In this episode of Sprung On Food, Kae Sprung dives deep into the delicious world of carrot cake with standup comedian and writer Erin Jackson. Discover the rich history of this popular dessert, tips on making the perfect moist carrot cake (hint: canned peaches and pineapple!), and the role this cake played in major historical events.

From medieval roots to wartime propaganda and modern pop culture, we’ve got it all covered. Plus, learn about unique global variations and hear Erin’s hilarious takes on cake preferences and diet myths. Join us for a sweet culinary journey packed with laughter and tasty insights!

You can follow and support this week's guest, Erin Jackson here:

https://erinjackson.net/

https://www.instagram.com/ejthecomic

https://www.tiktok.com/@ejthecomic

See behind the scenes photos and video here: http://instagram.com/sprungonfood

Check back for new episodes, and make sure to also subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@iamsprung

You can also learn more and follow Kae Sprung here:
Website: http://katherinesprung.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsprung
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamsprung

Looking for tools and resources to help make your own podcast? I recommend Riverside and Descript. You can find links below to sign up*:
Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=katherine-sprung
Descript: https://get.descript.com/nm1frs9a38kg

About the show:
Sprung On Food is a digital and podcast series, hosted by Katherine "Kae" Sprung, an award-winning pastry chef and food and media entrepreneur. This season, we're talking about favorite foods- the history behind them and the role they play in the world today. Each episode features a special guest to talk about their favorite food, and help comment on the historical origins and pop-cultural and modern society moments tied to that food. Its food history meets food pop-culture, a dose of education, with sprinkles of comedy.

*Please note that I'm an affiliate and might receive a commission from the links. If you plan on signing up for either app, please consider using the link to help support a fellow creator!

00:00 Introduction to Carrot Cake
00:17 Guest Introduction: Erin Jackson
00:52 Erin's Carrot Cake Secrets
02:50 Carrot Cake Variations
05:40 Historical Origins of Carrot Cake
11:45 Carrot Cake in Wartime
17:21 Modern Carrot Cake Evolution
20:41 Global Carrot Cake Variations
24:02 Carrot Cake in Pop Culture
26:58 Conclusion and Farewell

Join Kae Sprung on this episode of Sprung On Food as she dives deep into the world of Masala Dosa with comedian, actor, writer, and content creator Jordan Myrick. Jordan shares their lifelong love for this iconic South Indian dish, detailing their early encounters at vegetarian restaurants and their family’s culinary adventures. Discover the rich history behind Masala Dosa, from its origins in ancient Tamil Nadu to its rise in modern cuisine influenced by Krishna Rao. Plus, get recommendations on where to find the best dosas and hear about its cultural significance. Don't miss out on the delicious exploration!

You can follow and support this week's guest, Jordan Myrick here:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/jordanmyr1ck⁠

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jordanmyr1ck?lang=en⁠

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jordanmyr1ck⁠

See behind the scenes photos and video here: http://instagram.com/sprungonfood

Check back for new episodes, and make sure to also subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@iamsprung

You can also learn more and follow Kae Sprung here:
Website: http://katherinesprung.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsprung
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamsprung

Looking for half off your first 2 months to help make your own podcast? I recommend Riverside and Descript. You can find links below to sign up*:
Riverside: https://riverside.cello.so/kbhJQ48RO1S
Descript: descript.cello.so/4oB9cH6HfXH

About the show:
Sprung On Food is a digital and podcast series, hosted by Katherine "Kae" Sprung, an award-winning pastry chef and food and media entrepreneur. This season, we're talking about favorite foods- the history behind them and the role they play in the world today. Each episode features a special guest to talk about their favorite food, and help comment on the historical origins and pop-cultural and modern society moments tied to that food. Its food history meets food pop-culture, a dose of education, with sprinkles of comedy.

*Please note that I'm an affiliate and might receive a commission from the links. If you plan on signing up for either app, please consider using the link to help support a fellow creator!

00:00 Introduction to Masala Dosa

00:17 Guest Introduction: Jordan Myrick

00:35 Jordan's Love for Masala Dosa

01:04 Childhood Memories and Vegetarianism

04:09 Spice and Flavor Adventures

04:55 Favorite Places for Masala Dosa

06:29 History of Masala Dosa

08:19 Fermentation and Probiotics

10:47 Evolution of Masala Dosa

11:16 Krishna Rao and Udupi Restaurants

21:29 Global Popularity and Fusion Cuisine

27:47 Pop Culture Moments and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung welcomes actor-comedian and writer D.J. Mausner to discuss why the eggplant Parmesan sandwich is their favorite, tied to childhood trips to Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. Kae traces eggplant’s history from domestication in South and Southeast Asia and its mention in Ayurvedic texts, to China’s Qimin Yaoshu, into the Middle East, and then to Europe via Islamic Spain and Sicily, where it was once feared as the nightshade “mad apple.”

The episode explores disputed origins of Parmigiana di Melanzane (Sicily vs. Naples), how it fit cucina povera, and how Italian immigration to the U.S. helped transform the baked dish into fried Italian-American parm heroes.

You can follow and support this week's guest, D.J. Mausner here:

https://www.instagram.com/djmausner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@djmausner

See behind the scenes photos and video here: http://instagram.com/sprungonfood

Check back for new episodes, and make sure to also subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@iamsprung

You can also learn more and follow Kae Sprung here:
Website: http://katherinesprung.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsprung
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamsprung

Looking for half off your first 2 months to help make your own podcast? I recommend Riverside and Descript. You can find links below to sign up*:
Riverside: https://riverside.cello.so/kbhJQ48RO1S
Descript: descript.cello.so/4oB9cH6HfXH

About the show:
Sprung On Food is a digital and podcast series, hosted by Katherine "Kae" Sprung, an award-winning pastry chef and food and media entrepreneur. This season, we're talking about favorite foods- the history behind them and the role they play in the world today. Each episode features a special guest to talk about their favorite food, and help comment on the historical origins and pop-cultural and modern society moments tied to that food. Its food history meets food pop-culture, a dose of education, with sprinkles of comedy.

*Please note that I'm an affiliate and might receive a commission from the links. If you plan on signing up for either app, please consider using the link to help support a fellow creator!

00:00 Eggplant Parm Intro
01:06 Why This Sandwich
02:22 Toronto Market Nostalgia
04:05 Banana Bread Detour
06:45 Eggplant Origins Setup
07:44 Ancient India Eggplant
09:01 Wellness Routines Chat
11:55 Trade Routes To Europe
12:55 Nightshade Fears Myth
15:33 Parmigiana Origin Debate
17:50 Detective Verdict Talk
19:30 Bologna Food Roots
20:20 Eggplant Origins Debate
21:10 Shutter Name Story
22:31 Cucina Povera Parmigiana
23:41 Italian American Fried Era
24:22 Fried Food Hot Takes
26:47 Hero Sandwich History
28:45 Elevation Or Exploitation
32:24 Why This Sandwich Matters
33:41 Eggplant Love And Wings
35:09 Pop Culture And Legends
36:55 Final Thoughts And Thanks