Homemade Junk Food: The Cookbook
We’ve had some fun travels down junk food memory lane over the past few years. Together we’ve chomped on Cheez-Its, gone wild for Cheez Whiz, flirted with Fig Newtons, puckered up to Pinkberry… and now there’s going to be a whole lot more on the plate.
Yes, it’s true. I’m pleased as (Hawaiian Fruit) punch to share the news that my first cookbook, Homemade Junk Food, will be published in 2013 by Ulysses Press. And it’s going to be a full-on nostalgia-fest, covering all the salty, sweet, cheesy, cakey, creamy, deep-fried, and frozen bases: 70 recipes for homemade versions of classic treats from Sno-Balls and Fudge Stripes to Cool Ranch Doritos and pizza rolls. All the recipes previously published on Good. Food. Stories. will be tweaked and improved, and I’m working like a mad scientist to carefully craft each snack, making sure they mimic the taste and texture of the treats we grew up with as closely as possible.
I sincerely hope no one plans on counting the calories in these recipes. There won’t be any substitutions of applesauce for oil, and I’m not afraid to use (organic, trans-fat free) shortening when necessary for the perfect Oreo filling. But I’m most certainly avoiding long, chemical-laden ingredient lists in favor of unprocessed ingredients like real cream, rich butter, and freshly ground spices. It’s important to me to know where my food comes from and what it’s made of, whether I’m roasting a pork shoulder or baking a batch of Goldfish. And taking the time to make a plate of seasoned waffle fries–slicing potatoes, whisking batter, dipping each and frying by hand–lends a new appreciation to the process.
And there is real American history in each bite, which I’ll share with sidebars and factoids on the history and evolution of our country’s beloved junk food. Did you know ice cream sandwiches have been around since 1899 and came from the original food trucks–Lower Manhattan pushcarts? Or that French onion soup was purportedly invented by a California housewife? Or that the Kellogg’s factory in Battle Creek, MI can churn out more than 200 million Cheez-Its in a day? Mind-boggling.
If you’re interested in recipe testing–or just want to follow the progress of the book with sneak peeks and inside info–click over and like the Homemade Junk Food Facebook page or follow the book’s Twitter account: @JunkFoodatHome.
I’m so, so thrilled to bring this cookbook to life and I hope you’re excited too. Stay tuned!
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Casey Barber
Casey Barber is the owner and founder of Good Food Stories LLC and a visual storyteller whose work often focuses on the intersection of food and culture. She is also the author of the cookbooks Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food and Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats, and she couldn’t get anything done without the help of her executive assistant cats, Bixby and Lenny. Her favorite color is obviously orange.
Hooray, Casey! Let me be among the first to congratulate you on this exciting news!! I raise my glass of Hawaiian Fruit Punch and wish you every success with your new project.
Words cannot express how excited I am about this book. Congratulations, my friend!
Happiest day of my life!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait to see the finished product!
It’s about time! Looking forward to adding Homemade Junk Food to my collection. Yay, you!
Wow, great idea…can’t wait for it!!!
This is fantastic news! Congrats Casey — when is the book party?
Pecan Icebox cookies from Archway … Pleeeeease!
WOO to the HOO, Casey! Can’t wait!
This is the best news! I am thrilled for you. I cant wait for my Autographed copy!
OMG!!!!!!! I totally knew it was going to happen!!!! You’re amazing
So excited for you and can’t wait to read it!!
Cannot wait!! You’re so so good at this, it’s you’re calling. :)
Just so we’re clear, I demand a recipe for an Orange Creamsicle of a Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bar. ;)
Very happy for you!
Garrett, I just developed those two ice cream recipes a few weeks ago! You’re first on the list to test them.
Very cool, and 100,000 congratulations! Put me on the list to eat your homemade Cool Ranch Doritos. One of my guilty pleasures…
Yay, yay, YAY!!! I second the demand for a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar.
Congratulations Casey! This book is going to be great, I know it.
Congratulations! Very exciting and fun topic!
This sounds like such a fun book!! Congratulations! I look forward to learning the history of these treats. I just can’t turn away anything with marshmallow fluff! :)
Great news. We are very happy for you. I am sure it will be a great sucess!! Looking forward to seeing it.
Healthy junk food…very interesting concept. Best wishes.
Congrats, Casey! I can’t wait to see all of your creations!
Fantastic. Good Luck. A nice bottle of wine is in your future with your publication!!
Great news indeed! Congratulations!
So exciting! I love your homemade junk food recipes!
congrats casey cant wait
Congratulations, Casey–I cannot *wait* to try these recipes!
Congrats Casey, I’m sure there’s a huge market for a cookbook like this. Even Michael Pollan says it’s okay to eat treats once in a while — if you make ’em yourself.
Good for you Case! I’m so proud. Best of luck.
I’m so happy for you and so hungry for your book!! Very well deserved recognition of your talent! I’m hoping for a taste preview at NYE!