FROM MIRACLE CURE TO TASTY DELIGHT
THE UNBELIEVABLE HISTORY OF KETCHUP Ketchup, the popular tasty and tangy condiment found on tables and in refrigerators worldwide, has a surprising and somewhat peculiar history. In the 1830s, it was not just a topping for hamburgers and hot dogs; it was actually sold as medicine — yes, medicine! A Unique Origin Ketchup’s roots can be traced back to Asia, where it was called ke-
The Medicinal Claim and Tomato Connection In the 1830s, an Ohio physician named Dr. John Cook Bennett began marketing a tomato-based concoction as a medicinal elixir. Dr. Bennett claimed his tomato extract had incredible healing properties and promoted it as a cure for a wide range of ailments, including diarrhea, indigestion, jaundice, and rheumatism. During this time, tomatoes were still relatively new in American cuisine, and many people were skeptical about their edibility and safety. In fact, some believed tomatoes were poisonous, but Dr. Bennett aimed to market them as a safe and healthy miracle ingredient. His tomato preparation was a precursor to modern ketchup.
The Transition to the Table Over time, the medicinal claims surrounding tomato-based ketchup faded, and people began enjoying its taste. A tomato-based ketchup started to appear in cookbooks as an ingredient in recipes and was commonly paired with eggs, meat, and fish. By the late 19th century, ketchup had become a staple in American households, and companies like Heinz began mass-producing it. Today, it’s tough to imagine ketchup as anything other than a delicious topping for our favorite foods, and while tomatoes do contain antioxidants and vitamin C, we know ketchup won’t cure a sickness. However, its transformation from fish sauce to tomato medicine to a beloved topping is a remarkable twist in culinary history!
tsiap (Xiamen), a sauce made from fermented fish sauce. It made its way
to Europe in the 17th century, but it looked and tasted different from the ketchup we know today, as it included ingredients like mushrooms, walnuts, and oysters — no tomatoes.
WHY WE CHOSE MOM'S SPECIAL SUGAR COOKIES OVER CAKE NOT YOUR AVERAGE SUGAR COOKIE
Ingredients: •
I have to admit that one of my favorite things about Christmas is my mom’s not-so-traditional sugar cookies. Honestly, these cookies are so delicious that we eat them for most holidays and celebrations! The taste is just incredibly addicting, with rich buttery and sugary flavors. With National Cookie Day on Dec. 4, I knew that I needed to share this family-favorite recipe! I’ll make multiple batches of these cookies during Christmas, and sometimes we even have family who would rather have these sugar cookies instead of birthday cake! Surprisingly, my mom found this recipe in a church cookbook she bought decades ago. You might be picturing a regular sugar cookie, but these are not the same. Flat and delicate, these crumbly cookies don’t travel too well (or else we’d ship these all over).
1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup butter (2 sticks) 1 cup vegetable oil
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4 cups flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt
Directions: With an electric mixer, mix butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl until combined before adding the remaining ingredients except granulated sugar.
I remember I had never tried a conventional sugar cookie until I was in college. When I finally did, all I could think was that they were nowhere near as good as my mom’s. Here, you’ll find this simple cookie recipe, and I hope your family loves it just as much as ours! I’d also love to try your favorite holiday recipes, so be sure to share them on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/EmeryLawOffice. I’ll be trying all of the new recipes I get! Happy holidays!
In another bowl, drop dough from a teaspoon onto granulated sugar and roll until covered in
sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and use a small glass dipped in sugar to flatten each cookie. Bake at 350 F for 8–10 minutes; take out when slightly brown around the edges and remember to let them cool for 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet!
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