Florida is another one of those states like California where the fertile conditions of the land have allowed the state to exploit fruit and vegetable production. Florida is home to some of the best citrus production most likely due to its humid and tropical climate. One of their most regarded fruits, the lime is the base to one of America's favorite pies, key lime pie. The Florida Keys is where this particular treat gets its name and origin story.
While it is wildly simplistic in ingredients, not every key lime pie passes the test of being edible. The meringue base of the pie features fresh lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped egg yolk topped on a crunchy graham cracker crust. The opposing textures, tartness of the limes, and smoothness of the creamy meringue base are a mixture of culinary elements that are nothing short of genius. A little advice, if you're in the hunt of a quality key lime pie, never trust a bright green filling when in search of the authentic Florida pie.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.