Did you know that Duncan Hines cake mixes are named after an actual person, while Betty Crocker was simply the figment of someone’s imagination in the marketing department at General Mills? Boston Cream Pie is not a pie at all, but a cake? Whoopie Pies are not pies, but cookies? An Anzac biscuit is not a biscuit, but a cookie? Chocolate “chips” were never meant to be a chip at all? German chocolate is not from Germany, but named after its inventor, Samuel German? And the most amusing, which part of an animal cracker (which is not a cracker, but a cookie) children bite off first? These and other questions are answered in Jessie Oleson Moore’s delightful new book, along with dozens of luscious recipes.
Popular blogger of CakeSpy and self-proclaimed “Dessert Detective,” Jessie Oleson Moore was a guest speaker at our local library program of “Chef Series,” where chefs and authors come to promote their books and sign copies for the audience. As I entered the program room, Jessie was setting up the table of sweets, which were some delicious cupcakes from Swirlz in Chicago.
Jessie Oleson Moore proudly showing her book.
Jessie looked very familiar to me and as we spoke, I realized we had met at the last Pillsbury Bake-Off where we both attended as media. We talked a little about the Bake-Off until the program began. The packed room listened as Jessie talked about the baked goods and their history that we all know and love, including cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, desserts, and commercial products like Twinkies and Suzy-Q’s (yes, there was a real Suzy!). Cookbook authors are almost always asked what is their favorite dish, and in this case, baked good. Answer? Hummingbird Cake. (google it!)
As I was walking up to the table to the table to buy the book, it occurred to me that I have not had a book giveaway in a long time, so I bought two. Now is your chance to own this little gem of a book, and I even had it autographed for you! Leave me a comment here on the blog and tell me- ” What is your favorite baked good?” Is it a family favorite or something from your childhood bought at the grocery store? Something grandma made or you make yourself? A restaurant specialty? Let me know and you will be entered in the drawing. Enter by 11:59 pm, Thursday, June 6th, and I will announce the winner on next Friday’s blog on June 7th. Good luck! Jessie will be delighted that you will own her book!
What an interesting book! I always want to know the stories behind the dishes. I’m not a dessert-aholic, but I can’t resist anything that includes apples. I’d have to say that an apple pie or tarte tatin, still warm from the oven, is my favorite sweet treat. Or, perhaps, bread pudding New Orleans style. Or anything chocolate. I guess I’m more of a sweets person than I thought I was.
I think everyone loves sweets in some shape or form!
I think the scones at my restaurant are the winner. Buttery, moist, not too sweet, positively addictive. We have people call to reserve them and sell out sometimes whole they are still in the oven!!!! So, next time you’re in Reno, come see us!!!!!!! We’ve been on Food Network!!!!
Dishcafecatering.com
Your scones sound delicious!
I love lemon bars which when I make my brother ends up eating them all. I usually have to hide them for others.
The tangy lemony taste is just perfect with sweet French vanilla or latte.
I love lemon bars, too.
I’d say my favorite baked good is carrot cake. I love the flavors in it and cream cheese icing tops it off perfectly! Subtly sweet and the warmth of the spices make it my favorite.
I agree, Maxine! Carrot cake has wonderful spices.
Love Jessie’s turquoise look. I recently had the most yummy carrot cake oatmeal sandwich cookie filled with a cream cheese frosting.
Lisa, Jessie said she loves turquoise, too. At the program, she even had on turquoise tights!
My favorite is Crème Brulee – sweet or savory.
Oh, Mary Louise…. we are soul sisters. Crème Brulee is my favorite, too.
Love her look and would love her book!
Jessie is as sweet as she looks, and so is her book!
Rhubarb pie is a family favorite. NOT strawberry+rhubarb, just rhubarb. Whenever it’s in season, it’s coming out of my oven. We had three this weekend! 😉
Although I do love a good dessert, my favorite baked good is a nice warm slab of cornbread.
My favorite dessert is surprise cupcakes. My mother always made them on the first day of school and had them waiting for me when I walked in the door. Chocolate, cream cheese, and chocolate chips!
I’m torn between three and i cannot choose which i love best. One is usually homemade: those wonderful hamantaschen cookies. Also i recently fell in love with apricot newtons and they’re perfect when the baking spirit cant be found. The third is a slice or two of honey cake, a simple treat that makes me smile.
Jessie is so sweet–I met her at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn a few years ago! I would just love this book! Growing up, we made funfetti box cake for every birthday, holiday, etc. To this day, if I show up at my grandfather’s home with a cake that’s not funfetti, he looks disappointed. xo
Cardamom coffee cake is my favorite baked good as of late. Now, if I can just recreate Solstice Cafe’s recipe…
Good to connect with you again, Debbie! My favorite is from a very old Joy of Cooking book. It’s the receipe for Caramels that my mother would cook to the soft stage, put pecans in, put it in a buttered 9×13 pan, cool it for a bit then hand out three spoons. We would all dig in to the soft and gooey caramel. We always tried to finish the pan before the caramel could harden! It does bring back great memories when my sister and I get together and make the caramels. Delicous!
I love chocolate cake and pecans cookies.
Your book looks awesome!
Looks like an interesting book. My favorite is a family recipe cake that has a light chocolate cake with a cooked caramel icing!
Super tart key lime pie is my all time favorite!
My great grandma’s oatmeal raisin cookies. I wish I could make them like she did. Staciele AT netins DOT net
I’d have to say oatmeal chocolate chip pecan cookies, hands down. The best way to eat it? Unbaked. With a spoon. No shame.
Italian creme cake is my favorite……cream cheese, pecans, YUM!! Actually, anything with creme cheese frosting becomes my favorite 🙂
My ultimate favorite baked good is Pineapple Mandarin Cake. It’s *Delicious*
Is it open only to US residents? However, I like anything chocolate!
Hi Enrica- I’m so sorry! I should have made that clear. Unfortunately, due to the high postage cost of mailing a heavy package outside of the country, I’m afraid that I must keep the drawing to residents of the USA only. But I am so happy you wrote, and I agree – anything chocolate is good!
It’s ok. I love your blog!
Thank you, Enrica! That’s so nice to hear! Where are you from? I love my overseas readers!
I’m from Italy. I live in Modena, the town of Ferrari and Pavarotti.
I would love to visit Modena, Enrica. I went on a wine tour of Southern Italy and Sicily and fell completely in love with your country. I hope to go back someday. I still dream about that trip.
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies…PERFECTION!
As cliche as it is, my Grandma’s homemade chocolate chip cookies are still my favorite. They always have a taste that I can’t capture and were my favorite consistency. A little crisp on the edge and chewy on the center. They stay like that for days, if they manage to last that long. Obviously there’s grandma mmagic when it comes to bakes goods.
I adore chocolate mousse cake from any good bakery!
My aunt’s Frozen Lemon Pie.
My favorite dessert – Hot Fudge Sundae.
I am very honored that Cake Spy posted my recipe from the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off, even though it was breakfast and not dessert.
http://www.cakespy.com/blog/2012/3/6/pillsbury-bake-off-countdown-key-lime-pie-cinnamon-rolls.html
I even wore turquoise glasses (on the inside) at the Pillsbury Bake-Off! – Not knowing that Cake Spy was there and liked that color too!
My favorite baked good is a homemade scone! I love how versatile they can be. I love baking them, and I love eating them.
I love most baked goods, and my favorite seems to vary by the day. However, you can’t beat a good old chocolate chip cookie with walnuts!