Easter Goodness

I cannot believe that it's already mid month! How is it that Easter is just a week away? Are you feeling a little lot behind, like me? (Wait, do I ever feel up to speed? Not really!)

I have, however, managed to get one thing done: my Easter Special. Available all month, this 9" fresh fruit tart is crowd pleaser.

The shortbread-like crust is deliciously sweet and buttery, a perfect counterpoint to the creamy vanilla custard and bright fruit that adorn the top. The sample has a delicious combo of ripe mango, sweet-tart kiwis, blackberries and strawberries. I'm pretty certain the tarts will look quite similar, if not the same, but I can't guarantee that they will look exactly like this one simply because it all depends on what Berkeley Bowl has to offer and what looks ripe that day. 

This picture makes me want to dive in and devour the whole thing. Seriously. Look at that crust.

Tarts are priced competitively at $25. Well worth it to make your Easter plans easier; what with dying and hiding dozens of eggs, in addition to cooking for the family and cleaning up the house.... Who couldn't use a bit of convenience?

Happy Spring & Easter everyone!

Feel free to peruse my April menu for additional goodness. 

St. Patty's Day!

One of the few things I miss about working in an office are the social gatherings, whether its just going to lunch with friends or the company-sponsored variety. To bring back a bit of that spirit (those of you that work(ed) at Tippett might recall that March 17th was one of the best and most looked forward to work days of the year) I thought it'd be fun to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year with an "adult" cupcake.....

Coffee infused chocolate cupcake with Bailey's Irish Cream buttercream!

This cupcake is absolutely sublime and not to be missed, so I'm pricing them to sell at $5 per pair. Now, mind you, there's actual Bailey's in the buttercream so this is an adults only treat -- sorry kiddies!

And, as always, if you have a special event coming up or would like to treat yourself to something different, feel free to peruse my menu or just call or email me and we can chat.

Have a great St. Patrick's Day and don't forget to wear your green on Monday!

Its been a year?!

Can you imagine my embarrassment when I realized it's been a full year since I last blogged?! Oh dear. Well, nothing to do but to jump right back in!

This Valentine's Day I'm offering a new cookie:

Chocolate-Dipped Espresso Shortbread Hearts (it's a mouthful in more ways that one!)

This sweetheart (har har!) is sure to please the chocolate and coffee lover in your life. Each crispy cookie is the perfect balance of sweet caramelize sugar and intense espresso, all melded with smooth semi-sweet chocolate. Sooo good. 

And to make them extra special and gift-worthy, I'm boxing them in a sweet little 4" box (with window to peek in) and tied with red and white twine and a red paper heart you can personalize to your special someone.

Available by the half or full dozen:

Half Dozen       $7
Dozen               $13

And if these don't float your boat, feel free to order something else off my menu below -- I'm here to please and entice your sweet tooth :)

Hope you all have a wonderful February and an especially sweet Valentine's Day!

xomelissa

February Specials | Red Velvet Two Ways

I just noticed that I never posted my Christmas specials on the blog.... wow, talk about dropping the ball, there really is no excuse for that kind of mistake -- sorry folks! And, no, I haven't forgotten that I promised a recap of my all my holiday baking. I promise to get right on that, scout's honor.

But, before I do all that, we really have to talk about February and all the fun it brings.... you know, like, the SUPER BOWL -- GOOOOOO 49ers! -- and Valentine's Day! 

This month we're revisiting my red velvet cupcakes cause nothing says love for the 49ers or your sweetheart like the color red. One of my all time best sellers, these moist cupcakes have just the right hint of cocoa and are generously topped with a classic cream cheese frosting. And to sweeten the deal even more, I'm doing two sizes this time around, full size and minis.

For your Super Bowl party this weekend, the cupcakes come topped with white chocolate red and gold-dusted stars.  

For Valentine's Day, each cupcake will be topped with a pair of light pink sweet hearts for your sweetheart. Sold by the pair, they come boxed and tied with a red ribbon, intended to impress that special someone.

Check out the awesome vintage hand-embroidered tea towel
I inherited from my grandmother. Gorgeous, right? 

The minis are perfect for parties since they're the ideal size for popping and have just the right hit of sweetness. Priced to sell, they're not to be missed. 

$6 a pair (full size)

$1 each mini with a minimum order of 12

Happy Valentine's Day and lets all cheer on the 49ers this Sunday!

Cranberry Sauce

So, I've never really understood the appeal of that jelly log that slides out the can. You know what I'm talking about, we've all tried it and in some homes its a staple on Thanksgiving. As a kid, I always thought it was icky and, in turn, that all cranberry sauce was like that. And then, some years back in another life, I was working for a caterer and she made homemade cranberry sauce. From whole oranges and fresh cranberries. Let me tell you, it blew my mind. I'd never seen such a thing and was thoroughly impressed. 

With the preserving bug I caught recently, I decided that offering a fresh cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving would be a fun addition. And, after a few trials, I was rewarded with this....

Oh yea. Lovely, lovely cranberry sauce. Slightly sweet but with a nice cranberry punch, it's lightly spiced with cinnamon, allspice and cloves with a nice undercurrent of whole oranges. 

It will be a great accompaniment to your Thanksgiving turkey and the sandwiches the next day. Can you imagine a turkey and ham (yes, we do ham too!) sandwich with that sauce peeking out from the bread? Yum! 

I'll be making the sauce to order, so ping me if you'd like a jar. And don't forget that this would make a fantastic hostess gift if you've been invited to dine at someone's home.

Available in 2 sizes:

8oz     $5

16oz   $8

Please note: the cranberry sauce must be refrigerated.

And I have to tell you, in the process of testing recipes, we've been slathering it on toast in the morning -- Nolan is officially a HUGE fan of the cranberry sauce! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanksgiving -- Are you ready?

Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away and it's time to get serious. While you scour all your cookbooks, magazines and online options for winning recipes, why not get a jump start and check one thing off your list now? Place an order for your Thanksgiving desserts and save your precious oven time for the turkey.

I'm currently offering a 10% discount if you order two or more pies. Mix and match from Pumpkin, Pecan, Chocolate Pecan and/or Apple. All pies are made with my signature all butter crust, it practically melts in your mouth!

And if pie isn't your thing, consider ordering some Pumpkin Spice cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese frosting instead (dozen minimum please). 

And for all those potluck-ers out there, bringing a homemade pie or some cupcakes is a guaranteed pleaser. Just planting some seeds....

Have a great Thanksgiving and I look forward to making your day all that much more stress-free.

Pre-discount prices are noted on the menu below:

Strawberry Jam!

Is it just me or are the strawberries exceptional this year? We can't seem to get enough of them around here and so I decided to make some jam to enjoy long after the little green baskets disappear. 

Now, I don't know about you but we have an issue with things being too sweet. I know this seems like an oxymoron coming from a baker, but I think that the flavors of whatever you're making should shine through, not just the sweetness. I find that this a huge issue particularly with strawberry jam where its more sugary sweet than strawberry-y. 

That said, I embarked on a journey and found the most lovely recipe that perfectly balances the sweetness with bright strawberry goodness. 

Needless to say, it's been such a treat! My personal favorite (so far!) is to have it on an English muffin with a cup of coffee, but Nolan seems to really enjoy it on his waffles. Its so good, its hard to go wrong.

And, of course, I'm sharing the goodness with all of you! 

Packed in 4oz and 8oz jars, you can get in on the action. 

4oz jar     $3

8oz jar     $6

They should have a shelf life of around 2 years if unopened but should be refrigerated once you decide dive in. Limited quantities so don't wait too long....