Wow, time seems to be moving very fast. It was just Halloween a moment ago and in 10 days we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving. This is the beginning of the "holiday season" and every commercial entity won't let you forget it. I've reinvented myself several times over my life, and before I became a professional baker 20 years ago, I was a clinical social worker/therapist. I want to put that hat on for a moment. Holidays can be wonderful & exciting for some people; painful & anxiety ridden for others. It's a good idea to give yourself some time & space to deal with whatever emotions might come up. You don't have to be perfect; satisfy someone else's idea of who you should be, or do more than you're comfortable doing. It's your holiday too, so just do what feels right for you. That's what I'm going to do. To lower my stress level I've decided to put my dog Twinkie in charge of holiday plans this year. She likes meeting new people, good food and knows when it's time to take a nap...with a friend. 🐾🐾

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

Monday I post the week's menu; 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 with fresh ingredients, locally sourced when possible, and never any preservatives. First come, first served.

GRANDMA'S APPLE CAKE   $4/chunk

It's been a wonderful apple season with so many varieties available at local orchards. With the holidays coming up, and families getting together, I want to honor my Grandma by baking her delicious apple cake. This is a classic old fashioned cake bursting with Honey Crisp apples, cinnamon and tradition.

BLUEBERRY LEMON MUFFIN    $3

To me, blueberry and lemon are one of those perfect matches. Their flavors play off each other, and when fresh blueberries combine with tangy lemon in a soft delicious muffin...well, what else is there to say?

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

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 are two options: 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!

CHOCOLATE PARADISO BISCOTTI 

Large chunks of dark chocolate & toasty almonds join this orange flecked biscotti. Crunchy, but not too hard to bite, just delicious!

SALTED CHOCOLATE CHUNK

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

OATMEAL CRANBERRY

Cookies with that classic toasty oatmeal flavor, enhanced with warm spices, BUT they're plush with yummy cranberries throughout to celebrate the season. Party on!!

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

 

MR & MRS ROBERT REA BROWN

This is a picture of my in-laws taken in the 1920s. Don't you love 💖 those outfits. Theirs is a true love story. Elizabeth was a very young volunteer with the YMCA who went to France during WWII to work at one of their canteens. These were clubs where American girls hosted soldiers during short R&R periods, giving them a taste of home with coffee, donuts and the latest records. On November 11th she was visiting wounded soldiers in the hospital and met Robert, who was recovering from having been gassed in a trench. He ultimately recovered and came home. So did she and their courtship continued until they married on November 11th. It's always been more than just Veteran's Day in our family. 

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 with fresh ingredients, locally sourced when possible, and never any preservatives. First come, first served.

BROOKLYN ONION PLETZL  HALF SLAB     $3/pkg  

A pletzl is a classic Jewish flatbread with a light topping of onion, poppy seed and oil (just like the center of a bialy) spread on before baking. Thin & crisp in the center, thicker at the edges, savory & delicious all over.

RUGELACH   $5/pkg  4oz

Individual pastries handmade with traditional cream cheese dough that bakes up super flaky, and filled with toasted walnuts, plump raisins, cinnamon and homemade mango pineapple jam. They melt in your mouth. 

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

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 are two options: 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!

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.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK

Soft chewy peanut butter cookies that would be great by themselves BUT they're even better with big chunks of Belgium chocolate throughout & roasted peanuts on top. If PB is your fav, and chocolate is your co-pilot, these are for you!

PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLE

Crisper on the outside, softer on the inside with a gentle pumpkin flavor...then covered all over in Saigon cinnamon sugar. The quintessential cookie that shouts "it's Fall".

CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFIN   $3

A perennial favorite flavor combo -- fresh cranberries and orange. Enhanced with soft spices that feel like a warm hug. Makes a great start to the day or as a partner to help you wind down. Either way, it's a delicious winner!

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

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