When I moved to Catskill Village less than a year ago I knew nothing about its history, although I'm interested in learning more. I had a chance to fill in some of the gaps at a wonderful lecture at Temple Israel of Catskill yesterday, given by Steven Mann. His talk centered on the many Jewish families and businesses that influenced the development of the town during the last 100+ years. Steven is a charming Catskill native and local historian who has done a lot of genealogical & historical research into the area. It was particularly fascinating to hear descriptions of the various businesses that have occupied many of the current Village buildings in the past. He occasionally gives private walking tours and you can reach him at stevenaamann@gmail.com

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

I post each week's menu on Monday at bonnibakes.com  Orders must be in by 5 pm Wednesday and pick-up is Friday afternoon in Catskill Village. I hand bake small batches in limited quantities using fresh ingredients (local when possible) with no preservatives. First come, first served. Cash or Venmo only. Order at bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

HAMANTASCHEN   $5/pkg of 2 

It doesn't have to be Purim to enjoy Hamantaschen! Once a year is too long to wait to bite into that soft melt-in-your-mouth crust surrounding either apricot or prune filling. So good!

BREAKFAST CORN MUFFIN   $3

Think of this as a meal conveniently sitting in the palm of your hand. A large corn muffin studded with fresh local corn kernels, chopped scallions & lots of melted Cheddar cheese. Both satisfying & filling.

RUGELACH   $5/pkg  4oz

The classic real deal, individually handmade with cream cheese dough that bakes into a super flaky pastry. Filled with plump raisins, toasted walnuts, cinnamon and apricot jam just like Grandma used to make. Baked fresh so you can freeze them too.

BIG COOKIES   $3 each or 4/$10

LIME WHITE CHOCOLATE PECAN

This cookie with its gentle hint of lime, mellow white chocolate and toasty pecans is the essence of summertime in your mouth. Best munched in a hammock under a shade tree.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK

These soft chewy peanut butter cookies 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!

CHOCOLATE ORGASM 

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.

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.

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

It's finally BIALY TIME!! Aside from Rugelach, this is the most requested item that I bake. Like most good bread, it isn't a simple twirl in a mixer and a little time in a hot oven. It needs an overnight fermentation to enhance the flavor & must be shaped by hand. A Bialy is a flatish round roll that's puffy around the edge & surrounds a central depression filled with caramelized onion, poppy seeds and history. It was created in the Jewish quarter of Bialystok, Poland and despite Nazis murdering most of the Jews of that town in 1941, survivors brought the recipe with them to New York City. Let me make one thing clear, a Bialy is NOT a version of a bagel. It is a different recipe with different ingredients & techniques. In my opinion a Bialy is more closely related to airy pizza crust. Unlike loaves of hearty bread, these fresh rolls have a short shelf life (a day or two when kept in an air tight container) but freeze beautifully. And they're VEGAN too. Check out my Scallion Cream Cheese recipe too. Details below.

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

I post each week's menu on Monday at bonnibakes.com  Orders must be in by 5 pm Wednesday and pick-up is Friday afternoon in Catskill Village. I hand bake small batches in limited quantities using fresh ingredients (local when possible) with no preservatives. First come, first served. Cash or Venmo only. Order at bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

RUGELACH   $5/pkg  4oz

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/$10

CHOCOLATE ORGASM 

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.

CATSKILL CATS

They're a little jealous of all the attention the BIG CATS on Main St are getting but these whimsical multi-colored feline sugar cookies also love to honor their home town of Catskill. Colors vary.

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 all over in Saigon cinnamon sugar. You don't need a special event to reward yourself, you deserve a treat!

BROOKLYN BIALYS   $6/pkg of 4  SOLD OUT

These bialys taste just the way I remember them from my childhood in Brooklyn. I love them split & toasted with a schmear of butter or scallion cream cheese...lox optional. Topped with tomatoes from my garden. Here's my 

Scallion Cream Cheese recipe

 

8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1/4 c sour cream

pinch of salt, to taste

pinch of garlic powder, to taste

1/4 c chopped scallions

Combine cream cheese, sour cream, salt & garlic powder in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth. Add scallions & stir until combined.

BLUEBERRY SCONE   $4

Buttery rich & soft on the inside with a crunchy golden exterior embracing an overflow of blueberries. So satisfying any time of day.

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

 

                                           Repair Cafe in Woodstock, NY

I'm excited about the inaugural Catskill Repair Cafe on Nov 9th. This is a  free community event where you bring your broken, but loved item and volunteer repair coaches help you fix it! It's an international movement started in Amsterdam in 2009 and there are now over 3,000 worldwide. Bring items that need a little sewing or fixing like a broken lamp, bike, jewelry, etc. I volunteered & I hope you do too. Especially needed are electricians, mechanical fixers, sewer/mender, jewelry fixer and anyone else that has  a skill they'd like to share. Contact Jackie Arsenuk, the Coordinator, at www.repaircafehv.org/catskill for more information or to volunteer. More about this when we get closer to the date.

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 hand bake small batches in limited quantities using fresh ingredients (local when possible) with no preservatives. First come, first served. Cash or Venmo only.

RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

The classic real deal, individually handmade with cream cheese dough that bakes into a super flaky pastry. Filled with golden 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/$10

CHOCOLATE ORGASM 

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.

CATSKILL CATS

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

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK

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

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.

PEACH STREUSEL MUFFIN   $3 SOLD OUT

It's peach season so what better way to celebrate than with a delicious muffin surrounded by warm spices, a streusel top and a hint of vanilla icing. Yum!

LOADED BLONDIE   $3

When you want something caramelly (is that even a word?) but with some surprises inside, look no further than a chocolate brownie's cute sister, the blondie, sporting some chips, coconut and walnuts in her soft center under that crisp shell. 

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

It was fireworks over Catskill Creek Saturday night as Cone E Island invited the community to share in a Celebration of Life honoring their founder, Craig Remaley, who died earlier this year. I appreciate people who step up to improve their community, whether it is a square block in Manhattan or an entire county in NYS. In my short time here I've been impressed by how the actions of a few have made dreams come true for many. I especially applaud the work of those five terrific ladies, Michele Pulver, Robin Smith, Teri Weiss, Brenda Vandermark and Lisa Leone-Beers, who were the driving force behind creating the new Catskill SprayGround. I can't wait to put my toes in the water. Thank you!!

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.

CHERRY ALMOND RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

I've always loved the combination of almonds and cherries and these rugelach marry the two perfectly. Individually handmade, filled with tart Montmorency cherries, lightly toasted almonds and wrapped in cream cheese dough that bakes up into a super flaky pastry. Because they're baked fresh, you can freeze them too.

BIG COOKIES  OR BISCOTTI  $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.

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.

LIME WHITE CHOCOLATE PECAN

This cookie with its gentle hint of lime, mellow white chocolate and toasty pecans is the essence of summertime in your mouth. Best munched in a hammock under a shade tree.

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO BISCOTTI  

Definitely the favorite at our house; chock full of juicy cranberries and roasted pistachios, they may become your favorite too. Firm enough to dunk but also delicious on its own.

BLUEBERRY PECAN CRUNCH CAKE  $4/slice

Soft, juicy blueberries dot the cinnamon-scented batter, making jammy pockets in the tender crumb. Not too sweet but wonderful with a cuppa, as a simple dessert or for a snack anytime.

SPINACH & FETA BOUREKA HAND PIE   $4

Bourekas, which have many different spellings, are flaky hand pies with assorted fillings commonly found in Sephardic Jewish and Middle Eastern cuisines. These are filled with sauteed spinach, caramelized onions & feta cheese. Great with a salad, soup, eggs, a glass of wine or just eaten out of hand.

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