Southern bakers share the joy, meaning of family recipes
Ashley HopkinsonWelcome to The American South!
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I imagine I'm not the only one thinking about the final few months before the end of the year. This time always makes me nostalgic. I think of my family, food and the potential to celebrate both of those things together.
This week, I'm excited to share the stories of Sarah Gonzalez and Vallery Lomas. Both women are prize-winning bakers who share a similar star quality — they bake the recipes of their mothers, grandmothers and aunts.
Also as we inch toward the end of October, we are also nearing the end of hurricane season. Andrew Yawn spoke to NOAA officials about some groundbreaking data that may help researchers better predict hurricanes, particularly the rapidly intensifying ones.
Finally, a few stories from around the South on justice, housing and equality. One is about a new initiative to expand archives in a city deeply connected to civil rights.
Thank you for reading. Take good care!
Ashley Hopkinson (Editor, The American South and Southern Kitchen)
What's the South talking about?
- Alabama : Equal Justice Initiative expands Legacy Museum
- Louisiana : Will marijuana decriminalization bring equity to this state?
- South Carolina : More Greenville faith groups to offer affordable homes
For the Nashville 'Bread Lady' and her family, bread and baking are life
When Sarah Gonzalez bakes, it's often in memory of the family members who came before her.
The Nashville-based baker's debut cookbook, "Baking with the Bread Lady," showcases some family-inspired recipes among more modern breads and desserts.
Her 1850s Gingerbread Spice Cake, for example, is a slightly updated version of a special occasion cake her paternal great-grandmother used to make before recipes came with precise temperatures and bake times.
Even when recipes aren't drawn from the family repertoire, they're infused with her ancestors' influence.
Great American Baking Show winner Vallery Lomas stays connected to the South
Vallery Lomas is giving away her family secrets.
"I keep expecting to get interesting emails from some cousins, but that hasn't happened yet," she said, laughing.
The former lawyer turned baker and winner of a season of the "Great American Baking Show" said family and recipes are special and forge a connection to her Southern roots.
"It's amazing and really special that I can share these recipes and actually get to do it in a way that credits the amazing women who created these recipes and kept them alive in the family," Lomas said.
The family legacy recipes include Granny's Million Dollar Cake, an heirloom from Lomas' grandmother Willie Mae.
Hurricane drone gathers 'groundbreaking' data that could improve forecasts
Researchers say the data collected by the NOAA and autonomous vehicle manufacturer Saildrone could lead to a better understanding of how hurricanes form and quickly intensify.
“Any storm that rapidly intensifies is tough to forecast so, the more data we have, that's part of the solution,” said NOAA oceanographer Greg Foltz, the lead scientist on the drone program.
Hurricane Ida was the most recent storm to undergo rapid intensification, defined as gaining at least 35 mph in maximum sustained winds in 24 hours.
"It truly is groundbreaking because we’ve never had the ability to measure in this spot before," said Brian Connon, vice president of Saildrone.
The technology could help lead time for people to prepare, especially in coastal communities. The data could also improve storm surge predictions.