The Johnnycake Center is one of many local organizations stepping to fill the gap as we wait for the Trump administration to comply with the court order to release SNAP funding. Rhode Islanders are stepping up. We need the administration to do the same. | Representative Seth Magaziner

In 1796, Amelia Simmons published American Cookery, the first cookbook written by an American. Published in Hartford, Connecticut, the book blended English methods with new American ingredients. Simmons, an orphan and domestic servant, introduced dishes like Indian pudding, johnnycake, and pumpkin pie. Her recipes popularized pearlash as a leavening agent and brought terms like cookie and slaw into everyday use. The cookbook symbolized America’s culinary independence and remains a cornerstone of