This week my full attention is focused on my soon-to-appear first granddaughter, and her loving parents. The 👼 baby shower is on Saturday and my contribution to the party will be a copious amount of mini cheesecakes. 

In addition, I will be supplying breakfast snacks at the inaugural Catskill Repair Cafe, happening on Saturday from 10-2 at the Senior Center, 15 Academy St, in the Village of Catskill. Bring your broken household items in need of repair and knowledgeable volunteers will FIX THEM FOR FREE while you wait. Find all the details at www.repaircafehv.org/catskill

Bonni Bakes will be back in the kitchen the following week 💖

Bonni

 

THE SHRINE I BUILT TO MY LATE HUSBAND REA

The end of October is a mixed emotional time for me. For years my kids, husband and I celebrated an all-in Halloween. We turned our garage into a haunted space where trick-or-treating kids were challenged to touch "post accident body parts"...eyeballs floating in glop, livers needing to be moved, shattered brains in a cauldron. The amazing thing was that, despite their screams, it was always the girls who did what needed to be done. The "brave" boys nervously talked for a minute then ran out in a panic. Years later, when I lived/worked in The Village of the Arts in Florida, we celebrated Dia de los Muertos, which begins Oct 31. It's a joyous celebration honoring loved ones we have lost. The year Rea died I built a shrine to honor the amazing man that he was, and still is, in my memory.

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

I post the week's menu on Monday; orders must be in by Wednesday at 5, and pick-up is Friday afternoon in the Village of Catskill. I bake small batches in limited quantities, locally sourced when possible, with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. First come, first served.

BROOKLYN BIALYS      $6/pkg of 4

These bialys sold out quickly last time I made them. They taste just the way I remember from my childhood in Brooklyn. I love them split & toasted with a schmear of butter or scallion cream cheese...lox optional. 

RUGELACH   $5/pkg  4oz

Individual pastries handmade with traditional cream cheese dough that bakes up super flaky and is filled with the classic combo of toasted walnuts, plump raisins, cinnamon and apricot jam. They melt in your mouth. 

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

SALTED CHOCOLATE CHUNK

My version of America's favorite cookie, palm sized, filled with large chunks of bittersweet chocolate and a sprinkle of Maldon salt on top. It hits all the notes perfectly!

CATSKILL CATS

These whimsical multi-colored feline sugar cookies are too cute & delicious to roam down Main Street in the Village of Catskill. Instead, they'd love to partner with a steaming cuppa, or surprise someone in a lunchbox. Colors vary.

CHOCOLATE ORGASM  (with ALMONDS) 

VIRGIN  CHOCOLATE ORGASM (NO NUTS) 

Some people don't like nuts in their cookies, but they shouldn't be denied the experience of this chocoholic's fantasy come true. Now there's a new option: VIRGIN  is nut free, while the original has ALMONDS.  Both are mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate and just enough flour to hold it together. Something for everyone!

OATMEAL RAISIN WALNUT

A classic that was my husband's favorite cookie...the toasty warmth of hearty oatmeal embellished with juicy raisins and crunchy toasted walnuts is filling, but you can always find room for another.

 BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MEGA MUFFIN    $3

A banana walked into a bar and bumped into a bevy of chocolate chips...HAZAAH, this muffin was born! A little crunchy on top with melty chocolate chips winding through banana yumminess.

Send your order to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com  by Wednesday at 5pm. Pick-up is Friday in the Village of Catskill. Cash or Venmo.

I will never share your personal information. If you have a question, request or want to join my email list just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I shared my grandson's first one with him a few years ago when we both dressed up like mummies. We hung out on the street in our 6' sarcophagus and handed out mummy cookies. Memorable. This week I'm celebrating by baking Halloween themed cookies only.

For fifteen years I've been baking and perfecting my WITCH'S FINGER COOKIES. They're delicious shortbread created in the shape of gnarly fingers. Available with almond or candy nails, specify which when you order.            Package of five  $5

At my bakery/cafe in Florida I created hundreds of Halloween cookies each year. These are a few samples. I love to do some classics but also dress up animals for the holiday. When it's time to decorate I let the Halloween spirit guide me, so I can't tell you exactly what they'll look like. Just like asking for "trick or treat", you'll be surprised when you open your bag to see who's inside. But it's always a treat.

Bag of 4 mini cookies  $3      Large cookies $3 each or 4/$10 

To place an order: email bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com by Wednesday at 5pm, limited quantities so first come first served. Pick-up is Friday in Catskill Village. Cash or Venmo.

I will never share your personal information. If you have a question, request or want to join my email list just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

  

MY ROOFLINE AFTER HURRICANE MILTON

I don't know if it was your prayers, luck or karma. With tears in my eyes, I'm incredibly grateful that my friends & neighbors (including me) did not suffer catastrophic damage from Hurricane Milton. Thank you 💖. Even though our area, The Village of the Arts in Bradenton, FL had no flooding, 100+mph winds downed many huge trees & power lines. Some areas are still without power, phone & internet, but no lives were lost. I'm finally taking a deep breath and look forward to focusing my energy into baking.

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

MINORCAN MULTI-GRAIN BREAD  $5

The first time I went to Europe we stayed with friends on the Spanish island of Minorca. This is my version of the delicious round loaf we bought daily after walking a kilometer to the village bakery. Its crisp outer shell hugs the yummy soft interior, enriched by 7 soft grains plus seeds, which enhance everything. It's fabulous toasted and makes a great grilled cheese sandwich.

APPLE STREUSEL MUFFIN    $3

I can't help myself from using local Honey Crisp apples in everything these days. This muffin is no exception. You'll enjoy the warm spices embracing lots of apple chunks...and the streusel can't hurt.

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

COCONUT PECAN CHOCOLATE CHUNK

I usually bake with bittersweet chocolate but occasionally something begs to be made with Belgium milk chocolate. It's this cookie, along with toasted pecans and coconut. A powerful trio!

APPLE CIDER SNICKERDOODLE

Crisp outside, soft inside and covered in Saigon cinnamon sugar BUT they're infused with concentrated apple cider & apple pie spice 🍎 💋

CHOCOLATE ORGASM  (with ALMONDS) 

VIRGIN CHOCOLATE ORGASM (NO NUTS) 

Some people don't like nuts in their cookies, but they shouldn't be denied the experience of this chocoholic's fantasy come true. Now there's a new option: VIRGIN  is nut free, while the original has ALMONDS.  Both are mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate and just enough flour to hold it together. Something for everyone!

ORANGE CRANBERRY BISCOTTI   $4/pkg of 2

There's something festive about cranberries, orange and white chocolate, not to mention how yummy they are together. Whether you dip your biscotti, or just eat it out of hand, this one tastes special.

To place an order: email bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com by Wednesday at 5pm, limited quantities so first come first served. Pick-up is Friday in Catskill Village. Cash or Venmo.

I will never share your personal information. If you have a question, request or want to join my email list just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

 

BONNI BAKES BAKERY/CAFE  

THE TREEHOUSE 

In 1999, when we lived on the west coast of Florida, my husband Rea & I transformed a 1910 cottage into my bakery/cafe, Bonni Bakes. In 2007 I moved into the "TreeHouse" located behind the cafe. I spent 3 years designing and building my new home. I sweated over every detail. As of today Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm in the Gulf of Mexico, is headed straight for my property. I'm laser focused on the weather forecast; anxious & worried for the thousands of people in its path. Some of them are my good friends & neighbors. As a result, I won't be baking this week. If you're so inclined, say a prayer. Thanks.

Bonni

 

That's me 27 years ago, two weeks after my first chemo treatment for Breast Cancer. As predicted, I lost all the hair on my head and couldn't believe how day-glo white my bald scalp was. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I'm convinced that's because it's when women finally have the time (after summer ends & school begins) to consider their own needs. My cancer (diagnosed in October) was picked up on a routine mammogram. I encourage all women to get an annual mammogram and see their doctor immediately if they find a suspicious lump. The past few decades have seen new innovative treatments resulting in lower mortality rates and improved quality of life for survivors like me. But you have to start the ball rolling. I was smiling in the picture above, doing my faux-Jerry Colonna impression, because I had just discovered carrots still growing in my garden.🥕🥕🥕

In addition to ordering for pickup this Friday, Bonni Bakes makes a final Catskill Farmers Market appearance Sunday Oct 6 from 10-2. Stop by to say "hi" and get your fill of home baked goodies.

GRANDMA'S APPLE CAKE   $4/chunk

It's that time of year to celebrate Apple Season and we're lucky to have local orchards with fantastic varieties of apples. So it's only fitting to bake this classic old fashioned cake loaded with apples, cinnamon and tradition.

PUMPKIN DATE NUT MUFFIN    $3

I'm kicking off the Fall season with one of my favorite muffins. The spices are warm, dates are sweet, and toasted walnuts are spread throughout this moist muffin with a gentle pumpkin presence. I like to eat mine with a schmear of cream cheese.

RUGELACH   $5/pkg  4oz

A wonderful way to wish someone a "sweet new year", or celebrate  any day of the year, is with a batch of homemade Rugelach. These are handmade with a traditional cream cheese dough that bakes into a super flaky pastry. Filled with plump raisins, toasted walnuts, Saigon cinnamon and apricot jam, they melt in your mouth. 

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

SALTED CHOCOLATE CHUNK

My version of America's favorite cookie, palm sized, filled with large chunks of bittersweet chocolate and a sprinkle of Maldon salt on top. It hits all the notes perfectly!

SNICKERDOODLE

Crisp outside, softer inside and covered in Saigon cinnamon sugar all over. You don't need a special event to reward yourself, you deserve a treat!

CHOCOLATE ORGASM  (with ALMONDS) 

VIRGIN CHOCOLATE ORGASM (NO NUTS) 

Some people don't like nuts in their cookies, but they shouldn't be denied the experience of this chocoholic's fantasy come true. Now there's a new option: VIRGIN  is nut free, while the original has ALMONDS.  Both are mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate and just enough flour to hold it together. Something for everyone!

OATMEAL RAISIN WALNUT

A classic that was my husband's favorite cookie...the toasty warmth of hearty oatmeal embellished with juicy raisins and crunchy toasted walnuts is filling, but you can always find room for another.

To place an order or join my mailing list, contact me at             bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

 

I will never share your personal information. If you have a request or question just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni