Many cultures across history have enjoyed lemons and featured lemons prominently in their cuisine. Lemons have been used both to flavor savory dishes as well as being a main ingredient in cheesecakes, custards, candies, and baked goods such as pies. Lemon bars themselves likely find their roots in the Renaissance, as the main ingredients were often used during these times. Lemon custard was highly popular in this time period, sugar was often sprinkled on food, and shortbread crust had recently been developed.
Although the main components of lemon squares — shortbread and lemon curd — were popular during the Renaissance, putting them together in a layered bar form did not occur until the 20th century. Bar cookies, or squares, date back to the 1930s, but there is no specific person or place credited as the origin of bar cookies. Typically, bar cookies are prepared in a pan, baked in the oven, and cut into squares. American cookbooks at the time featured date bars as the earliest examples of squares. It’s likely that these evolved from other earlier dessert bar recipes such as brownies and fudge. As they gained in popularity, variations led to new recipes, such as peanut butter bars, chocolate coconut bars, chocolate cheesecake bars, toffee bars, pineapple bars, almond bars, apple bars, and the seven-layer bar.
The first known printed lemon bar recipe appears in the August 27, 1962 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune, submitted by Mrs. Eleanore Mickelson for the column titled “Today’s $5 Favorite Recipe.” In stark contrast to the lemon squares recipes of today, Mrs. Mickelson’s recipe called for just two eggs and three tablespoons of lemon juice, and was made in a 9x9 pan. Lemon meringue pie may have served as the inspiration for the lemon square originally. Food historians can not identify the exact origin of lemon squares, so Mrs. Mickelson’s recipe submission to the Chicago Daily Tribune serves as the first known printed recipe.
In 1963, the R&D team at Betty Crocker Inc. published a lemon bar recipe very similar to Mrs. Mickelson’s, but omitting the flour for the curd. From then onward, lemon squares soared in popularity.
]]>The chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1938 by Ruth Wakefield who, with husband Kenneth, ran the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts from 1930 to 1967. The cookie caught on so fast that Marjorie Husted, whom you may know as Betty Crocker (yes, there was a real person behind Betty!) featured it on her radio show.
Oh, how we love our chocolate chip cookies! And there are several important reasons why.
Versatility – They’re perhaps the most versatile cookie ever. Almost no matter what your personal taste or dietary restrictions, there’s pretty much a cookie recipe to accommodate you. They can be made with less sugar or sugar alternatives such as xylitol or erythritol. The fats used could be butter, vegan “butter”, shortening, or even lard. Can’t have eggs? You can use flax or psyllium “eggs”. You can make them with a gluten-free flour blend, or nut flour or coconut flour, making them suitable for paleo or keto diets. They can be dairy-free with alternative milk and dark, dairy free chocolate. Nuts or no nuts. Thick, thin, soft and chewy, or crispy. In other words, they can be totally custom-made!
Easy – Even the kids can make chocolate chip cookies using a basic recipe
Diverse Textures and Flavors – Just as your teeth are biting into either that chewy or crispy exterior, along comes the firm yet silky-smooth chocolate to seal the deal, exploding in your mouth like the decadent delight it is.
Scientific – Studies have shown that people are drawn more to foods that contain both carbs and fats than foods containing just one or the other.
Emotional – Ah…there’s something about the smell as these heavenly wonders are baking. Then as you sink your teeth into one fresh from the oven, or even eat them cold with a frosty glass of milk, you’re transported back to your past. It might be fond memories of Mom or Grandma or even a kindly neighbor baking those chocolate chip cookies, the heady aromas delightfully assaulting your senses as you entered the kitchen. Or it could bring back memories of time spent giggling or plotting mischief with your friends, or summer vacations.
Whatever it is, the emotional pull is very real and perhaps, the biggest reason why the chocolate chip is the king of cookies.
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