Beat the Chill with Cardamom and Coffee

The cool air of fall is finally decending on Minnesota. This is more shock than complaint. However, 80 degree weather everyday in September while I'm in SCHOOL while June, July and August was closer to 60 degrees... So strange. Today - I think it only went above 70 for a minute or two - so it's starting to feel like change is here!

Cardamom is one of my all time favorite tastes. It's unique and really brightens anything it touches. It seems especially appropriate for breakfast treats - probably because I grew up with Finnish Cardamom Bread - otherwise known as Biscuit.

Today - it was Cardamom Biscotti paired with papaya. Who would have guessed? It was delicious paired with my americano while hanging out at a cool St Paul coffee shop - Nina's on  Selby. You can check out my version (from my VERY FIRST POST!) on Banana Cardamom Biscotti or check out the tasty Chocolate Cherry Almond version if you are looking for some tasty recipes.

Bakery Find: Salty Tart in Minneapolis

Salty Tart is located in the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Again - this has not been endorsed or solicitated by anyone other than my love and quest for the best baked goods.
The best question when standing in front of the bakery case - is how much can I possibly hold down - this all looks so great!

I made a morning out of this quest. First stop - a run around one of the many lakes in Minneapolis. I knew that hitting a bakery would take some prework - and so I picked a nearby lake that I had never run around before. Lake Nokomis was full of walkers, bikers and even some on rollerblades. I ran one loop - then threw on the skates for another lap for good measure. GOOD THING - because I was not in any position to only choose one treat from this bakery.

From the case - I chose a nectarine galette (made with half of an organic nectarine and pounds of butter). I also purchased a coconut macaroon and brioch filled with custard. A coffee and water - and I was ready for the challenge. The brioch and macaroon were meant for later - which meant I had them for lunch. The nectarine delight was my special treat. The woman behind the counter said that it tasted just like summer - and she was right.

This bakery was just opened in 2008 - but has already gotten several good reviews. I loved that everything was housemade - and very professionally done. The options were at once unique and traditional. My only wish would be for the Salty Tart to open a location in my neighborhood (that's St. Anthony Main in NE MPLS - Hennepin and University Aves in case anyone from the ST is reading this!!).

Similar post: A Baker's Wife in Minneapolis

Bakery Find: A Baker's Wife in Minneapolis

A Baker's Wife Pastry Shop
4200 28th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 729-6898

note: this is not endorsed by the bakery and I was not paid or enticed in any way to post this.

As I was scanning the choices for my breakfast this morning - I saw that there was only one cherry pastry left on the tray. I kept looking - there was a lot to see - then went back to the cherry and it was gone! There were no other customers - so I thought maybe it was pulled for a good reason (it better be a good reason because I LOVE cherry.)

The best reason of all - to refill the tray with fresh from the oven pastries. Wow. This was soft and buttery - not at all dry. The cherries were sour with just a bit of topping and frosting keeping the cherries the centerpiece.

I sat at a little table outside - inside were some chairs and tables, but not much room to hang out. This was a true bakery with an espresso machine - but not the 'coffee shop' environment that would encourage loitering. I loved how the interior was covered with funny signs, mismatched tables and chairs, and had the baked goods front and center. I think this is the sign of an owner with proper priorities - BAKING. I don't think the owner focused much on branding - but maybe that was the point?

Try it - you'll like it.

Bakery Day!

Drove up to Mom's bakery - Taconite Brew and Bakery (Aurora, MN pop. 1500) - to help out with the festivities for the 4th of July. The best part - Aurora (along with several other small towns in the area) celebrate on the 3rd to allow families to travel to the big city of Virginia (pop. 40k) for the actual 4th.

These were taken on the evening of the 2nd. Mom made cookies and I got to help with the family recipe Potica (nut roll). The Potica came out beautifully - and will be attempted in the smaller home kitchen sometime soon.

Farmers Market Find: Nutella Brioch (and why i need to go running today)

Thank you to Cocoa & Fig for bringing great food to the Nicollet Mall on Thursdays. I look forward to the new additions each week.

This is brioch folks - buttery and yummy on it's own. Add a center core of nutella - and i'm signing up for a 3-4 miler later! So worth it.

Farmers' Market Find: Bouchon au Chocolat (chocolate corks)

The farmers markets here in Minneapolis are absolutely HOPPING this time of year. It isn't because of the piles of local veggies and fruit (HA!) - because the only thing you find this early are plants for your garden. This is a great time to check out the local merchants to see what kind of crafty or tasty treat they are trying to sell.

Today's 'Farmers' Market Find' is the Bouchon au Chocolat sold by Cocoa & Fig. These chocolate corks are so tasty - and a great size for those who don't want to be bothered with the guilt of eating a large brownie. This is basically a fudgy brownie baked in a shot glass. I pestered the guy into telling me why these were so great - it's blamed on a super-fancy cocoa that they use. I found a great imported cocoa from holland that makes a huge difference - so i believed him.

I'll have to look for some good recipes to try this out for our next patio soiree. What have you found at your market lately?

ck them out: www.cocoaAndfig.com