Monday, November 26, 2012

No joke, this week it's all MADE HERE




What a wonderful surprise I got when Jo-Ellen Gorris, resident clay artist at Clay in the Garden Gallery in the Village of the Arts, presented me with the "Mature Mermaid" I had commissioned. I love the whimsy that is always present in Jo-Ellen's work. In this case, she didn't realize my Mermaid bears a close family resemblance. I've even checked it with my brother Teddy & he agrees. Oh yeah, she's a playful & youthful version of Aunt Gert, Dad's younger sister. Her likeness also appeared on the front fence of Bonni Bakes Bakery/Cafe. Gert was the only person who shared a love of baking with me.


I'm happy to be chosen as one of the vendors for the unique craft show, MADE HERE, which takes place this Friday Nov 30 at the Palmetto Art Center from 11am - 9pm. It's gonna be a LONG day!!! This is the 3rd year and all of the items for sale have been made by local vendors, from Tampa to Sarasota, who will be hosting their own booths. Talk about a small footprint! Find details at: facebook.com/MadeHereCraftShow





I've spent the last week "jamming". My instruments of choice have been the stove & canning kettle, as I hummed "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho It's Off To Work We Go". As imagined, none of the dwarfs showed up to help. I may have to stop taking Disney so literally. But my hard work did result in a wide selection of homemade jam, chutney and even a marmalade, now available to you.



Who would suspect that the new crop of plump Meyer lemons from my tree could transform into this glistening Meyer Lemon BITTER Marmalade. Not for the faint of heart, but for the person who loves tart & the pucker of lemon. Very limited amounts...$4 a jar. Faced with the dilema of which berry to blend with strawberry into a jam, I couldn't decide. I gave in ultimately by producing a manage a quatre I call "Berry Basket Jam". It's a blend of strawberry, raspberry, blueberry & blackberry. A great flavor mix that is equally delicious on French toast, a scone or matzoh brei. 



Can you believe that the above are a couple of organic Black Beauty eggplants talking up some radishes? When I saw these gorgeous scalloped globes all I could envision was cutting them into thick slices, rubbing olive oil all over, liberally sprinkling seasoning & grilling them. Alternately, I thought about making Caponata, the classic Italian dip that also incorporates tomato, garlic, onion & spices. Come out to the Palma Sola Farmer's Market this Sunday from 10-2 and I'll have samples of it to taste PLUS the recipe to take home. I'm assured there will be an ample supply of these purple beauties for you to purchase. Get the info at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Palma-Sola-Farmers-Market/494915553863783


It's time to start thinking  about decorating THE TREE. I have a bunch of handbaked gingerbread ornaments, NOT EDIBLE because they're painted, including wounded warriors, that will be available at MADE HERE.



There are non-military decorated ginger ornaments too. Limited amount. $2/each.

Because I'm feverishly preparing for MADE HERE by baking lots of Chocolate Orgasm CookiesBreadstix & Cookies, I don't have the time this week to indulge my quest of Jewish bakery items. Forgive me. HOWEVER (I'm channeling Zero Mostel here), because Chanukah is so early this year I'll definitely be baking Rugelach & Challah next week. This one's for you Margo!! If you want to order anything in time to pick-up for Chanukah, let me know.

AVAILABLE THIS WEEK:

Homemade Jam & Chutney  $4/8 oz
Mango Strawberry Cardamom, Mango Daiquiri, Strawberry Balsamic Black Pepper, Mango Meyer Lemon, Berry Basket, Meyer Lemon Bitter Marmalade, Keitt Mango Chutney, Ginger Pear Chutney

Keitt Mango Butter  $5/8 oz
Pure Keitt mango concentrated down for hours with a little sugar & citrus

Breadstix  $4/pkg
Rosemary Parmigiano, Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese, Kalamata & Feta

Mega Muffins  $2/each
Blueberry Lemon, Breakfast (Cheddar, bacon, scallions)

Chocolate Orgasm Cookies  $5/pkg
Mostly Belgium Dark Chocolate, chocolate chips & almonds

Large Cookie  $1.50/each
Belgium Dark Chocolate Orange Walnut, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Belgium Dark Chocolate Lemon (no nuts), Classic Chocolate Chip (no nuts)

TO ORDER: call me at (941) 746-6647 or email bonnibakes@gmail.com

that's my dog Twinkie (almost hidden behind the gate) waiting to welcome you

This week's pickup at my home in The Village of the Arts 
only on  Saturday between 2-5 (or by appt)
or Sunday at Palma Sola Farmer's Mkt 10-2

Pay by cash or local check made out to "Bonni Brown"

Happy Holiday & hugs from my kitchen,
Bonni

Monday, November 19, 2012

FIRST, AN IMPORTANT TWINKIE UPDATE


My dog Twinkie was preoccupied (aka chewing on her toy) when the news broke that Hostess was going out of business and it could spell the end of the TWINKIE!! Needless to say, that got her attention. She wants to assure the public that she is not effected by this corporate move and plans to welcome you to the TreeHouse as usual, when you pick up your order. 


She's been working hard, cleaning up assorted tree debris around the garden. However be warned -- if you sit down in her presence, it will be hard for her to ignore an empty lap.

 

It was a beautiful day at the Palma Sola Sunday Farmer's Mkt, where the organic veggies take center stage. I brought home some incredibly tender young lettuce, kale (for kale chips) and ruby red beets. Ryan Geraldson, the Market Manager, had a 6 lb zucchini on display. Almost tall enough to be decorated as a Christmas tree but the golden zucchini was much better eating. I'll be there this coming Sunday from 10-2. It's located in NW Bradenton at the Geraldson Community Farm, across the street from Robinson Preserve. Search Facebook for Palma Sola Farmers Market for details & a map.

A few weeks ago I was representing the Village of the Arts at a Volunteer Fair and met Margaret Ann Behrends. She's the Development Director for the Perlman Music Program, which has had a winter residency in Sarasota since 2004. This unique professional development program is led by Toby & Itzhak Perlman for 35 gifted string musicians from around the world, ages 12-20+. About 20 musical events (rehearsals, works-in-progress, master classes) are open to the public. For info about all of the public performances & how to get FREE TICKETS, go to www.pmpsuncoast.org or call (941) 955-4942.

Since Thanksgiving is just a few days away, I keep thinking about cranberries. So this week I'll be baking both Cranberry Orange Muffins and Cranberry Orange Mini Loaves, because both say HOLIDAY to me. Of course Pumpkin Date Nut Muffins & Mini LoavesStrawberry Balsamic & Black Pepper Jam (over goat cheese & a cracker), or any of my Breadstix would make welcome table editions. If you'd like to order something & pickup before Thursday, see details below.


Take this holiday opportunity to treasure the people you love and remember to tell them often how you feel. It's a lot easier to face each day when you know you're loved.

Next week it will be time to plan your holiday shopping. I'll give you infomation about MADE HERE, a juried craft fair featuring unique items handmade by local folks. It's at the Palmetto Art Center on November 30 from 11am-9am. I'll be there with yummy goodies & new jams perfect for holiday giving.

After that celebrate An Olde Fashioned Village Christmas in The Village of the Arts during the December 7 & 8 ArtWalk. Details next week.

AVAILABLE THIS WEEK:

Homemade Jam & Chutney  $4/8 oz
Mango Strawberry Cardamom, Mango Daiquiri, Strawberry Balsamic Black Pepper, Mango Meyer Lemon, Pineapple Berry, Keitt Mango Chutney, Ginger Pear Chutney

Keitt Mango Butter  $5/8 oz
Pure Keitt mango concentrated down for hours with a little sugar & citrus

Holiday Mini Loaves  $4/each
Cranberry Orange  or  Pumpkin Date Walnut

Breadstix  $4/pkg
Rosemary Parmigiano, Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese, Kalamata & Feta

Mega Muffins  $2/each
Pumpkin Date Walnut or  Cranberry Orange

Chocolate Orgasm Cookies  $5/pkg
Mostly Belgium Dark Chocolate, chocolate chips & almonds

Large Cookie  $1.50/each
Belgium Dark Chocolate Orange Walnut, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Belgium Dark Chocolate Lemon (no nuts), Classic Chocolate Chip (no nuts)

Order by calling me at (941) 746-6647 or email bonnibakes@gmail.com

Regular orders must be received by 5pm Wed for pickup Fri, Sat or Sunday

Holiday orders must be received by 12 noon Tuesday for pickup Wed 4-6pm or by special arrangement


that's Twinkie almost hidden behind the gate, waiting to welcome you

Weekly pickup at my home in The Village of the Arts 
Friday or Saturday between 2-5 (or by appt)
or Sunday at Palma Sola Farmer's Mkt 10-2

Pay by cash or local check made out to "Bonni Brown"

Happy Holiday & hugs from my kitchen,
Bonni

Monday, November 12, 2012

What do you mean it's mid-November?


This single plant is over 25' tall
Cut Mexican Sunflowers in a vase

How is that possible, since the Mexican Sunflower bush tree is in bloom, especially on the 25' branches extended to the sun. They also make lovely cut flowers, lasting almost a week inside. The plant grows as tall as Jack's beanstalk from a simple piece of stem that you bury in the ground, and water occasionally. It requires minimal care, grows before your eyes, is ignored by insects and produces gorgeous blooms! Once you have one plant, you'll have a lifetime supply for yourself & the entire neighborhood. Oh, and the price is right.  I'll be happy to give you a free chunk to take home & plant when you stop by the TreeHouse to pick-up your order.

The Meyer Lemons are almost ripe enough to pick

Now that my beloved mango tree has given up all of its fruit (but not the annoying resident squirrel), I've been anxiously eyeing the Meyer Lemons. These days they turn from green to yellow within a week, and the first ripe one fell off yesterday. That's been the missing ingredient that has prevented me from making more Keitt Mango Meyer Lemon Jam. Your long wait is almost over, a new batch will be available very soon! Maybe marmalade too.

Jewish Apple Cake

Sunday I picked up some Delicious organic apples at Palma Sola Farmer's Market & I thought they deserved to be part of something special. I imagined chunks of  them rolled in real Vietnamese cinnamon & sugar, as part of a traditional Jewish Apple Cake. Not too sweet, moist not wet, simply delicious with a cup of coffee or tea at any time of the day. 

Warm loaves of MINORCAN MULTI-GRAIN BREAD

This week I'm baking Minorcan Multi-Grain Bread. A loaf incorporating half a dozen grains plus assorted seeds; and a texture similar to a NY Rye, without the rye. It's crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and makes a great sandwich. Bread baking is time consuming, especially with a complex loaf like this, and hard to fit into my tight schedule. I do it because I can't buy anything like this commercially. It's also vegan but the truth is I love it toasted & shmeared with cream cheese. Limited amount: I'm only baking six, and one of them is for me.


Blueberry Lemon Muffins

Don't miss that melt-in-your-mouth favorite, Blueberry Lemon. I buy loads of fresh blueberries at the height of season and freeze them so I can add their fresh picked flavor all year long. This is a muffin with a soft lemon tinged crumb, surrounding juicy whole berries throughout. It isn't "gummy" like some yucky blueberry muffins.

Some of the usual suspects also available this week:

Homemade Jam & Chutney  $4/8 oz
Mango Strawberry Cardamom, Mango Daiquiri, Strawberry Balsamic Black Pepper, Pineapple Berry, Keitt Mango Chutney, Ginger Pear Chutney

Keitt Mango Butter  $5/8 oz
Pure Keitt mango concentrated down for hours with a little sugar & citrus

Jewish Apple Cake $4.50/8 oz
Pure Keitt mango concentrated down for hours with a little sugar & citrus

Breadstix  $4/pkg
Rosemary Parmigiano, Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese, Kalamata & Feta

Muffins  $2/each
Blueberry Lemon, Breakfast (bacon, corn & Cheddar)

Minorcan Multi-Grain Bread  $4.50/loaf

Chocolate Orgasm Cookies  $5/pkg
Mostly Belgium Dark Chocolate, chocolate chips & almonds

Oversized Cookie  $1.50/each
Belgium Dark Chocolate Orange Walnut, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Belgium Dark Chocolate Lemon (no nuts), Classic Chocolate Chip (no nuts)


Order by calling me at (941) 746-6647 or email bonnibakes@gmail.com

Orders must be received by 5pm Wed 

enter through the white iron gate, to the house in back

Pick-up at my house in The Village of the Arts 
Friday or Saturday from 2-5 (or by appt)
or Sunday at Palma Sola Farmer's Mkt 10-2

Pay by cash or local check made out to "Bonni Brown"

Hugs from my kitchen,
Bonni


Bonni Brown
Village of the Arts
932 12th Street West
Bradenton, FL  34205

(941) 746-6647
email:  bonnibakes@gmail.com
















Monday, November 5, 2012

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY

With the election just a day away, I expected a political call every time the phone rang today. This afternoon I was leery as I answered, prepared to listen to a recording for 10 seconds then hang up. So it was very surprising to discover the call was from a local law firm, with a real human on the other end. He asked a series of questions about my business, BONNI BAKES, which I wasn't about to answer. It was barely a month ago I discovered I was a victim of Identity Fraud, so I don't readily give information to strangers. Who was he? What did he want from me? 

As he spoke it became clear that he was looking for local businesses to join a class-action suit against BP related to the Gulf oil disaster, regardless of whether you thought you suffered damages or not. My heart aches for the folks who lost lives, property & businesses during that disaster. But me? Safely inland from the Gulf with no connection to the disaster, why was he calling me? He repeatedly tried to get me to join the suit, despite my telling him that I suffered no damage and had no intention of asking to be reimbursed for anything. I wonder if his law firm's fee is linked to the total number of people in "the class"? It turns out that the Village of the Arts is located within some arbitrary geographic area, where businesses can submit claims due to the disaster. He seemed unable to accept my statement that "I had no damage and believe all monies awarded should go solely to those who truly suffered." It was as if I was speaking Greek. Maybe he hasn't run into many people whose principles aren't swayed by greed.


On a more pleasant note, look who were wandering around during the Farmer's Market yesterday...


The two goats were adept at discovering yummy snacks wherever they wandered



Mr Darcy won't be appearing on anyone's table for Thanksgiving

We all love the various animals that Glenda & her lovely family bring with them to the market, along with their fresh goat products, including milk, cheese & yogurt. The official name for the Sunday market is PALMA SOLA FARMERS MARKET, and it operates from 10-2 every Sunday at Geraldson's Community Farm, just south of Robinson Preserve in NW Bradenton. 

This week I was delighted by the abundance of fresh farm veggies, like these:


Yellow, green & purple peppers
Yellow zucchini, see it cooked below

Zephyr squash
Gorgeous broccoli & heads of kale

Last week I bought some yellow zucchini and wanted to do something special with it. I rarely fry things, but thought that coins of those zukes, dipped in egg/salt/pepper then dusted in Panko breadcrumbs, would be delicious. And if I added a little Parmesan on top, that wouldn't hurt either. I was right!


Simple, but a wonderful mouth-feel of the crisp outside contrasted with the silky soft interior. I sauteed them in a thin film of half olive oil & butter in a frying pan on Medium, until brown on each side. Maybe a total of 8 minutes. The picture above represents one yellow zucchini. I gobbled it up in minutes. 

This coming week I'll make samples of Kale Chips from the farm's beautiful kale. Come out, taste a sample, get the recipe for free, buy the freshest kale you can imagine and make it for yourself at home. Quite amazing how it has the mouth-feel of potato chips, with whatever seasoning you'd like, yet the nutrition is just grinning in the background.  Prices at the Market are very fair and reasonable...plus, many items are organic too!

Here's what I'm making this week. Since I've been eyeing all of those fabulous Fall pears, it was time to bring back a chutney that I did years ago...Ginger Pear, using both fresh & candied ginger. My latest jam is a combo of fresh pineapple, blueberry, raspberry & blackberry. Too damn many names to put on a label, even though you can taste all of the component tropical flavors. Just look for my Pineapple Berry Jam


I apologize to those of you who were disappointed that you couldn't get your fair share of Chocolate Orgasms this weekend and had to embrace "Plan B"...please, no details. I didn't anticipate the Festival of the Skeletons attendees were such fans. If you'd like to guarantee getting your cookies, or anything else from me, please get in touch so I can put yours aside. I truly appreciate the support you've given me all of these years and don't want to disappoint!!



I want something sorta sweet, so I'm going bake a NYC Classic Blueberry Cheese Danish Loaf. It's a rich dough filled with a creamy cheese filling & fresh blueberries. Instead of a hand held Danish, you cut off slices. Hand cut and $12/lb.




This is my version of the famous NYC Chock Full O'Nuts original sandwich bread...Whole Wheat Raisin Nut. For my taste it's great sliced & filled with Philadelphia Cream Cheese & sprinkled with toasted walnuts. Or toast a slice and spread with butter and/or jam. Either way a winner. $4.50/loaf

Muffins are Blueberry Corn, Cranberry Orange or the Breakfast Muffin (bacon, Cheddar, scallion & corn).

If you view this at bonnibakesbrooklyn.blogspot.com you can see the menu listed at the side of the blog. Orders must be received by Wed at 5pm via email bonnibakes@gmail.com or calling me at (941)746-6647. 

Orders can be picked up at my TreeHouse home in the Village of the Arts on Friday & Saturday or at the Palma Sola Farmers Market on Sunday at Geraldson Community Farm. Find directions & information geraldsoncommunityfarm.org

During the writing of this I accidently hit some key that made everything I've done in the last 2 hours disappear. If you receive multiple copies, or  a plea for doggie snacks from Twinkie, please ignore that. DON'T IGNORE VOTING ON TUESDAY!!


Hugs from my kitchen, 

Bonni & the never-embarrassed Twinkie

Bonni Bakes
in the Village of the Arts
932 12th Street West
Bradenton, FL  34204

(941) 746-6647

bonnibakes@gmail.com