The "Tea Cake Roundup"

CONTACT:
Elbert Mackey
512-779-9956
elbert@teacakeproject.com
www.theteacakeroundup.com

AFRICAN-AMERICANS LOVED THIS BRITISH COOKIE (NO, IT IS NOT THE OATMEAL-RAISIN) SO MUCH THEY ADOPTED IT

-- The "Tea Cake Roundup" rescues old family recipes and capture the remembrances that accompany them. It is the first to connect the British tea cake to African-American culture. --

Austin, TX (BlackNews.com) - An online project aimed at combining leading tea cake recipes and folklore from families across the United States has culminated in a one-of-a-kind cookbook featuring over 200 different tea cake variations. The Tea Cake Project (www.TeaCakeProject.com) solicited recipes and memories from hundreds of Americans and led to the creation of the new book called The Tea Cake Roundup.

African-Americans responding to an Internet plea for treasured family tea cake recipes induced the author to compile a masterpiece collection of more than 200 variations of a confection begun in 19th century England. These popular cookie-like cakes, which spread across Europe, were drastically changed in the American South by slave cooks who added West African ingredients and baking methods to liven up the bland English variety.

"I have a deep-seeded love for both food and family," said Elbert Mackey, an enthusiastic cook from Austin, Texas and author of The Tea Cake Roundup. "I grew up absolutely loving my Aunt Maggie's tea cakes and wanting to duplicate and document the special taste of her unwritten recipe after her passing. After creating my website and requesting similar recipes from other tea cake enthusiasts, I quickly realized I wasn't alone in my passion for tea cakes or my desire to create a special dedication to the pastry and the history that comes along with it."

Included in The Tea Cake Roundup: Preserving a Baking Legacy for Future Generations are multiple variations on tea cake recipes along with the respondents' childhood memories and family traditions involving those culinary delights.

This historic book can be purchased directly from the publisher online at www.theteacakeroundup.com. A bonus gift of Elbert Mackey's The Big Cookie Roundup eCookbook -- featuring 235 recipes -- is being offered with every purchase. By supplying a first name and email address on the website, one can join the Tea Cake Mailing List to receive news, updates and special promotions.

About Elbert Mackey
Elbert Mackey is an avid cook who has had a passion for food since his grandmother stood him on a kitchen chair to stir cake batter at the tender age of nine. He recalls with warmth the time spent with his grandmother cooking and the tasty reward of licking the bowl after the hard work of preparation. His passion for food and family stirred him to preserve recipes and memories that were in danger of being lost. Dubbed the "Tea Cake Curator" he has dazzled family, friends and judges with his award-winning tasty Tea Cake creations. Elbert Mackey lives in Austin, Texas where he is the owner of a medical equipment repair business.

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