My Weekend in NYC

Views of Chelsea Market 5/14/2010

When I'm lucky I get to come visit my daughter, Sara, in NYC, which just so happens to be this weekend!! We always check out some of the top bakeries so I can borrow (steal) ideas. Yesterday she had to work so I started out @Union Square Farmers' Market. It was a gorgeous day and there was everything to choose from. I was in need of coffee and a pastry so I purchased a HUGE blueberry scone (only $1.50) then found some Apricot Almond Biscotti ($2.50 for 6). I headed over to Starbucks to enjoy my finds but I was quickly disappointed :( The scone was dry and tasteless and the biscotti was SOFT-whoever heard of a soft biscotti?? In the trash they went and I took off for Chelsea Market. In the meantime I saw a famous person! I have no idea what his name is but I know he's been in comedies.

Chelsea Market is where the Food Network is taped (upstairs) and where wonderful specialty shops are located. Its a must-see for a foodie like me. I visited Ruthy's, Amy's Breads, Eleni's Cupcakes, SaraBeth's Kitchen, Fat Witch Brownie shop, the BoweryKitchen (where chefs go to buy anything and everything), and had lunch at Friedman's Lunch. I don't know if the fried green tomato w/blue cheese on whole wheat was worth $10 but it was good. I kept an eye open for Bobby Flay but he didn't show :(

After visiting my Sara and her pals at work we took off to Wild Wood BBQ for some ribs and all the trough of sides. The sweet hickory BBQ aroma pulls you in the restaurant and is hypnotic!! After dinner we got Pomegranate and Mango yogurt @ Pinkberry (YUM!) with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and dark chocolate crisps-what a way to end the day!! We had a ball with Crystal and Helen-both foodies likes us! I miss you both!

In the evening we chillaxed and relived Betty White's "Muffin" skit from last week's SNL-what a riot. More fun tomorrow........

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.

St. Pat's and Spring coming to Worthington's Farmers' Market

It is so wonderful to have spring-like weather this week. It inspires me to break out the springtime table cloths, Easter chick and bunny cookie cutters and flowers...lots of flowers.

Its also almost St. Patrick's Day so this Saturday we will be decked out all in green, complete with shamrock decor and shamrock sprinkled sugar cookies.

At Sue's Kitchen we will also bring something that goes delightfully well with your morning coffee...Coffeecake! Look for Blueberry Cream Cheese and Apple Walnut Streusel coffeecake, cut and packaged in individual pieces (see the above pictures). If you can't wait to partake, I will be sure to bring forks and napkins for you.

See you there!

Meeting Mary Alice & Geof from the Ace of Cakes

Have I told you I have a good friend whose name is Dana Landrum? Well, Dana recently won tickets to meet Mary Alice and Geof from the Food Network's hit show "Ace of Cakes" at the Central Ohio Home and Garden show...and she asked me to go with her! We enjoyed a meet and greet during a continental breakfast and got their autographs while we were there. Pictured above is Mary Alice, Dana's daughter Janessa, Me, Geof and Dana. We later attended a Q&A session during the cake decorating contest, which was attended by at least 1000 people. We had a great time!

What do you want? What makes you happy?

I need to try some new recipes and am interested in your favorites. I'll always have my signature pies, cookies, and biker bars but what really puts a smile on your face? I know dessert breads can be yummy. My cinnamon rolls fly off the table. Mini cupcakes are super cute and tastey. What do YOU think?

Here's what's new this week: I'm making berry cream cheese coffeecake for this week's market and will focus on a variety of coffeecakes for the coming markets. You can choose from a whole coffeecake for your family or by the slice to enjoy with your morning cup of coffee. Over the past couple of years I've made blueberry, pecan crunch, apple walnut streusel, and cinnamon sour cream. All are quite yummy and you can look for these in coming weeks.

What else is a popular sweet indulgence? What's your favorite? What do you want to see at the markets or available to order?

I want to hear from you so send me your comments and e-mails!!

Sweets for Valentine Sweeties

Friends Zoe and Janessa enjoyed some mini cupcakes for Valentine's Day at the Worthington Winter Farmers' Market this past Saturday. We had a nice crowd who came out and braved the cold weather to pick up their purchases. Thanks to everyone for coming!

And for Valentines' Day my pies always have to be pretty.........

Snowday

There's nothing like a snowday to get me motivated to bake something just for my family, clean up the kitchen, and organize all the cookbooks and inspirational magazines that I've accumulated. I look outside and see the huge icicles hanging from the roof and the constant falling snow and I know I will surely appreciate spring this year. I know my husband Jim will too as he works for ODOT and has been working many 12 hour shifts plowing the roads in northern Licking County. Winter is beautiful but...come on..enough is enough!!

Here is a fun Snowman Family from Worthington

Pretty Pies and Valentine's Cupcakes

This Saturday we will be at the Worthington Winter Farmers' Market with delicious fruit pies and mini cupcakes. If you want something special for your Valentine this would be the perfect time to order their favorite sweet as we have another market on February 13...the day before Valentine's Day, how perfect! How about their favorite mini pie decorated with hearts packaged in its own box and tied with a bow?? Or a box of mini cupcakes: decadent dark chocolate with chocolate buttercream frosting, vanilla bean with pink buttercream or red velvet with cream cheese frosting? All wrapped up with a pretty bow. All you need is the card.

Mini Cupcakes and Mini Pies.....oh what a sweet small indulgence

Mini pies and cupcakes can satisfy that sweet tooth without causing the guilt of having eaten a whole slice of cake or pie...don't you think? Just a small sweet indulgence, like this mini apple pie. Or these mini cupcakes: Red Velvet w/cream cheese frosting, Dark Chocolate w/chocolate buttercream frosting and Carrot Cake w/cream cheese frosting. Yummm!

I'll see you all at the Worthington Winter Farmers' Market this Saturday with all of the above. Bring your sweet tooth!

Happy New Year Everybody!

A new year means trying new things and I'm always searching for new recipes for delicious goodies to bring to market. Today we had a FRIGID start to the day but our Columbus Winter Farmers' Market was well attended and enjoyed by all. I try to bring things that people can sit and enjoy with a steamy cup of coffee as we have a hospitality area where you can sit a spell and visit.

I'm learning about the lovely little treat called "scones". Yummmmmmmmm! My good friend, Dana Landrum (Landrum Cottage) introduced them to me awhile ago but I only made them a few times. Well, I made them for today's market and they sold out fast! Below is a picture of my cranberry scones slathered with heavy cream ready for the oven. After they come out I drizzle them with a lemon glaze. Wow, these are so heavenly...they melt in your mouth :)