Ice Cream is here!

Thanks to everyone who came out to Wooden Valley! It was a busy and fun filled weekend.

I am glad it is ice cream season! There is something I love above the simplicity of making ice cream (it really is easy) but I also enjoy how creative you can be. You can mix anything into ice cream. I know we sometimes mix some strange flavors, but if your brave enough to try something out of the ordinary (like our basil ice cream), then I think you will agree you might never go back to plain old vanilla.

With this in mind, MagPies upgraded our ice cream making machine and the capacity to churn out even more delicious flavors. This isn't a machine, if you are planning on making the occasional ice cream (too expensive $300) but I was using several inexpensive machines ($50) for churning ice cream. If you are planning an outdoor party, making ice cream would be fun thing to. If you don't want to make it you can always order it from us.

MagPies will be trading at the Vacaville Farmers Market on Saturday from 8am-Noon and at our offices on Sunday from 8am-10am.

SAVORY BOXED LUNCHES- Your Choice of one main item: $7 (includes choice of one main dish, with salad and dessert.

Choose from one of the following:

Organic Chicken and Sliced Sausage Pie - This Pie is packed with meat, thyme, sun-dried tomatoes in a pastry crust.

Grilled Vegetable Pie with White Bean Puree in a cornmeal Cayenne Crust - A spiced up vegetarian option which has zucchini, bell peppers and corn.

Fennel, Artichoke and Gruyere Pithivers - Organic Fennel, artichoke hearts and gruyere cheese with a pastry top.

Pesto, Spinach and Argula Trouchia - This is baked with no pastry.

SALAD - $7 lunchbox item

Ham, Peach and Mozzarella Salad

You may also choose the savory options to purchase as a single option.

SAVORY ITEMS (SOLD SEPARATELY) - See description above

Organic Chicken and Sliced Sausage Pie $5

Grilled Vegetable Pie with White Bean Puree in a Cornmeal Crust $5

Fennel, Artichoke and Gruyere Pithivers $4

Pesto, Spinach and Arugula Trouchia - $4

SWEETS - BROWNIES/BARS/COOKIES

Organic Banana Chocolate Cherry Brownies - $4

Cherry Almond Bars - $3

Fruity Cheddar Bars- $3

PIES/TART/COBBLERS

Apple/Elderflower Cobbler - $4

Breton/Buckwheat Tart/Cake with Sea Salt -$4

Yogurt Tartlets with Strawberries - $4

CAKES

Summer Berry Loaf $3 (2 slices)

Cake Roll with Jam and Crusted Coconut Topping

COLD DESSERTS

Lemon Mousse - $3

S'more Dark Chocolate Pudding - $4

Orange and Blueberry Parfait - $5

ICE CREAM $3/scoop with a pizzelle cone

Rice and Ricotta Ice Cream
Blueberry Ripple Yogurt
Apricot
Lemon Tarragon Ice Milk
Chocolate
Vanilla
Earl Grey

All year long I somehow manage to work and meet the ever growing demands of my four children but somehow May and the beginning of June each year seems overwhelming. These months seem filled with more hustle and bustle than the holidays. I don't know what it is! Even with the end of baseball season (and the many end of season parties that come with that), the end of school activities (band concert, variety show, classroom parties) and the start of all summer activities (swimming and soccer), I still find the time to bake. Baking for me is not always about work. I love to bake for my family. It is important to me to bake that graduation cake for my son's kindergarten class (see pics) even though I was finishing it with minutes to spare. For me, baking gives that little extra to the people I care about. Sure, my friends and family still know I care if they don't get a cake I baked on their birthdays but I still try really hard to fit it in.

MagPies will be trading at Wooden Valley Winery this weekend. We will have boxed lunches for $7/lunch and many desserts to choose from.

If you would like a delivery aside from Wooden Valley I will do deliveries on Tuesday afternoon at the office or provide delivery service (locally).

We will have some of these items for sale at Wooden Valley in our lunchboxes. The sweet section will be sold separately. Come visit us this weekend at enjoy food and art! We will have many more offerings.

Savory

Aspargus Cream Cheese Tart $4

Chilli Beef Potato in Bulgur Crust $5

Wrapped Quiches $4

Meat Pie (beef) $5

Salad

Watermelon (cubes) topped with goat cheese and lemon olive oil $4

Three bean salad with mozzerala and cilantro $4

Coronation chicken salad (we have made this before but it has become a favorite)! $5

Sweet

Buttermilk Pie $4

Blueberry Buckle $4

Apple pie bars $4

Jelly roll with crusted coconut $4

Maple walnut tart with banana cream $5

Strawberry yogurt tart $4

Look forward to seeing you soon!

On Sunday, we enjoyed a windy but nice day at Wooden Valley Winery. The day allowed the public to preview what winemaker Rick Lanza has been working on. There was great live music and lots of barrel tasting. My friend Eric with Big Nugg Barbecue was out there selling pulled pork and tri-tip. If you haven't been out to the wineries in Suisun Valley, make it a priority this summer! Click the following link to find out more about all the wineries in the area http://www.suisunvalley.com/wineries.asp. It is amazing that we live next to all these fantastic places.

OK, on another note, I didn't get my Daring Bakers Challenge done again. No excuses. I plan to bake it this weekend though and still post it (I know I said that last month.)

• This week we will be at Vacaville Farmers Market on Saturday from 8-noon.
  
  Please note next week we will not be at the Farmers Market but will be participating in Art on the Vine at Wooden Valley both Saturday and Sunday.
  
  Savory
  Boxed Lunches- Your Choice of one main item: $7 (includes choice of one main dish, with salad and dessert
  
  Choose from one of the following:
• Sweet Potato and Organic Sausage Pie
• Chicken B'Steeyas - A greek dish, made into 2 cigar shaped filo pastry pies. The filling includes- chicken breast, raisins, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and almonds.
• Quinoa and Spinach Bake - Fresh Spinach, thyme, rosemary, Cottage Cheese all baked into sizeable squares for lunch.

You may also choose the savory options to puchase as a single option.
Sweet Potato $5

Chick B'Steeyas $5

Quinoa and Spinach Bake $4



Sweet

Cherry Clafouti $4- Cherries in a cake-like batter
Creme Brulee $5- A creamy custard with a crunchy sugar top
Mini Banoffee Teacakes -banana and carmel in this cupcake like teacake $4
Cardamon-spiced mango pavlovas -$4
Apricot Tart Tatin $4



Breakfast
Kugelhoff $4 - This is from the NorthEast region of France and is part bread and part cake. Kinda like brioche

Fruit parfait $5- Our parfaits are packed with fruit, greek yogurt and granola

Larait Bar - $3 - dried fruit bar cookie

Ice Cream $3/scoop with pizzelle cone

Green Tea
Strawberry/Mango Sorbet
Orange Chocolate Chip
Rose Vanilla
Milk Chocolate

See you on Saturday!

Visit to Metro

Well, I have been meaning to write this review since the beginning of May. Every week has been busier than the last! Finally, here it is! At the beginning of May Jeff, Lorie, a friend of theirs and I went to dinner at Metro in Lafayette. L had eaten their before, so we had a little advantage by knowing that the food would be pretty good.

Metro features an eclectic mix of California-French dishes with some Asian and Mediterranean influences. It is in an easily accessible shopping center. Lots of Parking! Like most restaurants these days, Metro hosts a Mixologist. I have to say we splurged on the mixed drinks! The Chipotle Pear Martini was very good! The wine list hosts some local wines (which I appreciated). We started with a selection of delicious appetizers. We sampled each other's food and the diver scallops was my "fav". The food was well prepared and nicely presented - everything tasted so fresh. We also splashed on dessert and the crumble was the winner in my book. The tables were nicely spaced out and we could quite easily carry on a conversation. The bar looked full of the 20/30 something crowd all having fun. Might be a great location to start an evening with!

I believe Metro is reasonably price since they used good quailty ingredients....so you get what you pay for. I liked this somewhat hip restaurant and would definitely return, even if it was just for a cocktail.

MagPies will be trading at the Farmer's Market in Saturday 8am-1pm and at Wooden Valley Winery on Sunday from 11am - 4pm. We hope to see you at either or both places.

Menu for Saturday's Farmers Market
Boxed Lunches
Your Choice of one main item: $7 (includes choice of one main dish, with salad and dessert)

Main Dishes
Chicken, zucchini and blue cheese pie
This is made with a top and bottom crust of shortcrust pastry.

Pea and parmesan tart
Our vegetarian option, this tart has a very fresh taste.

Corn and crab pie in a chili-polenta crust
This chili-polenta crust gives this pie a boost of flavor and texture



served with Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

and a lemon polenta cookie



Savory
Chicken, zucchini and blue cheese pie $5
Made with a top and bottom shortcrust pastry

Pea and parmesan tart $5
Our vegetarin option, this is a very fresh tasting tart

Corn and crab pie in a chili-polenta crust $5/pie
This chili-polenta crust give the pie flavor and texture



Sweet
Cherry -Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake $4/slice
A unique cake with sweet cherries

Catahoula Sweet Dough Pie $5/piece
A sweet dough pie filled with blackberries

Banana Caramel Cake $4/piece
Caramelized banana - this cake is not too sweet

Roasted Pineapple Turnover $4 for 2
A crispy pastry with sweet roasted pineapple



Breakfast

Brioche with jam $3

Almond Scone with Orange Curd $3

Fruit Parfait $5

Hand Pies $2.50


Ice Cream $4/scoop with pizzelle cone


Rhubarb sorbet


Honey lavender


Chocolate


Strawberry


Rasbberry mini bombes $4


Chocolate chip cookie with milk ice sandwich $4

REMEMBER WE WILL BE AT WOODEN VALLEY ON SUNDAY FROM 11-4! WE HOPE TO SEE YOU OVER THE WEEKEND. EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY !

Famers Market Returns

The weather has turned nice, the summer months are approaching and the return of the Farmers Market in Vacaville is here! I love this time of year.....fresh produce in abundance. If you have never been to Vacaville Farmers Market, give it a try. The Market hosts local growers and vendors and some great local food.

I can't wait to see old friends and meet new ones, to share with everyone the changes at MagPies and to bake with all that great local produce.

During the Market season I intend to still post a menu (of course subject to change based on produce) of what we will be selling at the Market. My hope is that this will ensure regular customers will be able to order items that they want for the week and pick them up at the market without worrying if we will sell out.

In addition, I will be posting on Twitter when we are close to selling out of an item. This will allow customers the opportunity not to be disappointed when they arrive at the market. If you want to be added to our Twitter mailing list, let me know or sign up at the booth.

I hope everyone can visit the Market sometime this season. If you are able to come, I hope you will appreciate the hours and dedication many vendors take in bringing you quality produce and crafts. The artistry and detail are evident at the Farmers Market . Many of us put far more time in than we will be compensated for because we love what we do. I am sure you will agree with me, when shopping this season, that the passion of all the vendors shows in their products.

NEW!

Lunch Boxes $7 - Includes choice of one savory item, a salad and a dessert.

Comes with your choice of:

Chicken and Carrot turnover

Potato Hash Cake with Cheddar, Grilled Apples, Beetroot and Walnuts

Smoke ham, mozzarella and artichoke pastry

Kids Choice of

pizza turnover

strawberry sandwich

Savory

Chicken and Carrot Turnover (sold individually) $4

Potato Hash Cake with Cheddar, Grilled Apples, Beetroot and Walnuts (sold individually) $5

Smoked Ham, Mozzarella and Artichoke Pastry (sold individually)$5

Sweets

Strawberry Dumplings $5/4 dumplings
Whole Strawberries, wrapped in a lemon curd dough rolled in poppy seeds.

Cherry Tart $4/Piece
Sweet Local Cherries in a tart case

Chocolate Macadamia Tartlet $4/tart
milk chocolate, macadamia in a chocolate tart shell

Breakfast or Anytime
Blueberry/Strawberry handpies $2.50/pie
a pie easy enough to hold, filled with blueberry/strawberry jam

Fresh Fruit Parfait $4
Fresh Fruit with a Lemon Flavored Natural Yogurt

Apricot -Cardamom Bars and Apricot Icing $3
Dried Apricot, flavored with cardamon and topped with a apricot icing

Blackberry Oat Bars $ 3
Fresh Blackberries in a traditional oat bar

Vanilla Bean Cream Scones $3
A scone with a vanilla cream filling

Semolina Pudding with cinnamon and raspberry compote $5
Cinnamon brings out the flavor of the raspberries in this mosit pudding


Ice Cream $3/cone double scoops $5
Date and Roasted Almond Ice Cream
Brunt Carmel Gelato
Strawberry Ice Cream
Chocolate Ice Cream
Lemon Verbana
Blueberry Banana Ice Cream

Come visit us for additional treats on Farmers Market Days!

REMEMBER....MAGPIES NOW EXCEPTS VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS AND DINERS CLUB!
ANOTHER REMINDER.....CHECK WHERE THE MAGPIE FLIES FOR UPCOMING EVENTS!

Mother's Day!

Before I started this post I was looking at one of my favorite bloggers (cocoandme). Her blog is similar to mine and she talks about her Market Stall in London. Her most recent blog posting hit home. Her comments were about how we as Mother's juggle working and family life. How sometimes we let things go on the work front to cater to the family front and vice versa. After reading her post, I felt that we face many of the same struggles. It doesn't matter that we are in different parts of the world. Like Cocoandme, I often struggle with the balance of work and kids. I have 4 very active children and my long term customers know that I occasionally change my delivery hours to accommodate an important baseball game or school awards ceremony. I have also been known to tell my children not now because Mommy is working. We will do that later. Like my fellow blogger, as my children get older and demand even more attention and chauffeuring, I wonder if I will be able to keep up with the pace. I am not sure if I will ever find a happy balance but I continue to strive for one each week. So as Mother's Day approaches, I want to wish all the great Mother's I know a very happy day!

A special note: I want to wish my own Mother, Happy Mother's Day! Without her MagPies (among other things) would not be possible. I love you, Mom!

MagPies, will be open for deliveries Saturday 10am-2pm and Sunday 9-1pm (unless we sell out on either day). You can call ahead.

Savory
Baked Parmesan & Thyme Tart with Red Onion Jam
This tart is great at room temperature if you are planning a Mother's Day Picnic.

Filled Prosciutto and Cheese Focaccia - $4/piece
This is kind of like a Focaccia sandwich.

Assorted Quiches - $5/quiche
Different topping depending on produce. Possibilities are asparagus, artichoke, corn and red pepper.

Pork and Mushroom Pie - $6/pie
Creamy Pork and a variety of mushroom is a flaky pastry.

Chicken Pot Pie (with biscuit topping) - Family Size $25
Organic Chicken, vegetables with a homemade topping.

Salads
Couscous Salad with grilled vegetables and feta

Rice Salad - This salad is done the MagPies way with pickles, beans, radishes, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and long grain rice. Dressed with local olive oil and lemon.

Ice Cream - $5/container
Mini Baked Alaska - $4/baked Alaska
Strawberry with Chocolate Chunks
Burnt Carmel Gelato
Roasted Banana ice Cream

Pie
Apple Breton Pie - $22.00/whole pie or $5/piece
Chocolate Strawberry Pot Pie $6
Blueberry Crumble $20/whole crumble $5/small crumble

Tarts
Fruit Tart - $5/5"tart
Almond Pither $16/whole tart
Pineapple tart Tatin $16/whole tart

Cookies/Financiers/Petite Fours
Petits Fours - Look like a hat - box of 6 $12
Blackberry Brown-butter Financiers - 4 $6
Spicy Hazelnut Biscotti $3/bag

Breakfast
Bakery Crumb Buns
Orange/Currant Scones
Butterscotch scones
Croissant

Cake
Vanilla Bean Buttermilk cake with glazed oranges $18
Chocolate Flourless Cake $20 whole cake or/ $5 piece
Mary Ann Cake with Lemon Curd and Blueberries $18
Coconut layer cake (small) $7

Not all items will be available both days. So if you have an idea what you want and know what day you want to pick it up on please place your order by Friday. Thanks!

Everything late this Week!

It must be the weather! I missed the Daring Baker's Challenge Date on the 27th! Mostly because of work. I am late posting the blog. I am all off schedule. Next week I hope to do better. Anyway, I will still have free tasting of the Daring Baker's Challenge for you this week. I will post the pictures soon, but better late then never!

So this week I am busy preparing to start the Vacaville Farmers Market and getting ready for the summer season out in the Valley. Please keep your eye on the where MagPies will be at the bottom of the blog for upcoming events.

MagPies is also now Twittering. I hope this will be an easy way for customers to keep up with our busy schedule and allow you easy access to finding us around the valley. Twitter is like microblogging. So in essence it is short and sweet posts (no more than 140 characters). You can even have twitter messages sent to your phone. I hope to use this tool for farmers market as well. I can let you know through twitter when we are close to selling out of items or report on what fruit and veg look good that Saturday or just anything special. Sign-up now at http://www.twitter.com/. Our username is Magpiesjen.

Suisun Valley is also twittering as well as Ron Lanza from Wooden Valley. It is a great place to keep up with what is going on in the Valley. If anyone needs any help with this let me know. I am not an expert (still kinda finding my way through it), but will help with whatever I can.

BIG NEWS! Magpies will be accepting Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Debit Cards in the next two weeks! This has been a little bit of a process but considering the economy and that fact that it is just easier to pay with your card sometimes, we are glad to offer this service to our customers.

Don't forget MagPies for Mother's Day treats! I will get the blog posted early so you can make you decisions. We will be open for extended hours the Saturday before Mother's Day.

OK, enough of all this big news on to this weeks goods.

Savory
Cheese and Parsnip roulade $5/piece
This has Blue Cheese, mascarpone, pesto and parsnips.

Chilli Crab and Prawn Tart $5/tart
Spiced up tart with red chilli.

Mediterrean Pasties $5/pastie
Chicken, spinach and mediterrean vegetables in a pastie

Sweets
Organic Apple Cake with honey and a cinnamon flavored creme fraiche

Plum and Goat Cheese Tart - $5/piece
Sweet Plums with a tart Goat Cheese Base.

Rhubarb and Orange Fool - $5/cup
Rhubarb, Orange, Marscarpone and custard all rolled into this start of the summer dessert.

FREE PIECE OF CHEESECAKE FROM DARING BAKERS CHALLENGE

Salad
Middle Eastern Carrot Salad - $5/quart
Crisp carrots with warm spices give this an exotic flavor