another one bites the dust...

Well folks, yet another independent restaurant has closed its doors.
I wish all the best to Alyce Mantia, who has made the incredibly difficult decision to close her business, Mantia's. I really enjoyed going there for lunch, special cheeses, and assorted cooking items. Alyce is still available for cooking classes (perfect wedding shower or birthday idea!), private dinner parties, speaking engagements, etc and if you'd like to book her, please contact her at alyce.mantia@gmail.com.
Here is an excerpt from her farewell newsletter:
As you almost certainly know, many local businesses have been affected by the recent drastic economic downturn. Few have been harder hit than our independent restaurants. With costs rising, and revenue falling, many of us have struggled to carry on what we believe to be the best we can do for you, our loyal supporters. Unfortunately there comes a time when difficult decisions must be made. And that time has come for me.

It is important, now more than ever, to support our local businesses, our local people! Please remember, when you purchase a gift, to buy locally. When you go out to eat, please choose local eateries!

Christmas Menu

Here's our Christmas menu!
These items will be available December 5-24 for special order in addition to our regular menu, and will be the only items available for special order between December 18th and December 24th.

Cakes
*Prozac- chocolate cake with chocolate icing; decorated with red, green, and white sprinkles unless specified otherwise
Plain Jane- vanilla cake with vanilla icing; white icing decorated with red and green sprinkles unless specified otherwise
*Grasshopper- decorated with red polka dots
*Reindeer- special seasonal cake that is DELICIOUS! gingerbread cake with caramel icing and garnished with a holly sprig.
Oodelolly- vanilla layers with a coconut filling, iced with old-fashioned boiled icing and covered with shredded coconut
Frankly Scarlett- red cocoa cake with cream cheese icing
*Capote- chocolate cake with vanilla icing; white icing decorated with red and green sprinkles unless specified otherwise

Cupcakes
*prozac- chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing; decorated with red, green, and white sprinkles unless specified otherwise
plain jane- vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing; white icing decorated with red and green sprinkles unless specified otherwise
*capote- chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing; white icing decorated with red and green sprinkles unless specified otherwise
classic- vanilla cupcake with chocolate icing; decorated with red, green, and white sprinkles unless specified otherwise
pucker up- lemon cupcake with lemon icing and white sprinkles
*grasshopper- chocolate cupcake with pale green peppermint icing and white sprinkles
*santa baby- chocolate cupcake with pink peppermint icing and crushed candy cane topping
frankly scarlett- red cocoa cake with cream cheese icing
egg nog- egg nog cake with buttercream icing flavored with nutmeg

*these stay moist for days, especially when kept under a cake dome, so they're excellent choices if you have house-guests and want something to nibble on for a while!

Pies
sweet patootie pie- light and fluffy sweet potato pie
cocoa chanel pie- chocolate chess pie
shady wake pie- pecan pie made the good ole fashioned way
apple-cranberry pie- a tart twist on our traditional apple pie
kick in the pants pie- our most popular pie, lemon chess

Cookies and Bars
toffee bars
chocolate chip cookies
peanut butter cookies
ginger kips
sugar cookies
gingerbread men
snickerdoodles
oatmeal raisin cookies
peppermint brownies
super secret chocolate fudge squares

Muffins and Breads
pumpkin pecan bread or muffins
banana blitzkrieg bread or muffins
wheat germ muffins



Christmas Hours:

Tuesday December 23 11a-7p
Wednesday December 24 11a-3p
Closed December 25-January 5

warning: public display of affection

Please please please forgive me. I realize this isn't strictly "bakery related", but I just have to publicly gush for a minute...
Thomas Robinson is without a doubt the MOST considerate man that exists anywhere on this planet.
He makes a fresh pot of coffee for me almost every morning when he leaves for work.
He constantly helps out around the house WITHOUT being asked.
He helps at the bakery and never lets me feel overwhelmed.
He stops by Petco randomly on the way home from work just to get special treats for our dogs.
He brings me chai lattes in bed on Sunday mornings that he picks up on his way home from teaching Sunday school.
And last night, I got home from work around 10-ish at night and when I went in the back to kick off my shoes, I found THIS (see photo) on my bedside table.

Thomas = Great Guy :)

miserable failure

Well, not everything turns out as planned...
As y'all know I've been totally obsessed with the Baked cookbook (from Brooklyn bakery, Baked) and so far just about everything I've tried has been super-yummy-funtime-delicious.
They are apparently famous for their 'sweet and salty' cake, a chocolate and caramel and sea salt concoction that sounds divine.
I certainly don't blame the recipe (it's one of their best sellers, so clearly their version tastes pretty good), rather, I think I must have seriously mis-stepped somewhere along the way. Personally, I think I burned the caramel... it had a decidedly charred taste to it.
It looks good, but man, did it taste... well, NOT good.
Even I make mistakes in the kitchen!

sweeeeeet!

Ok, new experiment is successful!
Keep your eye out for our November special, in the shop starting November 11!

Sweet Potato cupcakes with Marshmallow icing

My testers at Fox 13 and MIFA were so helpful in getting feedback to me. These are moist and yummy and taste just like Thanksgiving!

Huzzah!

Election Day

I just wanted everyone to see how cute our tray of Plain Janes looked yesterday!
I had SO hoped to have toothpicks with photos of McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden on them, but alas, I don't have nearly that much free time...

This month's Real Simple question of its readers was "What are your hopes for this country?"
These are some of my favorite answers:

"I want the young people of America to realize and understand the sacrifices their grandparents and forebears made so that they could have the freedom to speak, write, and worship as they choose." -Laura Youlios, California

"Mindfulness. Be mindful of the impact everyday activities have on others, the earth, and ourselves. Even the smallest things have the capacity for a big impact. Be mindful of yourself, your surroundings, and your audience before taking action." -Kelly Megill, Pennsylvania

"That people will slow down to talk to each other face to face and not rely so much on virtual communication." -Kanesha Baynard, Colorado

wedding bells!!!

Congratulations to Susye and Nick!
In case you missed the excitement last week, two of our customers got engaged last week... Nick proposed to Susye in Muddy's!!! We've all been swooning over the romance of it all... cupcakes AND a ring!

Laura, one of our resident badass bakers, wrote adorable letters on the cupcakes, "Marry me Susye?"
Nick brought Susye to Muddy's, where he'd already placed a special order for cupcakes asking her to marry him, and he asked at the counter for a flavor he knew we didn't have that week. Anne (who had been previously made aware of her role) said "oh, have a seat and let me check in the back for you!" and brought out his order to him and he asked Susye to marry him! (She totally said yes).

We've had our goodies used at weddings and even in a proposal, but this was the first proposal actually IN the shop. Huzzah!!! Congratulations!!!!!!

Susye was sweet enough to email me a couple of photos from the big event. Thanks Susye!