I do not come from a family of jam-makers. For me, jam is a souvenir: I buy pineapple or passionfruit jam in tiny shops in Maui upcountry, or fresh apple butter after a trip to Apple Hill. I’m intrigued by the homemade labels and unexpected fruit...
Many Americans' knowledge of eggplant limited to when it's fried beyond recognition, covered in tomato sauce and accompanied by a heap of spaghetti. For me, at least, eggplant parmigiana was the only way I ate eggplant for a really, really long...
My grandma is the cute old lady who always has cookies--for her granddaughters (obviously), for the kids next door, for the people who work at the bank. Whenever you go to her house, chocolate chip cookies and pizzelles will be there, without fail....
I've always had a sweet spot for syrups. Shirley Temples were my drink of choice throughout my childhood, and I had a great run with Dirty Shirleys when I started going to the bars. I also loved Italian sodas, especially with a dash of half-and-half...