Crumb Topping for Pies, Muffins, Coffeecakes....you name it!

     I don't know about you, but I think baked goods need to be visually appealing. Yes, they have to taste good but presentation is also important!  Something I use to "top off" my blueberry muffins, coffeecakes or crumb top pies  is my "Crumb Topping." It's simple to make and adds so much to whatever you put it on.
     Here's Sue's Crumb Topping recipe and "how-to":
     In a food processor, process 1 stick COLD butter ( if it's not cold it will be clumpy and mushy), 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, pinch of salt. Process until tiny pea size. You can add 1/4 tsp cinnamon if you want, especially with anything with apples. Add a heaping tablespoon on each muffin (I then add some more fruit on top) or cover your coffeecake or pie with the crumbs. Bake using your recipe's instructions.
     I keep extra crumb topping in the freezer for quick use.
     Check out the picture of the muffin at the top of my blog for the crumb topping...yum! They are crowd favorites at Market 65 as well as my Farmers' Markets.
     Happy Baking!!

Baking a LOT!!

     As you can see by the above picture, Sue's Kitchen is busy baking fresh pies and cookies for customers at the Westerville and Granville Farmers' Markets. I can't begin to add up the many dozens of cookies my oven produces each week and I can only guess there's about 40 pies each week. Then there's muffins, brownies, Biker bars, cinnamon rolls and whatever else I decide sounds good.

      Strawberry season is about over, as well as rhubarb....But the cherries are coming on and soon we will have Lodi apples and peaches....and berries!!

      Remember, I can hold back a pie or two if you call or e-mail me ahead of time. The pies go fast!!  See you at the market!

Farmers' Markets are here!

     It's time to come get your fresh produce, flowers, plants, salsa, jams, spices, and of course, BAKED GOODS, at your local Farmers' Market. The above picture is of my Mom Effie, my cousin Vicki and myself. It is our tradition to spend quality family time enjoying lunch after the Granville Market each Saturday. A group of us vendors usually try to have dinner after the Westerville market on Wednesday evenings, as time permits. It's a good way to unwind and spend time together.
       Come out this week to Sue's Kitchen for fresh baked Strawberry-Rhubarb pie, plain Rhubarb Pie, Cookie Snack Stack Packs and other goodies!!!

   Remember, I specialize in pies (mini, medium 7" and family 9"), & cookies and will be willing to make about anything for you that can be baked :) Most of my recipes are handed down from the women in my family-which means they are tried and true!
     Check my facebook page (Sue's Kitchen) as well as the Granville Farmers' Market and Westerville Farmers' Market pages weekly for who's coming, what they're bringing and what special things are happening.


See you at the markets!
Sue 

Enough of the Heat, Already!!!

This summer has been such a scorcher! I want to shout out a big THANK YOU for everyone who has braved the heat and humidity to come to the markets. Even Granville was steamy this past weekend-whew!
Come see us this week-I'm rejuvenated (needed a little attitude adjustment for the hot and weary) and will have garden fresh Zucchini Walnut Bread and Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread; and fresh Apple, Blueberry, Cherry and Peach pies; Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle and Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies.
I posted the recipe for the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread on the Westerville Farmers' Market blog recipe section last year. Its quite easy and so delicious-Enjoy!

Sue's Kitchen was all Red, White & Blue!!

Sue's Kitchen was all Patriotic for the 4th! We had Stars-n-Stripes Apple Pie, Star Spangled Cherry Pie, All American Chocolate Chip Cookie Stacks, Red White & Blue Sugar Cookies, and everything was decorated for Independence Day. Happy Birthday USA!!!!!

Back to the real world :)

I hope everyone's having a great week. I'm now back in Pataskala and working today (what a reality check). Sure hope the weather improves for the markets this week...according to Jym Ganahl it will be better....I'm holding you to that Jym!

For Westerville's Market I'm bringing Pastry Lemonade Dessert Bread; Pies (mini and regular): Strawberry Rhubarb, Rhubarb, Blackberry, Peach, Cherry; Cookies: Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin and Oatmeal Walnut Crispie.

For Granville's Market I'll have breakfast fare: Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls, Blueberry Coffeecake and Cranberry Scones w/Lemon Glaze; Cookies: same as above plus my famous Biker Bars; and Pies: same as above.

I look forward to seeing you all there and remember-you can e-mail or call ahead to place an order.

Cookies, Pies and Dessert Breads...Oh My!

Who doesn't like Blueberries? Well- I have a great dessert bread for you: Lemon Pecan Blueberry! My kitchen will be filled with such sweet smells when I bake these. I can't wait to wrap them up for the market this week.

I'll cut my rhubarb again this week but my connection called Saturday & I'll be getting 20-30 pounds later this week. Oh baby, oh baby......bring on the strawberry rhubarb pies :)

I haven't been to NYC since last fall but I'm going this weekend to visit my daughter, Sara. of course we will be taking in some more bakeries; taste testing, getting ideas, etc. How fun is that? I'd really like to visit the Cake Boss' bakery in Hobokan-we'll see if we make it there.
Also need to revisit Chelsea Market and Balthazar Bakery. I can't wait!!! More on that next week.

Everyone enjoyed the cupcakes this past weekend...it doesn't hurt that buttercream icing topped them off along with mini sugar daisies.

Come visit us this Wednesday in Westerville. It is supposed to be a beautiful day. Last week you could get fresh asparagus, rhubarb, herbs, lettuce, radishes, jams, cookies, meats, eggs, beautiful flowers, heirloom tomato plants, and my PIES. What a wonderful start to 2010!

Rhubarb, Rhubarb...May is Rhubarb month!!!!

Wow! That's alotta rhubarb! This picture is from last year but I just cut my rhubarb and I believe I have about this much. Guess I'll be making lots of "Springtime Strawberry Rhubarb" and "Just Rhubarb" pies! There's also a great Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble I might make. Do I need to say that May will be my official Rhubarb month?

Call me or come to the markets to get your fill of Rhubarb for 2010!!

Baking for Mom, Friends & Family

I'm sorry I haven't blogged lately....I guess I was busy wrapping up the winter markets, preparing for the whirlwind summer markets, helping my friend Dana get her bakery ready (yeah-we ripped up 70+year old linoleum and painted 10' high walls), and baking for parties.

We celebrated 15 years at work and I was asked to make the desserts. I have to say the mini cupcakes, red raspberry brownies, sugar cookies and other cookies were a huge hit. Then, we had a family birthday celebration this past weekend and again, the mini cupcakes were enjoyed by all. I think they will be a huge hit at my niece's first communion luncheon coming up.

For all of you looking for something SPECIAL for your Mom on Mother's Day, why don't you give her an individual 5"pie (of her choosing) in a gift box with doilie and ribbon. All for $10.

I'll take orders until Thursday, May 6.

Halloween Fun

We sure had fun at the last Westerville Farmers' Market! Thanks to all who came to see us. Have a super year and don't forget the winter markets.

All Things Pumpkin & Fannie's Apple Walnut Blondies

Fall is my favorite time of year and boy, do I love pumpkin. Pumpkin Pie, Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.............so many good things from this yummy vegetable. My next favorite fall goodie is anything with apples. Everyone seems to LOVE my Gramma Fannie's Apple Walnut Blondies. I plan to make extra this week so we can share the love. Make sure you come early while there are still plenty!

On a decorative note (did I tell you I'm no Candice Olsen?)-you can find all the beautiful fall bounty you need for your home decorating needs: mums, gourds, pumpkins, Indian corn, bittersweet........so many beautiful things. Come see for yourself!!

Blueberries are GOOD for you!

Summer is in full swing and there are so many good things to find at the Farmers' Markets. Its hard for me to choose what to make each week with so much fresh fruit available for pies, fruit bars and coffee cakes. This week I definitely will return with Blueberry Crumb Bars-what a hit they were last week! I'll also have mini Beautiful Blueberry Pies as well as many other fruit pies, cookies, breads and coffeecakes.

If anyone knows where I can find Black Raspberries, fresh or frozen, please let me know. The season was so short this year. I appreciate all input.

See you this week, Sue

Oatmeal Walnut Cookie Stacks, Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread, Blueberry Pie.....our little sweet indulgences.

Mini Blueberry Pie

Oatmeal Walnut Crispie cookie stack

If you have a garden then you are probably looking for things to do with your zucchini. Grilled, baked, fried, sauted, in casseroles, baked and stuffed, whatever you do with it I think its a nutritious wonderfully versatile veggie. Tomorrow I will have Zucchini bread: Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Zucchini Spice with Walnuts. YUM!

I just finished baking for the night and I have 30 mini and 6 large pies to bring to market. There's also my usual cookies stacks and one more new thing: Blueberry Crumb Bars. They have a shortbread base, blueberry middle and shortbread crumb top. Very good if I must say so myself!!

Don't let the rain scare you away-we will all be there rain or shine. Just bring your umbrella and rain jacket. I'll see you tomorrow!!