No south Georgia childhood would ever have been complete without “Sugarbabies” --- the chocolate-covered bite-size caramels in that wonderful yellow bag. Ethel Ann’s children ate them by the thousands. Our cookie pays tribute to “America’s favorite treat” by combining the very best chocolate and handmade toffee.
Ethel Ann says that “real” peanut butter is a gift from God because it contains nothing but peanuts. It is fresher and gives anything a richer and more intense flavor. And, as she’s fond of saying, “What’s not to love about that?!”
Lovely, chewy oats combined with homemade toffee transforms a typical cookie into, as Ethel Ann says, one with “pizazz.”. “Toffee makes everything better. It’s like the bakery version of bacon.”
Though shortbread isn’t necessarily Southern, Ethel Ann’s children didn’t know that because she made it all the time – so we decided to call it Ethel Ann Southern. Our version uses the finest dark chocolate, some espresso and a little cayenne. As Ethel Ann says: Never underestimate the beauty of a little kick for your palette or for your backside.
We love finding people who have never experienced a good old-fashioned, Southern teacake so that we can be the ones to introduce them. They originated in the rural South where rations were meager and pantries were rarely stocked with more than the basics. Culinary historians believe these cookies may have been enslaved Africans’ version of the English tea cake, taking what little they had and creating their own version. Our teacake is a special link to this rich part of Southern culture featuring our favorite citrus: lemons.
Pralines have been around since the 1600’s and Louisiana and Mississippi have been fighting since then about who makes the best version of this delicate candy. We’d say that Ethel Ann’s version, combined with a cookie, is the clear winner.
Ethel Ann was a movie fanatic and there are stories of how she’d put all four of her children in the back of the station wagon with blankets and pillows and spend the evening at the drive-in. Katherine Hepburn was one of her favorite actresses and when she found Miss Hepburn’s recipe for brownies, there was a total recalibration. Fudgy, never “cakey,” our version is one of our favorite chocolate experiences.
Pecan tassies are a favorite Southern cookie, especially during the holidays. Ethel Ann would always include them in a tray of sweets for parties and gatherings during the season. We think they are a wonderful cross between a pecan pie and a pecan tart with a little hint of cream cheese in the crust. Our version is a wonderful holiday addition to any feast or you might just eat them all by yourself.
"Now that, honey, should have only happened inside your head. "