baking powder was a 'new invention'-- corn (maize) has no gluten, so you can't use Yeast effectively to make it rise (no matter the colonalist tried and tried to do so!) american indians had long use 'wood ashes' mixed with the corn, to make a leavening.. this did work--and out of this technology grew baking powder.. (today most baking powders are combo of consisting of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar.)


my other obsession