The Bites in this project roughly split into two origins: Native Americans and immigrants. The natives contributed things like maize and venison, while immigrants brought over wonderful things like tostadas and sushi.
For today's entry, we must thank the Dutch that founded the region around New Amsterdam in current day New York. Though they didn't invent these sweets, one could make a strong argument that they perfected them. Cookies wouldn't be what they are today if the Dutch hadn't infused them with the spices they controlled, and the tradition of shaped cookies served at the holidays come directly from their tradition of pressing the dough into molds.
They brought waffle irons to the colonies, putting them on long rods to hold over a fire, and conceiving countless recipes, incorporating the waffles into dishes both savory and sweet. Everything from the caramel goodness of a stroopwafel to the hearty mixture of waffles with chicken and onion can be attributed to Dutch settlers.
The Dutch also elevated the humble doughnut, dropping balls of stiff batter into pork lard to fry. Originally, they were called "oleykoeks" (oil cakes), and were dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Modern doughnuts with holes arose about two hundred years later.
Today, all three of these goodies are in heavy rotation. Cookies are the only one I really make often at home, but there are plenty of businesses anxious to satisfy the American sweet tooth with these concoctions. The doughnut shop near me serves them with all sorts of interesting toppings, like chocolate heated with Mexican spices or blueberry cheesecake. The cookies pictured come from a store that will deliver them late at night to hungry customers who don't want to venture out (read: drunks with the munchies). The waffles are of a now-departed restaurant that served them both sweet and savory. They got topped with everything from cheese to banana/chocolate to salted honey mustard to barbecued brisket.
When people think "dessert", it's natural for our minds to drift to things like cake or ice cream, but this trio forms an iconic backbone of American eating, and many thanks to Holland for that. Proost!
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For today's entry, we must thank the Dutch that founded the region around New Amsterdam in current day New York. Though they didn't invent these sweets, one could make a strong argument that they perfected them. Cookies wouldn't be what they are today if the Dutch hadn't infused them with the spices they controlled, and the tradition of shaped cookies served at the holidays come directly from their tradition of pressing the dough into molds.
They brought waffle irons to the colonies, putting them on long rods to hold over a fire, and conceiving countless recipes, incorporating the waffles into dishes both savory and sweet. Everything from the caramel goodness of a stroopwafel to the hearty mixture of waffles with chicken and onion can be attributed to Dutch settlers.
The Dutch also elevated the humble doughnut, dropping balls of stiff batter into pork lard to fry. Originally, they were called "oleykoeks" (oil cakes), and were dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Modern doughnuts with holes arose about two hundred years later.
Today, all three of these goodies are in heavy rotation. Cookies are the only one I really make often at home, but there are plenty of businesses anxious to satisfy the American sweet tooth with these concoctions. The doughnut shop near me serves them with all sorts of interesting toppings, like chocolate heated with Mexican spices or blueberry cheesecake. The cookies pictured come from a store that will deliver them late at night to hungry customers who don't want to venture out (read: drunks with the munchies). The waffles are of a now-departed restaurant that served them both sweet and savory. They got topped with everything from cheese to banana/chocolate to salted honey mustard to barbecued brisket.
When people think "dessert", it's natural for our minds to drift to things like cake or ice cream, but this trio forms an iconic backbone of American eating, and many thanks to Holland for that. Proost!
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