Chefs
Jeff Mertz
Taffy Elrod
Chef Taffy Elrod is a cooking instructor, recipe developer, food writer, and business owner with over 20 years of diverse experience in the food industry. Chef Elrod’s background informs her cooking and teaching, pairing professional knowledge with fun and flavor wherever she cooks, in her recipes, and her writing. Chef Elrod is co-author of The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, FoodandWine.com, Saveur.com, Edible Capital District Magazine, TheSpruceEats.com, and OprahDaily.com.
She lives in New York’s Capital District with her husband “Pizza Man” and their cat Kit Kat.
Taffy is grateful to Nina Lausell for recording this video.
Cornmeal Shortcakes with Summer Strawberries
Strawberries are the first fruits of summer I remember in my grandmother’s garden. Their bright red color makes them perfect for Juneteenth celebrations. Strawberry Shortcake is a beloved summertime classic. My version, with cornmeal enriched shortcakes, adds another layer of summer sunshine and heritage flavor. Fresh, ripe cherries, blueberries, or peaches can be substituted as they come into season.
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