“The Blue Ribbon Cook Book,” Jennie C. Benedict, University of Kentucky Press 2022 (a paperback reprint of the 1922 edition)

It’s no surprise that I love cook books. Not just for the recipes, but for what they tell us about the authors who write the books and the home cooks who use them.This time, the spotlight is on two very different cookbooks: “The Blue Ribbon Cook Book” by Jennie C. Benedict and “50 Things to Bake Before You Die” by Allyson Reedy.

Jenny C. Benedict published the very first edition of “The Blue Ribbon Cookbook” in 1904. The book’s fourth edition appeared in 1922, and the new (2022) paperback edition is a reprint issued by The University Press of Kentucky. 

Why, you might ask, would anyone find it necessary to bother with a reprint of a 100-year old cookbook?  Susan Reigler, a Louisville native who was the restaurant critic for the city’s “Courier-Journal” newspaper from 1992-2006, provides the answer at the very beginning of her introduction, which is a “must” read.

Referred to simply as “Miss Jenny” by her contemporaries, Jenny Benedict was born in Harrods Creek, Kentucky in 1860. She launched her business from her home in Louisville in1893, and by the time she was forty, she was the city’s most prominent caterer and the owner of a successful tearoom, where several of her signature preparations, including her famous mayonnaise, could be purchased.

it’s not the only reason to buy the cookbook. As Reigler points out, “The Blue Ribbon Cookbook” is “a very practical cookbook, easy to use, with lots of shortcuts, kitchen tricks, and tips on cooking techniques from Miss Jenny.”

Oddly enough, the book doesn’t contain a recipe for “Benedictine,” Miss Jenny’s famous sandwich filling. Made with a mix of cream cheese and cucumber juice, the spread was served on soft white bread (crusts removed) cut into diagonal quarters. Benedictine is still a local favorite, and Reigler offers several versions, including the following.

Benedictine

8 ounces of cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons cucumber juice

1 tablespoon onion juice

1 teaspoon salt

A few grains of cayenne pepper

2 drops green food coloring

To get the juice, peel and grate a cucumber, then wrap in a clean dish towel and squeeze juice into a dish. Discard pulp. Do the same for the onion. Mix all ingredients with a fork until well blended. Using a blender will make the spread too runny.

“50 Things to Bake Before You Die” by Allyson Reedy, Ulysses Press $24.95

Allyson Reedy’s book delivers a mouthwatering collection of recipes culled from some of the nation’s top baking blogs, bakeries and chefs. The photos are irresistible, the recipes easy to follow, even when the dessert requires two or more preparations. 

The “Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd and Sugared Blueberries” from Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston, SC, for example, has four different preparations, one each for the vanilla cake, the lemon curd, the lemon buttercream frosting, and the topping. But given photographer Greg McBoat’s picture, the cake is well worth the effort.

Not all of the recipes are complicated. Baking blogger Tessa Arias’ (Handle the Heat) “Chewy Brownies,” for example, require nothing more than a single bowl, a whisk, a spatula, and an 8×8-inch pan.

Defending her somewhat morbid title, Reedy concludes: “All of this is to say that I encourage you to go for it. To bake with reckless abandon, no matter how many steps the recipe asks of you. Because life isn’t measured by how many breaths you take, but by how many bites of Biscoff white chocolate blondies you take. So bake them.”

Amen to that….

Chewy Brownies

Makes one 8×8-inch pan

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, cold

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325-degrees F. Line and 8×8-inch pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and sugar. Microwave for about 1 minute, or until the butter is melted. Whisk in the eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Stir in the oil and cocoa powder.

3. With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

4. Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted in the center has moist crumbs attached. Do not overcook, Let cook completely before cutting and serving.

Walker Powell (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

Sorry for the lack of recaps over the weekend, I was down with the flu.

MLB

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

The Cubs have cut their roster to 26 by placing Ethan Roberts on the IL with right shoulder inflammation and optioning Locke St. John to Iowa. Roberts saw his velocity dip to around 91 mph in his last outing. The Cubs will not need a 5th starter until May 10th, at which time they will need to decide whether the move Keegan Thompson (or Michael Rucker) into the rotation, or recall a starter from Iowa if Alec Mills is not ready to return after suffering a setback last week.

AAA

Indianapolis 3, Iowa 1

Game Recap

The bats remain mostly silent for Iowa. They managed just three hits on the afternoon. Defensively, they nearly committed as many errors in the game. Their two errors contributed to two unearned runs. Needless to say, the team didn’t provide Adrian Sampson, Brandon Hughes, and Erich Uelmen much support on the mound despite all three pitching well.

Top Performers

Adrian Sampson: 5 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K (L, 0-3, 3.66)Brandon Hughes: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (0.00)Erich Uelmen: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (0.00)Brennen Davis: 1-3, BB (.203)Ildemaro Vargas: 1-3, BB (.234)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

There were a couple of articles this weekend from various sources regarding the slow start by top prospect Brennen Davis (.203/.291/.311). It has certainly been a struggle thus far, but I am unconcerned. To my eye his issues appear to boil down to timing. He’s making tentative swing decisions right now, often late on the fastball and defensive hacks at breaking pitches. When he does make contact, it is not happening out in front of the plate with his arms extended. Maybe he’s not seeing the ball well right now, maybe it’s a lack of confidence, or both. But once he begins swinging with conviction again I expect positive results to follow.

Brandon Hughes and Erich Uelmen are not overpowering relievers, but they throw from a lower arm angle than typical, and they each have a good slider and improved changeup to help their modest velo play up. Both have been very good to begin the season.

AA

Chattanooga 6, Tennessee 1

Game Recap

Tennessee took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Harrison Wenson in the 3rd. Chattanooga answered with a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning off Anderson Espinoza. It’s been a common issue for Espinoza to either tire as his starts progress, or be the victim of one bad inning/pitch. The pattern followed yesterday. That homer was about the only blemish against him.

The lookouts pen was lights out in the late innings while the Smokies pen faltered.

Top Performers

Harrison Wenson: 1-3, HR (1), R, RBI, BB (.130)Andy Weber: 1-3, BB, SB (3) (.256)Levi Jordan: 2-4, 2B (.417)Anderson Espinoza: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K (6.59)Dalton Stambaugh: 3 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 0 K (4.76)

High-A

Quad Cities 11, South Bend 7

Game Recap

South Bend came out swinging in the 3rd inning. Fabian Pertuz doubled home the first run of the game and then two of the hottest hitters in the org went deep as part of a six-run outburst. Alexander Canario launched a two-run homer, his 5th over his last 10 games, and then Jake Washer capped off the inning with a three-run shot, his 4th over his last 4 games.

3-run HR for Alexander Canario gives South Bend a 4-0 lead. His 5th HR of the year. pic.twitter.com/o9X0yuK2Y8

May 1, 2022

Unfortunately, the River Bandits were able to answer with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning off Jordan Wicks. The Cubs 1st rounder last year had breezed through the first two innings, striking out five, but lost his command in the 3rd and Quad Cities made him pay. They took a walk (and two pitches off their anatomy), and then hammered pitches he left over the plate.

The score remained 6-5 over the next three innings but two more big innings by Quad Cities in the 7th and 8th off Riley Martin sealed the Cubs fate. They scored three runs in each. Martin had been lights out in Myrtle Beach to open the year, and struck out seven in his three innings yesterday, but he also surrendered nine hits.

Top Performers

Jake Washer: 2-4, HR (4), R, 3 RBI (.387)Alexander Canario: 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, SB (3) (.286)Fabian Pertuz: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB (.239)Owen Caissie: 1-3, R, BB (.135)Scott McKeon: 1-3, R, BB (.214)Caleb Knight: 1-4, 2B, R (.150)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Bailey Horn made his 2022 debut. He walked three batters in his one inning of work, but kept the River Bandits off the board while striking out a pair.

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 8, Columbia 0

Game Recap

The Cubs have a number of large humans they can run out to the mound. The Pelicans starter yesterday afternoon is among the biggest. Walker Powell stands 6’8″ and uses it to his advantage with an over the top arm slot. The 25-year old undrafted free agent from last year can run the ball up to the plate in the 92-94 mph range, and compliments it with a solid 12-to-6 curve, along with a solid changeup. He’s not among the Cubs top prospects, but I also don’t understand why he went unselected last draft considering his size and stuff. Regardless, the Pelicans have been happy to have him this year, as he entered the the game with a 3-0 record coming out of the pen, before getting his first start yesterday.

Powell would keep the Fireflies off balance all afternoon as he mixed his pitches effectively. He would punch out six batters over five near-perfect innings. The only baserunner he allowed reached via an error (his own).

Walker Powell and his changeup Along with velocity readings from the broadcasters pic.twitter.com/le7taE38fT

May 2, 2022

After his exit (60 pitches), groundball specialist Adam Laskey came on to try to keep the no-no intact. The lefty walked one batter but quickly eliminated him with a double play, as he faced the minimum in his two innings of work.

From there it was up to Jake Reindl to preserve the no-hitter. Manager Buddy Bailey called on the right guy. Reindl has had the ball dancing in the early part of the season. He’d allowed just one hit over his first three appearances (four innings). The righty used his impressive slider to blow away Columbia hitters. He struck out four in his two innings, including the final out:

ANOTHER NO-HITTER ALERT! #Cubs prospect Jake Reindl and @Pelicanbaseball wrap up the third nine-inning no-no in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/njUmNlb6Ro

May 2, 2022

Laskey and Reindl have both been plagued by injuries dating back to their collegiate days. They are getting a bit older, but I still consider both to be darkhorse prospects if they can manage to stay on the mound long enough.

And the catcher should never be overlooked on day like this. Though he entered the org with a reputation as an offensive catcher who might not stick as a catcher, Ethan Hearn has sort of been the opposite in his young career. He offers a big target, solid mobility and a strong arm behind the plate. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the way he works with pitchers too. His offense hasn’t progressed as hoped up to this point, but Hearn is a big kid with some power, and did contribute a double in this game.

The Pelicans put in some great work at the plate too. Kevin Alcantara and Juan Mora hit their first home runs on the year, and Pete Crow-Armstrong reached base three times to lead the way.

Kevin Alcantara with his 1st HR for Myrtle Beach. pic.twitter.com/j1W1ksyc2j

May 1, 2022

This is fun… pic.twitter.com/fLUN3mcxr7

May 1, 2022

PCA on base for the third time tonight. pic.twitter.com/r2MZ2keUx3

May 1, 2022

Top Performers

Walker Powell: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K (W, 4-0, 2.50)Adam Laskey: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K (0.00)Jake Reindl: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (0.00)Kevin Alcantara: 2-4, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, BB (.242)Juan Mora: 1-5, HR (1), R, 3 RBI (.303)Pete Crow-Armstrong: 2-4, R, RBI, BB (.382)Yeison Santana: 2-4, 2 R, SB (2) (.304)Liam Spence: 1-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB (.135)Ethan Hearn: 1-4, 2B, R, HBP (.192)Ezequiel Pagan: 1-3, BB (.167)