California: Meyer Lemon Cake

One Dessert for A Giant State

When ASN and I decided to embark on this dessert-a-venture across the U.S., ASN suggested we start in California and work our way across the country. I was excited to start with a meyer lemon dessert because (1) I love meyer lemons, and (2) I live in OC, so I have to be able to find meyer lemons, right?

Well, turns out there were no meyer lemons to be found because they were out of season. A week later, I finally found the first-of-the-season meyer lemons, and good golly were they delicious!

I made this cake: http://hilahcooking.com/meyer-lemon-olive-oil-cake/ The recipe was easy to make, and the cake was delicious! I thought that the cake was a little dry, but that's probably my newness cooking in this dry climate moreso than the recipe.

That said, I ate a quarter of the cake in a single day. Oops? JMN tried it and informed me that it was missing frosting, which I otherwise never would have noticed! Work folks must have liked it, because they ate the entire thing.

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Alaska: Tongass Forest Cookies

THE BEST COOKIES OF ALL TIME* For Alaska, I wanted to try Agutuk (Akutaq), which was described by the internet as: This is the most Alaskan of desserts, though only a few hardy travelers try it. Native Alaskans create this “Eskimo Ice Cream” by mixing seal oil, reindeer fat, snow, and berries. The ingredients are hand-whipped until they form a foam. Sugar is not traditional but adds fluffiness. This food was originally eaten for survival rather than as a treat, and recipes have been passed down through generations of Native families. Other traditional ingredients include moose, caribou, and fish. Modern variations often include Crisco. ASN, the party pooper, wanted none of this, complaining that she wouldn't be able to find reindeer fat. THE INTERNET defeats ASN. (She was unconcerned by the utter lack of snow in Raleigh, apparently.) So we decided upon Tongass Forest Cookies, which sounded positively yucky, and which the internet admitted had no origin story. But, ...

My Cross-Country Challenge to My Little Sister: Eat Yourself Across America in Desserts. California - Meyer Lemon Cake Oregon - Blackberry Cobbler Washington State - Washington Walnut Pie Alaska - Tongass Forest Cookies Montana - S'mores Idaho - Huckleberry Pie Nevada - The Sugar Factory's King Kong Sundae Arizona - Navajo Frybread Utah - Jell-O (the state snack!) Wyoming Colorado New Mexico - Bizcochito Texas - Pecan Pie Oklahoma Kansas Nebraska South Dakota - Kuchen North Dakota - Krumkake Minnesota - Seven-Layer Bars Iowa Missouri - Gooey Butter Cake (note: state dessert is ice cream!) Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Tennessee Kentucky Indiana Illinois Wisconsin - Kringle Michigan Ohio - Buckeyes West Virginia Pennsylvania - Chocolate Chip Cookie New York - Oreo Cheesecake Vermont - Apple Pie New Hampshire Maine - Blueberry Pie (wild Maine blueberries) Massachusetts - Boston Creme Pie Rhode Island Connecticut New Jersey Delawa...

Washington: Walnut Pie

Wonderful Washington I love a nut pie. Something about buying corn syrup reminds me of both Thanksgiving and high school home ec, both of which are awesome. I made Martha Stewart's Washington Walnut Pie, and, as usual, you can't go wrong with Martha Stewart. This pie is perfect and it fills my heart and stomach with joy. JMN wouldn't try it because "it looks gross." Never have I been so happy to have an unadventurous four-year old. I feel like I should say more, so I started thinking about Washington State. Home of the best dessert so far on our adventure, it also reminds me of My So Called Life, plaid, grunge, and this song: Which reminds me of this time this spring when I was in Atlanta. I'd walk past the Tabernacle going from work to pick JMN up at daycare. One day, it was drizzling but I'd forgotten an umbrella, so I was huddled up in my coat/hood (will I ever wear that heavy coat again?). I nearly ran into someone while cutting acro...

I Hope There's Pudding!

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