Amara Amaryah

The Southern treat that goes by the name of hummingbird cake is instantly recognizable for those who grew up knowing the bursts of fruitysweetness that lay between layers of cream cheese frosting. However, what has become an iconic part of Southern culture actually has origins out in the Caribbean, on the island of Jamaica. While hailing from Jamaica, the popular cake has become embedded deep into the soil of the South and has inspired many generations to create their own iterations including the classically Southern sweet potato hummingbird cake. Typically, the dessert favorite has a flavor that resembles a richly spiced carrot cake combined with a strong nod to banana bread's moist texture.

Sandwich lovers understand the necessity of a taste bud-stimulating sauce (because who wants to eat a dry sandwich?). If you want something new and exciting to complement your next fish sandwich, it comes down to one unlikely component: the right amount of nuttiness, which you can find in a creamy tahini sauce. Tahini, a quintessential and beloved ingredient in Middle Eastern and North African cuisine, is the bridge between an average fish sandwich and an unforgettable one.

The term edamame refers to the immature green soybeans known to make a welcome appearance in any sushi dish worth raving about. Because of their versatility, edamame have found their way into restaurants, stores, and must-have snacks all over the world. In their unripe form, edamame are high-protein snacks that can be enjoyed simply as-is or adorned by all-time favorite flavors such as soy sauce. Considering the growing appreciation for edamame, it's worth knowing exactly how to properly and safely enjoy the baby soybean delights — and while edamame is often sold in pod-form, the tough, fuzzy outer pod is not actually meant for consumption.

Whether you're a lover of spice or the extreme opposite, it truly is worth knowing how to identify the hottest and mildest jalapeños that you come into contact with. Without having an extensive amount of agricultural knowledge or even hands-on experience harvesting spicy peppers, there's nothing preventing you from knowing the difference between an unthinkably hot pepper and a manageable one. In fact, the trick comes down to the presentation of the pepper's skin.

Grabbing that last-minute bag of packaged ice from the store may not be as handy as you think it is. It's important to know that, while packaged ice is considered a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), not all ice found in stores is safe to consume. Despite the convenience and widespread trust in packaged ice, you shouldn't assume that it's all handled the same; unfortunately, the safety requirements for bagged ice implemented by the FDA are not always carefully followed.

Hot chocolate feels like it was invented specifically to ease dull and rainy days. If your daily dopamine routine includes a perfectly chocolatey cup of this warm drink, it might be time to explore new ways to enliven your go-to recipe. One easy way to elevate your hot chocolate is by infusing it with chai.

There is nothing like a quintessentially Southern cake that comes with an entire story behind its fame and genesis. In the case of the Lane cake, its origin story is just as captivating as its rise to popularity. Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1960 and in it, she gave the Alabama cake a cameo that would keep it on the tongues and plates of many for years to come.

Chocolate-covered strawberries will always hit the spot, even if the process gets a little messier than expected. Thankfully, your ice cube tray might be the secret to enjoying this delightful treat with fewer complications. While the tradition of dipping your strawberries in liquid chocolate comes with a certain level of commotion, joy, and chaos (and that is absolutely valid), these ice cube tray molds make perfect sense. The process is quick (roughly five minutes of preparation time), clean, and perfect as a tidbit to impress guests (or yourself).

Creating the dreamiest cup of matcha isn't the only art to perfect, you'll also want to master the art of storing your matcha. Matcha, known and cherished for its aroma, bright green color, and myriad health benefits, can't be stashed just anywhere. Matcha is embraced by pastry chefs and low-energy, health-conscious morning commuters alike, but there is a method to ensuring that it retains its rich benefits and flavor on the shelf. Jee Choe, coffee and tea sommelier and creator of the Oh, How Civilized blog let us in on the secret to expert matcha preservation.

Hot chocolate is the safe space of all winter drinks; it is nostalgia and sweetness swirled into one irresistible cocoa-laden beverage. While American hot chocolate is known for its toppings (marshmallows and cream anyone?), Mexican hot chocolate