from Brown Eye BakerI feel like I completed a mom right of passage: First school bake sale! Delicious summer peaches at the markets inspired me to make these Peach Crumble Bars that taste like a dense crumbly pie.
Once the peeling and slicing is done, these are super easy and they are good enough that I bought a couple myself.
2110 N 55th St SeattleUh oh, could Top Pot not really be “tops”? Jim says yes, that Mighty-O Donuts takes the “cake” but I’m still on the fence (if you’re talking sprinkles vs. sprinkles, though, Mighty-O definitely comes out on top – just look at that beauty).
Whoever is right, though, it’s clear we live in a town where you don’t have to go far to find a good donut. Mighty-O’s are certified organic (no GMO’s!) and made locally and the shop is on a lovely corner that’s great for people watching and has nice sidewalk seating.
1026 NE 65th St, SeattleRich and creamy, Peaks Frozen Custard is a local favorite on hot days. So, even though the brand is stocked in grocery stores, we decided to make a trip to their brick and mortar shop as a fun family outing to celebrate the surprising 80 degree weather.
I loved the waffle bowl and enjoyed the cookies and cream while Van chose his first non-prompted restaurant order with “chocolate and sprinkles!!”
They feature special flavors that change daily but always have chocolate and vanilla.
5821 Phinney Ave NWhile it’s hard to make a bad pie, it’s not everyday you encounter one as unique as A La Mode‘s Blue Hawaiian. With blueberries, coconut, pineapple and sweet crumble; it’s quite awesome.
The small shop, right near the Zoo, is friendly and also serves lollipop pies and a variety of other flavors that I can’t wait to try.
6855 35th Ave NEUbiquitous and delicious, Top Pot Doughnuts are an iconic Seattle treat. We visited the Wedgwood location with its huge donut sculpture and comfy library dining area (there’s also nice outdoor seating under the shade of a surprising palm tree).
Cute decor is great, but a sweet donut and good latte makes this place a must visit. I indulged in a raspberry glaze and stole bites from a giant apple fritter.
Lucky for us, but maybe not our health, Top Pot is available even closer at the local grocery store and there are several cafes scattered across the city.
from Confessions of a Recipe JunkieHigh off my success at baking sugar cookies, I decided to get more inventive and found a delicious sounding Strawberry Marshmallow recipe that was very intriguing.
As I may have mentioned elsewhere, baking is not my speciality and the usual round of mishaps followed: I only had dark brown sugar instead of light, an extra trip to the store was required to get parchment paper, and when my egg broken open out plopped two yolks (which, I’d like to point out was entirely beyond my control).
Still, an interesting batch of cookies were made. They are cake-ier than I imagined and the marshmallows are sort of lost in the process. Once I got past my expectations, though, these were quite tasty – almost like a strawberry shortcake in cookie form.
PS: You, whoever you are, are presumably a better baker so yours will likely be even better.
from AllrecipesI’m not much of a baker, in fact my initial plan was to use that roll of frozen stuff, but even I could whip out tasty Sugar Cookies with this easy recipe. Of course, the best part is decorating – and Van helped this year.
674 Manhattan AveI’ve mentioned the creamy, slushy summertime delights of Uncle Louie G’s before but am happy to say they’ve made Greenpoint their newest home.
Unexpectedly YummyLittle kids’ ice cream cake isn’t the most high brow pregnancy craving request, but Jim found that Baskin Robbins classes things up a bit when he surprised me with their mini cake.
Vanilla on vanilla ice cream and cake inside is coated in a thin, pleasant shell of white chocolate.
Sno Cones and CandyIt’s worth walking twenty minutes in the stagnant heat, dripping in sweat to get a Handsome Dan’s home made sno-cone just to cool yourself off from said walk.
The place has excited me ever since I saw the sign which included the flavor “Earl Grey Cream”, an ice cream delight introduced to me by Van Leeuwen a few years back. It’s delicious and lighter than regular ice cream.
The space, which I believe was once a boutique beer spot, is a gleaming white mecca for classic candy lovers and I’ll admit, I had no self restraint. I saw jawbreakers and that was it – I was cramming stuff into a mason jar before I even read that it cost, like twelve dollars.
It’s pricey, but jawbreakers and runts are hard to come by and honestly, at this exact moment in my life, where I am denied so, so many things – booze, eggs sunny side up and salami to just name a few, where I’m so sore that even turning in my bed aches, but if I don’t the leg on the bottom will start to hurt – at this point in my life, if I want to shove as much candy as I want into a twelve dollar jar and then my face, then I am going to do that.
Handsome Dan is super nice too, so I’m happy to help him stay in business.
We missed Smorgasburg this week, but the McGolrick Park Farmer’s Market began this morning and I am bringing you some of the best bites. Let’s begin with pie – pie, pie, delicious pie.
The Pie Lady and Son offers several fresh baked varieties and in different sizes – a five incher works perfectly for two very hungry or four regular people.
While chocolate fudge pie sounded intriguing, the summer weather begged for cherry. It is sweet, a touch tart, and the walnut crumble is an excellent companion to vanilla ice cream. So yummy, such summery perfection.
And honestly, the proprietor, who really makes pie with his mother out of Nyack, is such a sweetheart, you’s be inclined to buy anything from him – lucky for us it’s fabulous pie.
31 Greenpoint AveOvenly has been selling their baked goods around town at various locations for some time now but only just opened their own brick and mortar.
I was thrilled to find it open early (at 7) making it a viable option for getting a yummy breakfast treat when Van awakes.
The variety of breads, muffins and scones – some right out of the oven – is impressive and features inteeguing flavors like mustard cheddar (scones), jelly donut (muffins) and espresso cookies.
We tried to two former as well as a chocolate banana muffin and loved them all.
It’s a simple, airy space slightly off the beaten path with only one fault – no iced coffees to wash it all down.
So happy they’ve opened and plan on making then part of a new morning ritual.
Yummy Ice Cream
There is almost an overwhelming amount of fancy, artisinal ice creams out there but Soco is worth a mention.
From a Massachusettes family owned “micro-creamery” which has a brick and mortar shop in the Berkshires.
You can find it locally at Whole Foods and other places where you usually find this kind of stuff as well as Fresh Direct.
We’ve tried the Espresso Cookie but am on the look out for Earl Grey – a flavor I fell in love with at Van Leeuwin.
at SmorgasburgJim and I aren’t the only ones that look forward to our Smorgasburg Saturdays.
When I ask Van if he’s ready to eat a pop tart by the water his eyes light up and he shakes his head yes vigorously.
The pop tarts in question are not those grocery store guilty pleasures though. No, Van loves the homemade ones from Anarchy in a Jar.
They have mixed berry, blueberry and strawberry and all are delicious. I know because I usually manage to get a bite in before he’s wolfed them down.
Creamy lattes and sweet macaroons the size of sand dollars; there’s much to love about the popular Thomas Keller Bouchon Bakery.
The environment is all about civility and the baked goods taste fresh and delicious so you don’t even mind walking out thirteen dollars poorer.
We tried the vanilla and passion fruit macaroons- both recommended.
314 Bedford AvenueFresh hot donuts made right in front of your eyes? Welcome to happy morning deliciousness.
These fluffy, sugar dusted treats from Dumont Burger are worth the trip even if you’re not nearby, just be sure to get there before 11am.
At $3 for four and $6 for nine, they’re also a steal for a breakfast so fresh and tasty.
There are several sugar flavor options. We tried lemon which was lovely and subtle.
112 8th AveHomemade Sno Ball? Yes please!
Empire, formerly called Lulu Cakes offers these sweet bombs that are miles away from the strange though familiar childhood pucks.
I was happy to find the cake to be moist and thick and the inner frosting to be sweet and thick (you can share these if your sweet tooth his not up to par).
The Chelsea bakery also makes yelpers go wild with their snack cakes – which are like homemade Twinkies.