I moved to Catskill from Greenpoint, Brooklyn seven months ago but still haven't hung pictures on my walls yet. I've moved four times in the last seven years and it doesn't get easier or smoother. There's setting everything up, organizing a new space and adjusting to a new community, all of which I love to do. I'm one of those folks who embraces change. The fun part is discovering what's hidden in the new space around you. One morning this Spring I was walking my dog along Catskill Creek and came upon a lovely young couple doing catch/release fishing. The water was murky and I had no idea who or what might be swimming there. Within a few minutes she hooked a huge carp and I was shocked to come within inches of that great fish's face

A month later I encountered almost two dozen canoes with local elementary school kids having a wonderful time in the same spot.

What a special place this is and there's so much more to explore.

 HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

I post each week's menu on Monday, orders must be in by 5 pm Wednesday and pick-up is Friday afternoon in Catskill Village. I bake small batches in limited quantities using fresh ingredients (local when possible) with no preservatives. First come, first served.

RASPBERRY PECAN RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

This week's flavor was suggested by Amy, a woman who obviously knows her garden, her bees & her rugelach. They're individually handmade with cream cheese dough that bakes up into a super flaky pastry. Filled with toasted pecans, Saigon cinnamon, sweet cranberries & raspberry jam that melts in your mouth. Because they're baked fresh, you can freeze them too.

FRENCH SHORTBREAD SABLES   $5/pkg 6

To honor the beginning of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, I'm making France's classic shortbread cookies, sables. With its sandy texture and rich buttery flavor, they're positively addictive...in a good way. Go USA👍

BIG COOKIES    $3 each or 4 for $10

CHOCOLATE ORGASM 

This is my signature cookie that I've been baking since 1999. It's a chocoholic's fantasy come true...mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate, toasted almonds and just enough flour to hold it together. Too satisfying to share...maybe.

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

Last week the entire batch of these cookies were served at a graduation party. For those who missed out, they're back this week. Crisp outside, softer inside and covered all over in Saigon cinnamon sugar. You don't need a special event to reward yourself, you deserve one.

RATNER'S ONION POCKETS   $6/pkg 4

Ratner's, the famous dairy restaurant on the Lower East Side (LES) of NYC back in the day, had baskets of their unique & delicious soft rolls called "onion pockets" on every table. Makes a great sandwich roll, perfect alongside soup, a salad or by itself with a schmear. Yum!

CRANBERRY ORANGE MEGA MUFFIN   $3

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

If you'd like to join my mailing list and receive my blog each week, send your email address to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

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

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

This week we continued to experience the new normal heat waves of summer. I remember as a child growing up in Brooklyn, we were lucky enough to spend summers in the cooler Catskill mountains. My family didn't rent a bungalow or stay at one of the many borscht belt hotels. Instead, believing in always owning not renting, they bought a small former chicken farm in Harris...a speck on the map between Liberty and Monticello. It was a tiny 4 room concrete house consisting of living room, kitchen with an ice box (meaning my Dad had to transport a giant block of ice every few days & place it in the top portion to keep the lower refrigerator section cold), 2 mini bedrooms & a bathroom. Each Spring, around Mother's Day, we would drive up to check on how things wintered over. That time of year the wild lilac bushes were in full bloom. The car ride home was always perfumed by a trunk packed with fresh cut flowers that were happily shared with relatives on our return. To this day I love the smell of lilacs. 

I've lived in warmer places and found enjoying cool flavorful food helps mitigate the temperature. A particularly delicious, simple and beautiful salad I first encountered in Minorca, Spain is one that became a favorite at my bakery/cafe in Florida. I thought I'd share it with you.

Simply plate thin slices of peeled oranges, red onion, Kalamata olives, golden raisins, toasted almonds and a mint sprig. Drizzle with

       ORANGE VINAIGRETTE

• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon (or more) white balsamic vinegar
•         1/2 TBL Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey (more to taste)
• ⅛ teaspoon cracked black pepper
•         1-2 TBLs extra virgin olive oil
• 
  
• Combine orange juice, vinegar, mustard, honey, pepper and olive oil in a small jar with a lid. Cover and vigorously shake until combined. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake well before serving.

 HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

A reminder that I post the week's menu on Monday, orders must be in by Wednesday at 5, pick-up is Friday afternoon in Catskill Village. I bake small batches in limited quantities so first come, first served.

RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

They're individually handmade with cream cheese dough that bakes up into a super flaky pastry. Filled with plump raisins, toasted walnuts, Saigon cinnamon and apricot jam that melts in your mouth. Because they're baked fresh, you can freeze them too.

BIG COOKIES AND BISCOTTI   $3 each or 4 for $10

CHOCOLATE ORGASMS 

My signature cookie that I've been making since 1999. They're a chocoholic's fantasy come true...mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate, toasted almonds and just enough flour to hold them together. Too satisfying to share...maybe.

BROWN BUTTER TOFFEE CHOCOLATE CHIP

Taking the classic chocolate chip cookie to another level with the addition of nutty tasting brown butter and the perfect crunch of mellow toffee candy. Take me home, I'm in heaven.

CATSKILL CATS   HAPPY HIPPOS

While the Catskill Cats are away, a herd of Happy Hippos have taken their place on this week's line-up. These sugar cookies sporting hearts would like to bring some love to your plate.

SNICKERDOODLE

When you're not craving chocolate but want something special to snack on, what could be better than a cookie covered in cinnamon sugar.

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO BISCOTTI  

$3 each or 4/$10

Definitely the favorite at our house, chock full of juicy cranberries and roasted pistachios, they may become your favorite too.

MORNING GLORY MUFFIN   $3

A white whole wheat muffin crammed with apples, carrots, coconut, pineappple, raisins, walnuts and everything else that made it one of Gourmet Magazine's favorite for the past 50 years.

If you'd like to join my mailing list and receive my blog each week, send your email address to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

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

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

 

This happy boy is my grandson Levi at his birthday party last Saturday. The activities were centered around Live Action Role Playing (LARP) where each kid was outfitted with a foam sword and played in a variety of games like Capture the Flag, Dueling Circle and Three Musketeers. They had a wonderful time. It was extremely hot but they didn't seem to care as they ran & played all over the grass. The organization that stages it is The Wayfinder Experience in Kingston, NY. All information can be found on their website wayfinderexperience.com  The cupcake frosting wasn't as lucky & began to wilt in the heat, but that just made it easier to lick off.

The day of his actual birthday we shared a strawberry cake with vanilla icing and gobs of M&Ms that spilled out once a slice was cut.

It's fun to be eight years old.

 HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

A reminder that I post the week's menu on Monday, orders must be in by Wednesday at 5, pick-up is Friday afternoon in Catskill Village. I bake small batches in limited quantities so first come first served.

RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

These sold out quickly at the Catskill Farmers Market, and I can only make a limited amount. They're individually handmade with cream cheese dough that bakes into a super flaky pastry. Filled with plump raisins, toasted walnuts, Saigon cinnamon and apricot jam that melts in your mouth. Because they're baked fresh, you can freeze them too.

BIG COOKIES   $3 each or 4 for $10

CHOCOLATE ORGASMS 

My signature cookie that I've been making since 1999. They're a chocoholic's fantasy come true...mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate, toasted almonds and just enough flour to hold them together. Too satisfying to share...maybe.

SALTED CHOCOLATE CHUNK

America's favorite cookie, palm sized & filled with large chunks of dark chocolate with a sprinkle of Maldon salt to top it off. Perfect!

CATSKILL CATS

These whimsical multi-colored felines are sugar cookies who love to honor their home town of Catskill in a delicious way...meow

LIME WHITE CHOCOLATE PECAN

When the weather gets HOT I like to remember times lying in a hammock enjoying tropical breezes. This cookie with its citrus notes, mellow white chocolate  and toasty pecans does that for me.

BLUEBERRY CORN MUFFIN TOPS

 2 Texas size tops/pkg    $4/pkg

Sometimes I want a whole muffin but sometimes a toasted corn muffin top embodied with fresh blueberries does the trick. 

BROOKLYN ONION PLETZL  

 Half slab    $3/pkg

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

If you'd like to join my mailing list and receive my blog each week, send your email address to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

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

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

 

Flowering basket courtesy of Cultivate Catskill

It's been a very hectic week for me. It was the first time I posted my Bonni Bakes menu online and took orders. Of course, I've done this for several years in Florida after closing my bakery/cafe, but this was the first time I reached out to my new community in Catskill. I'm grateful and overwhelmed by the very warm welcome & encouragement I've received, including 294 likes on the Catskill Community Board FaceBook page...and I'm not even sure how FaceBook works. Duh!

It was also First Friday in Catskill Village and a great time to meander up & down Main Street meeting friends, enjoying music, viewing new art & shopping like a local in so many unique shops. I live above Citiot and was enchanted by the siren call of strumming ukuleles and singing by an exuberant group of players. Their joy was infectious and I went down to experience it in person. Everyone watching was smiling and tapping their feet. It was a delightful surprise!! You can find out more at http://ukulelecatskill.com/

I also had the opportunity of meeting members of Cultivate Catskill. They're the magical folks who plant local public areas with flowering urns & cascading overhead baskets that we all love on Main Street;  surprising season-long flowers on those hidden side streets & the bridge; make sure the trees on Main St are well maintained, and gave us Catskill's Winter Solstice Stroll. My personal welcome took place the day after I moved here 12/20/23, when their Winter Stroll happened, and I was able to meld in with my family enjoying some toasted marshmallows. They're a very special group of volunteers. Last Friday they had a raffle for a gorgeous blooming basket pictured above and I WON IT!! But I want to share my luck with you, so I'll have it with me when I'm at the next Catskill Farmers Market on July 14th. I'll be happy to raffle it off FOR YOU and help these volunteers fundraise in order to continue the amazing work they do. More info at CultivateCatskill@gmail.com

This weekend is my grandson Levi's 8th birthday. I know I'm disappointing him by not making yet another rainbow birthday cake but it's time for something new and it involves swords (no sharp points). He'll just have to wait and see.

 HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

The classic real deal, individually handmade with cream cheese dough that bakes into a super flaky pastry. Filled with plump raisins, toasted walnuts, Saigon cinnamon and apricot jam that melts in your mouth. Because they're baked fresh, you can freeze them too.

BIG COOKIES   $3 each or 4 for $10

CHOCOLATE ORGASMS 

My signature cookie that I've been making since 1999. They're a chocoholic's fantasy come true...melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate, toasted almonds and just enough flour to hold them together. Too satisfying to share...maybe.

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.

SALTED CHOCOLATE CHUNK

America's favorite cookie, palm sized & filled with large chunks of dark chocolate with a sprinkle of Maldon salt to top it off. Perfect!

CATSKILL CATS

These whimsical multi-colored felines are sugar cookies who love to honor their home town of Catskill in a delicious way...meow

BANANA CHOC CHIP MUFFINS

 Texas size $3 each  or  4/pkg mini muffins $5

A banana walked into a bar and bumped into a bunch of melty chocolate chips...HAZAAH, this muffin was born! Available in two sizes in case you need to share.

ALMOND MANDELBROT 

 $3 each or 4 for $10

Before I learned about biscotti, I was loving my Grandmother's classic double baked cookies that were crunchy, scented, speckled with toasted almonds and delicious dipped in tea...coffee for her 💖

If you'd like to join my mailing list and receive my blog each week, send your email address to me at bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

I will never share your personal information. If you have a request or question, drop me a note. I do special orders too. Next Sunday July 14th from 10-2 I'll be at the Catskill Farmers Market on Water St. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni