Archival Anecdotes: One special ingredient

After researching and writing about the history of cocoa, I succeeded in baking my first-ever, truly authentic homemade chocolate cake. It was delightful and immediately increased my household reputation as a baker.

Baking can be a challenge for some, as there are so many variables and so little room for error. As my elders often reminded me, "To be a good baker, you have to be able to follow inst...