Hello Fall!

As another season approaches, the market begins to change.  Although, I feel like I am not quite ready for fall, so I am baking with all the summer that's left.  So, here's what's new!

For the weekend, I decided to go a little crazy at our Saturday market.  I had to stop myself from buying  every little "pie" pumpkin, and go enjoy every last piece of produce that was left from the summer.  This lead me to fill my bag with corn, peppers, roma tomatoes, nectarines, plums, and (my absolute favorite) zucchini.  Now here's what came out of the kitchen.  With the corn and jalapeño peppers, and a touch of green onions, I made fresh off the grill Corn Cakes.  They were FAB-U-LOUS!  To top it off we used a little bit of our local maple syrup to drizzle them with.  Then came the Nectarine and Plum Tarts.  These were out of this world!  Although, they weren't my personal favorite, everyone seemed to love them.  And out of the oven came 6 lovely loaves of Zucchini Bread.  Tops off to summer!

Fresh off the Grill Corn Cakes

Nectarine Tarts

The Lovely Zucchini Bread

11 Markets Later...

Its official.  After 11 Friday's at the farmer's market I decided, I need to blog.  So here I am.

This summer season, lots has happened.   I have been so busy looking into what people eat, and that includes where the food comes from.  Yes, by this I mean farming.  I have explored many farms throughout Michigan, and have brought all of my knowledge back to Saugatuck to share with the community.  Eater's Guild Farm, Lubber's Family Farm, and the Student Run Organic Farm at Michigan State University are the three most recent I have been to.  Given the opportunity to visit these farms really opened my eyes.  If you ever have the chance to come to one of these farms...GO!  I learned so much, that I am still trying to comprehend all of the information.  Since, those experiences I have really been working on my products to share my knowledge with everyone around me.  Also, I went to my very first Farm-to-Table dinner at Grassfields Cheese.

Now, to what's new in the business.  We have started a new line of peanut butter. Including peanut & honey, peanut & caramel, peanut & berries, and peanut & cocoa.  They are DE-LI-COUS!  It all starts with a homemade peanut butter with local honey and then we add combinations.  Such as a homemade caramel, chocolate ganache, and a seasonal jam.  This season we have had raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and most recently concord grape.  Also, we have really kicked off on the Cakes.  Lemon has been flying out the door like crazy.  This season has really been great!  Although, produce was limited to the drought Michigan has been going through, we have managed to make the best of it and still are.  A special thanks to all of the farmers!

Last but not least, our season at the market has ended but we are still opened from custom orders.  Here are a few photos to see what we have been up to.  Enjoy!

Grassfields Cheese Farm

Grassfields Cheese Farm-to-Table Dinner

Grassfields "Cheese"

The One-of-a-Kind Chocolate Cake

The 1-2-3-4 Lemon Cake

Welcome to Spring

To begin the new spring season, lots of baking has been taking place to get ready for summer.  Including many new breads and cakes.  Brioche is one of the many new items that has entered the kitchen.  When making Brioche there is much you can do with the dough.  You could just make an amazing loaf of brioche if you wish, but there is also many other delicious possibilities.  What I decided to do was make Pain au Chocolat.  This is a lovely French pastry made with brioche dough, pastry cream, and rich dark chocolate.  Simply wonderful.  Another dough that we have been kneading together is for Torta Rolls.  These are the perfect sandwich rolls.  They are smooth, fluffy, and soft.  What a great combination!  Our classic Country White and Golden Raisin Dried Cherry Pecan Bread has also been a huge hit.  Our cakes have been going off the wall to many birthdays this season.  Red Velvet, Chocolate, and Lemon have been coming out of the oven non-stop.   The aroma is spreading like the spring flowers.   Welcome to Spring!

The Lovely Brioche

Pain Au Chocolat

Our Beautiful Torta Rolls

Classic Country White and Golden Raisin Dried Cherry Pecan Bread

Red Velvet and Vanilla Bean Buttercream with Berries

Our Famous Chocolate Cake

Winter Celebration

Welcome to February 2012!  Currently I have been working lots of new recipes that I cannot wait to tell you all about!  As winter brings in the snow, it also brings in loads of new flavors.  Since my last post, my kitchen has been getting to experience the making of bread, and the oh so lovely smells.  Saturday has official became bread making day!  The two breads that are being kneaded up are the Country White and Golden Raisin Pecan Dried Cherry.  De-li-cous!  The process starts on Friday and then continues to go until about 5 o'clock on Saturday.  We make enough to last the whole week, but I must say, it's the best once its right out of the oven!  I have also been stirring up some new caramel recipes.  All you have to do is cut up some Country White Bread and dip it in the hot caramel and you're in heaven.  Also, I have been making homemade peanut butter with local honey, which is a great hit with the breads.  Last but not least, Almond Cherry Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, Vanilla Bean Caramel Ice Cream, and Chocolate Pound Cake to mix it up.  What a great way to celebrate the season!

Country White Bread with Golden Raisin Pecan Dried Cherry Bread

  

 Delicious Chocolate Pound Cake

One of a Kind Carmel Turtles

 

Home for the Holidays

To celebrate being home for the holidays with the family I decided to create some lovely treats to share.  First, Chocolate Truffles as stocking stuffer.  Second, absolutely fabulous bread rolls to go with the Christmas Eve dinner.  Third,  White Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Zo-O's for Christmas dinner dessert.  These may have been my personal favorite.  The refreshing peppermint from the candy canes was stunning with the creamy white chocolate!  I will definitely be making more Ice Cream Zo-O's!  Fourth, the light and fluffy elegant homemade Marshmallows.  These are such a treat to make and even more to eat!  To go with these Marshmallows I used my Christmas present, Mexican Chocolate, and made delicious Mexican Hot Chocolate.  And to top it off, I also made loaves of Golden Raisin Toasted Pecan Bread with Dried Cherries to give to friends and family.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

 

 White Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Zo-O's

 

Elegant Homemade Marshmallows

Holiday Update

To begin our upcoming holiday season I decided to make a Cranberry Golden Raisin Walnut Cinnamon Challah Bread, Double Chocolate Oreos, and a delicious batch of Cherry Almond Chocolate Biscotti's.  What a mouthful!  My Cranberry Golden Raisin Walnut Cinnamon Challah Bread is made with fresh cranberries, California golden raisins, and a local vietnamese cinnamon.  Not only does this make wonderful toast, but creates an aroma in the kitchen like no other.  The Double Chocolate Zo-O's with a Vanilla Bean Cream with a steamed milk is just what you need will snuggled up in snow.  And last but not least is the Cherry Almond Chocolate Biscotti's with a White Chocolate drizzle.  There is no better way to begin this white winter wonderland season.  Happy Holidays!

 

Cranberry Golden Raisin Walnut Cinnamon Challah Bread

 

Double Chocolate Zo-O's with a Vanilla Bean Cream

 

The Lovely Cherry Almond Chocolate Biscotti's with White Chocolate drizzle

A Time to give Thanks

Thanksgiving is more than just a time to feast, it is a time to give thanks  and to be grateful, and for this holiday- to be grateful for all of the food and flavors!  To celebrate this holiday, I decided to create a decadent apple cranberry golden raisin pie along with a spectacular pumpkin pie.  Also, to top it off, I mixed up some toasted pecan gelato.  As the leftovers and holiday began to go, I thought some lovely gingersnap biscotti's with a white chocolate would be a great way to lift the spirits up again. What a feast!

Apple Cranberry Golden Raisin Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Gingersnap Biscotti's with White Chocolate