. We all have limitations, but try to be thankful for the abilities and good health you do have.

Authoritative print resources pertaining to cholesterol appear to be more heavily published between the late 1990s to about 2017. As is often the case, research shifts over time. Subsequent publications that contain the word cholesterol also seem to address the phenomenon of comorbidity, suggesting that high cholesterol has a close relationship with other health issues. The antiquated argument that people developed this condition solely by eating foods containing cholesterol and saturated fats has been replaced with cholesterol's relation to other conditions and chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and inflammation. Thankfully, diet and lifestyle changes made to counter the aforementioned also aid in lowering cholesterol.

Stress, aging and a few other factors could also be considered, but I recently read that children can have high cholesterol too(!!!). To help avoid medications, I came across suggestions for intermittent fasting and following the DASH, South Beach, Mediterranean, and Keto diets. [The Keto diet would never be one that I would rely on personally.] Additional recommendations include avoiding an overconsumption of starches, carbohydrates and ultimately, sugar, while adding more fiber and foods with a low glycemic index/load to your diet. With more books checked out than I can feasibly read from cover to cover before leaving to attend a conference, I’ve only scratched the surface. To be continued...

**Talk to your doctor about how your diet might affect personal health issues and/or ask for a referral to discuss them with a specialist like a dietician**

So now what? Sugar seems to be the culprit of many aliments, so that’s where we’re starting. Because our numbers are borderline and we're more or less asymptomatic, I feel there's a little less urgency to reinvent the wheel. We’re not going to throw away everything we already have containing starch, carbohydrates or sugar. but we will be more conscious about how often (and how much) we consume them. We will also try to be more aware of what we buy in the future. Working in our favor, we’ve already cut out most foods with processed sugar. Our meals are balanced and plant forward--especially during the CSA vegetable season which, for us, covers most of the year. (During this period I don't get many colds; Popeye may have been on to something.) Moving forward, we can look for more foods that have a lower glycemic index, like strawberries, but to be fair we will still occasionally have gelato or full fat ice cream. Hopefully our efforts are enough to curb pre-diabetes and collectively lower our cholesterol without medication.

Tangentially, while writing this blog entry I came across an email from the Walkway over the Hudson that referred to June's full moon as the "strawberry moon." According to Nasa, this name refers to the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in the north-eastern United States. Serendipitously, for the 2024 season I had the foresight to purchase a berry share from a local farm working cooperatively with my CSA. The first few weeks they’ve had strawberries. Strawberry Shortcake any everyone? The second and third week I had to freeze a large portion of the 'berries to arrest ripening. Those will be perfect for smoothies. Their short harvesting season does make me wonder where the groceries stores are sourcing the 'berries they sell all year long.

Using 1 cup of fresh strawberries I revisited the strawberry-rhubarb pairing (suggested in PPLD's What’s Cooking Blog for “All-Season Mocktails, Spritzers, Syrups and Shrubs”) and made a "Naturally Sweet Strawberry and Rhubarb Compote.” -- Add less honey for a lower sugar version, which I did, or substitute agave for a vegetarian/vegan version. Canning & Preserving has another recipe on page 57 that you might also want to try.  ....Serve over angel food cake with whipped cream (as shown in the photo at the top of this post), over pancakes or waffles, ice cream or gelato, on toast with or without your choice of nut butter, in parfait or yogurt with or without granola... You get the idea. Whatever you decide to put it on, Enjoy!!

If you can tolerate a little more sugar you might consider giving the following recipe a try. One of our Librarians, Kayleigh H. found a recipe for this street food on TikTok then created a batch in our staff kitchen for a Teen program. It may not be low-sugar per se but it is made with fruit, strawberries work well. Tanghulu is probably a little healthier than some of the snacks sold at the convenience store, too.

Title of cookbook/website: Aubrey's Kitchen

Author of Recipe:  Aubrey ...

What prompted you to check out this recipe?

Checked out the recipe because of videos on TikTok.

What did you like about this recipe?

This recipe was really easy to make! All you need is sugar and water in a 2:1 ratio and fruit.

History: Tanghulu is a popular northern Chinese street food traditionally made with hawthorn fruit, but you can use strawberries, grapes, blueberries, clementines- whatever fruit you desire, but fruit with an enclosed skin works best.

What didn’t you like about this recipe?

[Nothing]

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the cookbook/website):

Tanghulu!

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

Nope!

Would you recommend this cookbook?

Yes.

References:

Books - 

American Heart Association Healthy Fats, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook: Delicious Recipes to Help Reduce Bad Fats and Lower Your Cholesterol.

Canning & Preserving: 80+ Simple, Small-Batch Recipes / Good Housekeeping.

Cholesterol: the Essential Guide / Sara Kirkham.

The Dash Diet Action Plan: Proven to Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol without Medication / Marla Heller.

Diabetes & Heart Healthy Cookbook: More than 160 Delicious Recipes for Everything from Snacks to Desserts / American Heart Association.

Eating For Lower Cholesterol: A Balanced Approach to Heart Health with Recipes Everyone Will Love / Catherine Jones with Elaine Trujillo.

The Fiber Fueled Cookbook: Inspiring Plant-Based Recipes to Turbocharge Your Health / Will Bulsiewicz, recipes by Alexandra Caspero.

The Glycemic Load Diet Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Help You Lose Weight and Reverse Insulin Resistance  / Rob Thompson & Dana Carpender.

The Great Cholesterol Myth. Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease--and the Statin-Free Plan That Will / Johnny Bowden.

Perfect Cholesterol In Just Three Weeks (Without Drugs!): The Answer to High Cholesterol / Dr. David M. Vitko.

Websites -

“The Archies - Sugar Sugar.” YouTube, 14 Feb. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcLObPhKdDk.

Aubry. “Tanghulu.” Aubrey’s Kitchen, 10 Sept. 2020, aubreyskitchen.com/tanghulu/.

“Cholesterol - Search Results.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, search.nih.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=nhlbi_nhlbi_prod&query=cholesterol&commit=Search. Accessed 5 July 2024.

“Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).” Poughkeepsie Farm Project, www.farmproject.org/csa. Accessed 5 July 2024.

Goldman, Rena, et al. “The Recommended Cholesterol Levels By Age.” Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/levels-by-age#adults. Accessed 5 July 2024.

Hartnett, Kayleigh. “Tanghulu.” Canva, https://www.canva.com/design/DAGHfDtWWNM/N9WC_HcJ8_BQuMKenjDVSA/edit. Accessed 5 July 2024. - Link to sheets w/recipe and instructions

Hoskins, Mike, and Stacy Sampson. “Blood Sugar Level Chart Based on Age.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 24 Mar. 2023, www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/blood-sugar-levels-chart-by-age#glucose-by-age.

Johnston, Gordon. “The Next Full Moon Is the Strawberry Moon - NASA Science.” NASA, 13 June 2024, science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/the-next-full-moon-is-the-strawberry-moon-2/.

Mansour, Donna. “Naturally Sweetened Strawberry Rhubarb Compote.” Whole Food Bellies, 4 June 2019, www.wholefoodbellies.com/strawberry-rhubarb-compote/.

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog:

Canning and preserving

Cholesterol

Natural Sugar* - (Results narrowed by Format: Book; Literary Form: Non-fiction; Concepts: Nutrition, Cooking (Natural foods), Sugar-free diet, Desserts, Baking, Reducing diets, Detoxification (Health))

Sugar-Free Diet

Pastel de Tres Leches y...

May 10, 2024.

by Bridget O’Donnell

Last May PPLD's What’s Cooking Blog offered belated holiday blessings with Mexican-Inspired Fish Tacos, Two-ways. As suggested in that post, there’s no need to limit the celebration to a single recipe. In addition to fish tacos made any number of ways, there’s enough traditional fare to observe Cinco de Mayo until the next holiday. Enjoy tamales, chalupas, enchiladas, taquitos, guacamole, salsa [verde], carnitas, empanadas, street corn, fajitas and burritos, to list a few(!).

Burritos used to be a regular part of my diet and, as I continued working on this blog entry the more I tried to remember the last time I had one, the bigger my craving got. Boil, mash and season your own refried beans to regulate the amount of salt (and cumin). Or, for a quick plant-forward lunch packed with fiber, protein, essential vitamins and minerals, opt for a can of organic low-sodium refried beans. …Reheat the beans then add a few small scoops to a street sized taco wrap with a shredded cheese blend and un poquito de salsa. Estimated assembly time: minutes and, dos burritos were filling enough to get me through the day without feeling like I had to take a siesta.

Helping to maintain balance between savory and sweet, this month una usuaria de la biblioteca suggested a recipe for “Pastel de Tres Leches con Chocolate” or "Three Milks Cake with Chocolate." This popular Mexican dessert is a light sponge cake that's been soaked in a mixture of three milks - sweetened condensed milk, whole milk or heavy cream and evaporated milk. It also happens to be another dish traditionally served during holidays like Christmas, birthday parties and... Cinco de Mayo(!).

Title of cookbook: Los Mejores Postres Paso A Paso

Author of Recipe: Kiwilimón

What prompted you to check out this recipe?

A library patron submitted this dulce recipe suggestion and photograph to my coworker after being introduced to the What’s Cooking Blog.

What did you like about this recipe?

The cookbook is still checked out so I haven’t actually seen this recipe but, it must have been mucho bien. Gracias, I love seeing other perspectives from la cocina!

What didn’t you like about this recipe?

Based on a few recipes that I found online, Pastel de Tres Leches may have more sugar than I can tolerate without feeling like I have to jog a 5K or half marathon. Maybe I can repurpose some of my leftover refried beans into a "Korean Chapssaltteok" or "Chinese Sticky Rice Cake." Food fusion?

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the cookbook/website):

Pastel de Tres Leches con Chocolate.

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

You could say I altered the recipe, that I turned it into a simple bean burrito (hahah…) but, I’d definitely try a small bite of el pastel.

Would you recommend this cookbook?

Based on the excerpts shown in Amazon's listing, this cookbook looks muy tasteful. The photos are hermosas and the text gives me practice translating Spanish because an English edition doesn’t seem to be available.

Guess which one is for dessert? 

References:

Books - 

Los Mejores Postres Paso A Paso / Kiwilimón.

Websites -

Clark, Julie. “Chocolate Tres Leches Cake.” The Best Cake Recipes, 4 June 2023, https://thebestcakerecipes.com/chocolate-tres-leches-cake/.

Esposito, Shaylyn. “What to Really Eat on Cinco de Mayo: Put Down the Margaritas and Tacos, and Pick Up a Chalupa.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 3 May 2013, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/what-to-really-eat-on-cinco-de-mayo-50767054/.

Linares, Krista. “Are Refried Beans Healthy? Latina Dietitian Explains the Benefits.” Nutritionconsabor.com, 23 April 2024, https://nutritionconsabor.com/refried-beans-healthy/#:~:text=Refried%20beans%20are%20a%20nutrient%20rich%20food!,healthy%20diet%20with%20minimal%20problem..

Lowder, Camille. “51 Mexican-Inspired Party Ideas Perfect For Cinco de Mayo: Let’s Party (Respectfully! No Sombreros Allowed).” Delish.Com, 4 April 2024, https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/cinco-de-mayo/g652/mexican-party-menu-recipes/.

Orozco-Moore, Isabel. “Chocolate Tres Leches Cake.” Isabel Eats, 18 April 2024, https://www.isabeleats.com/chocolate-tres-leches-cake/.

Orozco-Moore, Isabel. “42 Cinco de Mayo Recipes.” Isabel Eats, 22 April 2024, https://www.isabeleats.com/cinco-de-mayo-recipes/.

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog:

Cook* - (Results narrowed down by Literary Form: Non-fiction; Language: Spanish)

American Icons, Indexed

April 24, 2024.

by Bridget O’Donnell

Maybe you remember this writing prompt from grade school:

Describe how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Be mindful when listing the instructions and don't assume that any step is too menial to mention. Once you're satisfied that everything is organized and in working order, follow your instructions.

1. Collect your ingredients and arrange the sliced bread, peanut butter, and jelly within arms reach.
2. Open the package of bread. Remove two slices and place them next to each other on a plate or clean surface.
3. Open the container of peanut butter and put the lid down near you.
4. Hold the container with your non-dominant hand then pick up a butter knife with your other hand and use it to remove some of the peanut butter.
5. 'You can't tell me what to do!' hopefully isn't what you were starting to think, hahah.

For the sake of brevity, I came up with about fourteen steps. Try it on your own and feel free to complicate things. Substitute sliced bread for a bagel, roll or wrap. Use your favorite nut butter. Try honey instead of jelly. Crack open that jar of jam you canned last season or, slice some fresh fruit. Add more texture to each bite by including a layer of your favorite chips. There's no wrong answer; anything goes. The possibilities are only limited to the ingredients you have on hand. Peanut butter and jelly hasn’t been a regular part of my diet since college so we rarely have all of the ingredients on hand. In lieu, for this month's What's Cooking Blog, I substituted one iconic sandwich for another that's also equally as economical.

Title of cookbook/database: The New York Times Database - (Path: poklib.org / hold your mouse over the Learn tab / select Online Resources and Databases / select N or, scroll down to Newspapers, Magazines, & Journals.)

Author of Recipe: Julia Moskin

What prompted you to check out this recipe?

A coworker suggested that I look through the recipes in The New York Times for dinner ideas. While browsing the Cooking section in an online subscription, I came across a recipe that reminded me of a short conversation I had earlier that day. The local business owner I spoke with was 'looking forward to dinner because she didn't have to cook; her husband would have grilled cheese ready when she got home from work.' Interesting aside, some form of grilled cheese has been around since the early 1900s and, throughout history this affordable meal has also been referred to as a "cheese box," "toasted cheese," and during the Great Depression the “cheese dream.” (Wilcox 21) Serendipitously, the first recipe that I saw for grilled cheese linked to a handful of variations. Let’s just say, the sky’s the limit! Like PB&J, a grilled cheese sandwich not only has the capability to bring back memories, but can be versatile as well. It took some time to narrow my choices down to three simple recipes by Julia Moskin, Eric Kim, and Ali Slagle. Unfortunately, you'll need a personal subscription to access these recipes from The New York Times Cooking, but there are other recipes available through the library’s subscription of The New York Times database*.

After skimming some of those, I had to see for myself why almost every grilled cheese recipe made available by the New York Times suggested using mayonnaise.

*Access databases at any of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District locations. [Note: remote access to some databases may be limited while others are available throughout the Mid-Hudson Library System.]

What is a Database?

• A Database is an index accessible through the internet; they aren’t webpages.
• They can include published journals, magazines, newspapers, image collections, newsletters, yearbooks, comic books, etc.
• The contents must meet specific collection criteria. For example, articles are edited and/or peer-reviewed.
• Databases provide publication dates, bibliographic citations and some may provide links to full text.
• They are not free; the library pays for a subscription.
• Unlike a personal online subscription (to something like the New York Times, for example), database subscriptions do not include advertisements or, in some cases, the photographs/diagrams displayed in the original article.
• There are different types of databases. They can be specialized with content about specific subjects or, general. There can be subtle nuances to searching databases as well as to how the information retrieved is formatted.

If you’re interested in learning how to use any of the databases PPLD subscribes to, contact us at the Adriance Memorial Library Reference Desk - 1-845-485-3445, x3702.

What did you like about this recipe?

Moskin provides a very general list of ingredients, four, to be exact: bread, butter, mayonnaise, grated cheddar or other cheese.

What didn’t you like about this recipe?

Does this American icon really need Mayonnaise and butter? I could probably even use a butter substitute if I turned down the heat and monitored the cook time. Honestly though, we don't eat grilled cheese often enough to experiment with every possible ingredient or method of cooking. Not only are there over 2,000 types of cheese in the world but, who knew you could broil grilled cheese in the oven? (Wilcox 176)

Also note, if you tend to choose what to eat by the photographs, you may be disappointed when you see how the database formats a recipe.

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the cookbook/website):

Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

Our grilled cheese was constructed on Sour dough. As suggested in a number of recipes, I arbitrarily mixed cheeses, melding shredded parmesan (a gift from our neighbor’s trip to Italy. Thank you, again!), gouda, and gruyere with a slice of cheddar but I could easily have included a stronger cheese and, maybe a slice of tomato. I also missed the step to melt cheese on both sides of the bread before sandwiching them in the pan. The fact that it didn't have a deleterious impact should be encouragement for any novice.👍🏻

Would you recommend this cookbook/database?

If you’re not pressed for time or looking for a specific recipe, try searching the database. Learning something new keeps your brain healthy and you never know when you may come across a[nother] classic.

References:

Books - 

The Great Grilled Cheese Book: Grown-Up Recipes for a Childhood Classic / Eric Greenspan.

Great Book of Grilled Cheese: 100+ Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food, Soups, Salads, and Sides / Kim Wilcox. - (In addition to sides, desserts and condiments are included so readers can complete a grilled cheese meal. Read about “The Brief but Important History” of the iconic sandwich in Chapter 1 - Grilled Cheese Essentials, page 21.)

Databases -

Clark, Melissa. "Taking Back a Childhood Favorite." New York Times, 11 April 2007, p. F3(L). The New York Times,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A161825361/SPN.SP01?u=nysl_se_pghkl&sid=bookmark-SPN.SP01&xid=32219480. Accessed 5 April 2024. - (Try to find another article by searching the following keywords: “grilled cheese.")

Websites -

“Cognitive Health and Older Adults | National Institute on Aging.” National Institute on Aging, www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults. Accessed 21 April 2024.

Kim, Eric. “Quick Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese.” The New York Times, 29 January 2023, https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022653-quick-tomato-soup-with-grilled-cheese?smid=url-share.

Member Libraries. Mid-Hudson Library System, https://midhudson.org/libraries/. Accessed 21 April 2024.

Moskin, Julia. “Grilled Cheese Sandwich.” The New York Times, 30 March 2015, https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017326-grilled-cheese-sandwich?smid=url-share.

"Online Resources and Databases." Poughkeepsie Public Library District, https://poklib.org/learn/online-resources-databases/. Accessed 21 April 2024.

“Recipes and Cooking Guides from the New York Times.” The New York Times, https://cooking.nytimes.com/. Accessed 19 April 2024.

Sifton, Sam. “A Field Guide to the American Sandwich.” The New York Times, 14 April 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/14/dining/field-guide-to-the-sandwich.html.

Slagle, Ali. “Grilled Cheese Sandwich on the Grill.” The New York Times, 30 August 2021,

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022513-grilled-cheese-sandwich-on-the-grill?smid=url-share.

Vogel, Janelle. “Instructional Writing; How To Make A PB&J.” That After School Life, https://thatafterschoollife.com/pbj.html. Accessed 18 April 2024.

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog:

Brian health - (Results narrowed down by Age group: Adult; Literary Form: Non-fiction; Concepts/subjects/Themes: Mental health, Mind and body, Longevity, Self-care, Health)

Keyword search for: Grilled cheese - (Results narrowed down by Literary Form: Non-fiction; Concepts/subjects/Themes: Cooking (Cheese))

Mindful* - (Results narrowed down by Concepts/subjects/Themes: Mindfulness & Meditation, Inspiration & Personal Growth, Health & Fitness, Self-actualization (Psychology), Body, Mind & Spirit)

Season[ing]s Greetings - Cooking, Indic…

March 26, 2024.

by Bridget O’Donnell

One sunny Saturday in February, I drove upstate to deliver my nephew’s belated Christmas presents. Although planned, the visit was more spontaneous than I imagined. Coordinating dynamic schedules can require flexibility and patience. 

The abridged version of the day: after coffee and tea we gently encouraged my 7 year old nephew to open his presents. Until this point, he’d been waiting patiently, maintaining our casual conversation and virtually ignoring the pile of gifts donned in holiday paper on the table. My mother used to say I had ‘selective hearing,’ that I was always the first one in the kitchen when a sweet treat was offered, even if whispered. Similarly, I’m going to say my nephew’s behavior that morning was an impressive example of his ‘selective will power.’ Thankfully he genuinely appreciated each gift. Shortly thereafter, we attended a school musical featuring some of my sister’s students. (Surprised? Me too.) Then, we collected her husband and went to get something to eat. As we waited for our order, half of our party played card and board games while my sister and I exchanged a few dinner ideas for busy weeknights. She suggested one recipe with the disclaimer that 'it calls for butter’ but what stuck with me was that everyone in her household liked it, even the picky eaters. Fast forward to a few texts after letting everyone know I made it home safely.

Unfortunately, I can’t share the recipe that had been torn out of “a healthy eating magazine years ago” because there wasn't enough information in the photograph to find it. After talking to one of my colleagues, we posit that maybe everything isn’t really available online. Even if I knew which magazine the recipe was from, that site’s search engine may not work with or like Google. Or, maybe like JSTOR, there’s a moving wall embargo. I can’t be sure. However, while I was looking for said recipe or something comparable to cite I learned that Butter Chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, is a “mild Indian dish and a great introduction for those who might be apprehensive of strong spices or curry-heavy dishes.” (Julson) And maybe for that reason it's considered one of the most popular curries in the world. Tangentially, there’s also a lawsuit for the origins of its name.

Title of Website: RecipeTin Eats - (This is the supplemental recipe that, in my opinion, has the most similar ingredients and instructions to the recipe my sister suggested.)

Author of Recipe: Erica Clark was the author of the original recipe. Nagi Maehashi is the author of the recipe I’m referencing for this month’s What's Cooking Blog.

What prompted you to check out this recipe? 

It wasn’t until I thought I was ready to prepare the recipe that I realized we didn’t have a can of evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is made by slowly heating milk to remove about half of its water content which creates a thicker texture. We had whole milk in the refrigerator but reducing it would have doubled the recipe's prep time. (Read about the difference between evaporated and condensed milk then refer to The Icing On The Cake for one possible application of the latter.) 

After Googling alternatives for evaporated milk, I hesitantly weighed whether to make the recipe at all, wait until my next trip the store or, take my chances and substitute less than half a can of (full fat) coconut milk. I decided to wait. *Note to self, remember to read the entire recipe before going to the grocery store.

While inconvenient, my oversight wasn’t a complete loss. It indirectly gave me enough time to look for other recipes to compare as well as taste a more authentic version of the same dish from Dhaniya Mirch, the Indian grocery store across the street from the Adriance Memorial Library. Two packages of boneless chicken breasts, and one repurposed dinner later I also learned this popular curry dish doesn’t call for curry powder but relies on Garam Masala. ‘Garam Masala is a spice blend made from peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cumin, and coriander. It gives butter chicken a deep, sweet and savory flavor.’ (Julson)

What did you like about this recipe?

• The recipe took 30 minutes.

• The spices are colorful (salt, black pepper, Garam Masala, turmeric, paprika, garlic [cloves], and [grated] ginger). Although more seasoning than I normally use for a single dish, the recipe from my sister called for less spices than any other recipe I found. For us, this translates to having more ingredients already in the cabinet.

• Aside from [boneless chicken breasts and] condensed milk, the recipe didn’t require an excessive trip to the grocery store.

• It was mildly spicy but I could increase the heat in individual servings with the addition of cayenne and black pepper.

What didn’t you like about this recipe?

• There was a lot of sauce. Initially I wasn’t sure if I should have added more meat and vegetables or less condensed milk. After comparing recipes I think this may be characteristic of the dish.

• Condensed milk has to be shaken well. Those instructions are clearly marked on the can in fine print. If you think the curry doesn’t look creamy enough before serving, separate the solid ingredients and blend the reserved sauce.

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the website):

Butter Chicken.

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

• In addition to a jar of diced Roma/plum tomatoes, I added the last vine ripe tomato that we had on the counter.

• We didn’t have ginger root to grate so I substituted ginger powder.

• The original recipe suggested adding a cup of frozen peas, which I love.

• Following the recipe from my sister, I used a 5 oz can of evaporated milk. Nagi Maehashi’s recipe calls for plain yogurt (full fat) in the marinade and heavy/thickened cream in the curry sauce.

Would you recommend this recipe?

Yes, I would recommend this recipe. It was very manageable and I’ve made a few notes to help streamline my workflow next time. Ours may have been more mild than Dhaniya Mirch's but it was definitely palatable.

References:

Books - 

Chetna's 30-Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals / Chetna Makan. - (The introduction includes "things to bear in mind for the recipes to work at their best,” pg. 11. Yogurt Chicken Curry, pg. 60. Butter Chicken - Murgh Makhani, pg. 63.)

Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes For the Home Cook / Richa Hingle.

Websites -

"About the Moving Wall." JSTOR, https://support.jstor.org/hc/en-us/articles/115004879547-About-the-Moving-Wall#:~:text=The%20Moving%20Wall%20embargo%20refers,of%203%20to%205%20years. Accessed 25 March 2024.

Dhaniya Mirch, www.dhaniyamirch.com. Accessed 22 March 2024.

Food Network Kitchen. “Evaporated Milk vs. Condensed Milk: What’s the Difference? And Can They Be Used Interchangeably?” Food Network, 22 June 2022, https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/evaporated-milk-vs-condensed-milk.

Hadid, Diaa and Omkar Khandekar. "Who Cooked Up Butter Chicken? A Court Seeks the Answer. Plus: Madhur Jaffrey's Recipe." NPR, 1 March 2024, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/03/01/1234793757/butter-chicken-origins-india-madhur-jaffrey-recipe.

Julson, Erica. “Creamy Indian Butter Chicken.” Happily From Scratch, 19 March 2022, https://www.ericajulson.com/creamy-indian-butter-chicken/.

Kelly, Leslie. “What’s the Difference Between Evaporated and Condensed Milk?” Allrecipes, 3 October 2023, https://www.allrecipes.com/article/evaporated-and-condensed-milk/#The%20Difference%20Between%20Evaporated%20and%20Condensed%20Milk.

Maehashi, Nagi. “Butter Chicken.” RecipeTin Eats, 13 November 2023, https://www.recipetineats.com/butter-chicken/.

Stafford, Gemma. "How To Make Evaporated Milk (Recipe)." Gemma's Bigger Bolder Baking, 6 November 2023, https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/evaporated-milk-recipe/.

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover Online Library catalog:

Cooking, Indic

Cook* - (Results narrowed down by Format: EMagazine; Periodical-Other; Magazines, Journals & News. Consider narrowing down results further by Concepts/Subjects/Themes, i.e. Health & Fitness or, Low-calorie diet- -Recipes- -Periodicals)

Cuckoo, TikTok, Anyone There…!?!

(00:23 minute video)

February 20, 2024. Updated March 13, 2024.

by Bridget O’Donnell

This post was inspired by a handful of ingredients and two (maybe three) TikTok videos provided by a generous CSA member at the end of the 2023 season. Thank you, Deborah W. By that time, I’d heard of TikTok, but the negative connotations about privacy issues, exposure to inappropriate content, and the time spent scrolling endlessly seemed to outweigh its popularity for me. Well, I may be going cuckoo but, like over one billion monthly active users, here I am, TikTok.

Title of Cookbook: As Cooked on TikTok: Fan Favorites and Recipe Exclusives From More Than 40 TikTok Creators!

Author of Cookbook: Emily Stephenson

What prompted you to check out this cookbook? 

Before submitting this post I wanted to learn a little about the what, how, and why behind this particular social media platform. At the same time, I also wanted to avoid recreating the first perfectly fine TikTok video that I ever watched. Besides that, my initial attempt at a Crispy Rice Paper Omelet looked like a contribution to Pinterest “Nailed It!!”

Although Lily Leung’s “1 Minute Rice Paper Omelet…” shares a lot of similarities to the original TikTok video I watched on Deb’s phone, it isn’t the same one. For whatever reason, I couldn’t find it, but Leung’s video does offer a great tutorial and, as posted in the comments, shows how versatile the recipe can be.

What did you like about this cookbook?

The recipes included in this cookbook are deemed reliable; we don’t have to scroll through a mix of successes and failures like on the TikTok app.

What didn’t you like about this cookbook?

There are a lot of trending videos on TikTok, but, to be honest, I’m just a little curious to know what cloud bread tastes like and maybe not so interested in trying pancake cereal. For this post I did create a TikTok account but I haven’t done much with it. If I spend time on the app, I might look for healthy recipes to add to my arsenal. I mean, a 30 second tutorial? Wow!

Also, note the cook time will probably vary from the video durations on TikTok.

Favorite recipes (that you tried from the cookbook/website):

My favorite recipe from this cookbook was probably @cookingwithlynja’s Ramen Carbonara (pg.77) because I like the idea of using ramen as a pasta (or rice) substitute.

Did you alter the recipe or make any substitutions?

In my (less than 30 second!!!) TikTok-ready video (click on the picture at the top of this post), you see the embellished version of one of my college go-tos. To date, I still find myself snacking on spicy ramen noodles between salads and more nutrient-dense (and, yes, time consuming) meals.

Bonus: In the attached photo, you see chicken and vegetable stir fry that’s been simmered in a tandoori curry sauce and served over strained ramen. YU-MMY! And that’s only one possible application.

Would you recommend this cookbook/recipe?

Absolutely, this cookbook makes everything look so tasteful. If you’re curious about TikTok but not sure about creating a personal account, a Google search will retrieve TikTok videos that you can watch as a guest. In some cases, the short videos will open in YouTube.

References:

Books - 

As Cooked On TikTok: Fan Favorites and Recipe Exclusives From More Than 40 TikTok Creators! / Emily Stephenson.

The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook: 75 Internet-Breaking Recipes For Snacks, Drinks, Treats, and More! / Valentina Mussi.

A LOT of foodies, like the two authors listed below, started on social media before writing a bestselling cookbook.

Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files: A Cookbook / Deb Perelman. - (Perelman can be found on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram: @smittenkitchen and,YouTube: smittenkitchening.)

Knife Drop: Creative Recipes Anyone Can Cook / Nick DiGiovanni. - (In this cookbook, DiGiovanni includes a “QR Library, Quick, Off-the-Beaten-Path Recipes.” - Learn how to “Cook a lobster and remove lobster meat” in a 01:41 minute video.)

Websites -

Gonzales, Cindy. “700 Nailed It!! Ideas: Pinterest Fails, Food Fails, Fail Nails.” Pinterest, 18 March 2018, www.pinterest.com/cindyannadmire/nailed-it/.

Leung, Lily. “1 Minute Rice Paper Omelet SO Yummy!! Day 19.” Youtube.com/@FullHappyBelly, 4 October 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0Xoob1qRc. - (00:23 minute video

Manfre, Ayeh. “Rice Paper Dumplings.” TikTok, 13 November 2022, https://www.tiktok.com/@cookingwithayeh/video/7165449343888100609?lang=en. - (00:33 minute video. You can find the recipe and a 00:35 minute video on her website as well, https://cookingwithayeh.com/rice-paper-dumplings/.)

Pahmeier, Lauren. “75 Viral TikTok Recipes and Food Hacks.” TasteofHome, 13 February 2024, https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/tiktok-recipes/.                               

Quick Subject/Concept links to the Discover (formerly, Vega) Online Library catalog:

Quick And Easy Cooking

TikTok - (Results narrowed down by Concepts: Electronic resource, Social media)