In the kitchen: Black Currant and Wild European Blackberry sauce

(I accidentally posted this at the farm page first and I'll leave it there for now - hopefully you won't be bombarded by doubles!)

Today I'm mixing up several cookie doughs and other sweets but what I am most excited about are the fillings for my tartlets.

This week's tartlets will be extra special as I'll be cooking down a rich and earthy fruit paste made from local black currants and locally foraged wild blackberries (European variety, naturalized).

I expect these to be super flavorful with hints of summer wines. I may yet put them over a chocolate or other base when they're in their final tartlet form. I'm hoping for now that they'll stand alone just fine, as I expect them to.

Tomorrow is Mix Market!

These adorable vanilla bean cupcakes with caramel cream filling and honeyed plum buttercream will be there; will you?

200 w Michigan ave, Ypsilanti Michigan from 11:00 to 4:00

Today in the kitchen

I'm grinding candied blood oranges to use in future batches of shortbread! It's too bad this stuff gives me a major headache when I eat it.

Does anyone else have this problem? I'm thinking it could be tannins...

Market List: January 28th, 2012 - MIX Market

Well, it's that time of week again! I'm sitting at the table with my stack of note cards and several lists of lists, deciding what the market booth will have this weekend.

This week I'll begin to offer Valentine's Day specials, including some really adorable miniature layer cakes.

Here's the tentative market list for this week:

• Mini Chocolate Chip Almond cookies
• Blood Orange Shortbread
• Pink Peppercorn and Fleur De Sel Chocolate Shortbread
• Chocolate Salted Peanut Butter Gobby Hand Cakes (Whoopie Pies)
• Chocolate Caramel Marshmallow Gobby Hand Cakes (Whoopie Pies)
• Vanilla Guimauve (French Marshmallow)
• Spiced Caramel Guimauve (French Marshmallow)
• Chocolate Hazelnut Mini Hand Pies (think heart shaped pop tarts!)
• Spiced Apple Mini Hand Pies (think heart shaped pop tarts!)
• Chocolate Mini Layer Cakes with Vanilla Malt Buttercream
• Vanilla Bean Mini Layer Cakes with Sugar Plum Buttercream and Caramel
• Homemade Roasted Beet Crackers with Flaxseeds and Sea Salt

 If you wish to order any of these items ahead of time, just let me know and I'll be happy to package them up so they're ready for you when you arrive at the market. I will have limited amounts of each item available for sale at the market, so be sure to get your order in or get there early!

I have also begun taking orders for Valentine's Custom Conversation Hearts! Use these classic Valentine's Day candies to dote upon a loved one, amuse your friends or get a serious point across.

The MIX Marketplace is running this Saturday, January 28th, from 11AM until 4PM (please note the time change!) and we will likely be set up in the same spot as last time, along the back wall.

MIX Marketplace is located at 200 W Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti, Michigan. There is lots of public parking available behind the building (Adams street entrance to the lot) and metered parking all along Washington street, though I think the meters might be free on Saturdays.

Valentine's Custom Conversation Hearts

We are now taking orders for Custom Conversation Hearts! Use these classic Valentine's Day candies to dote upon a loved one, amuse your friends or get a serious point across. Whether you want them to say something adorable and classy like HEY GIRL or something personal like I <3 POOKIE, we can make it happen.

Do you have a more... satirical sense of affection? How about UR JUST OK, or even OH WELL?

Obviously I can get more and more ridiculous with these, outright rude even, and I'm happy to do so just for you! You can even buy them for your less-than-loved ones and have them stamped IT'S OVER or SO ALONE.

I'll even print foul language, if that's what you prefer. ;)

 Custom Conversation Hearts - Package of 1.2 ounces - $4.00

Order five or more packages and enjoy a 15% discount!

Custom Conversation Hearts are flavored with natural oils and extracts, colored with natural vegetable colorants (beet, red cabbage and curcumin) and made with organic sugar and organic (therefore GMO free) corn syrup. They may not be part of a balanced breakfast, but they're all natural!

Contact me to order your own conversation hearts today, or pick up an order form at our booth this weekend at MIX market in Ypsilanti Michigan!

Valentine's Hand Pies

Who is your Valentine?

These hand pies are the perfect alternative to chocolates or cookies for Valentine's day! Their super flakey whole wheat crust melts in your mouth and is available with your choice of fillings: chocolate hazelnut, spiced apple, black peppered strawberry, raspberry maple.

Comment for ordering info and additional flavors.

Voila!: Chocolate Chip Cookie Trials, complete

So it's not often that a recipe that I've completely designed myself comes out on the first try, but today's seems very close to it!

This is what my tester looks like when going into the oven: flat, half flat and round.

This is what my tester looks like after it's baked. In this case, I opted for the half flat. It's a bit puffy and has nice tooth, but isn't quite so cakey as the round.

The first batch is light and sweet and apart from desiring a darker chocolate chip (probably coarsely chopped instead of whole chips) I am really happy with them! The duck egg keeps them moist and the almon meal keeps them from getting heavy and bready.

Voila!