If you haven’t yet been to Bloom Bake Shop in Middleton, then you need to head on over. Now. The pics above—of some of Bloom’s nibbles—should be enticement enough!
Annemarie Spitznagle bakes up absolute deliciousness in her quaint corner store. She’s all about organic, sustainable, locally grown and just being green. We definitely like that, especially when it comes to eats for us and our kids.
A visit there is an exercise in the limitations of will power: I find myself standing in front of the case saying, “You can only have one, no two. OK, maybe three.” It’s hard to decide just which cupcake or bar or brownie or cookie or truffle to walk off with. Ahhh, if only she offered flight bites—mini bite-sized cupcakes and cookies, so I could try them all at once!
Among our favorites are the “Be Classic” vanilla and rich chocolate “Be Deep” vanilla cupcakes. And the Whoopie Pies! They’re huge and moist with marshmallow creme filling. Those are among her list of standards, with other flavors appearing seasonally.
I try to avoid wheat and dairy, so I’m a big fan of Bloom’s “Be Kind” gluten-free and vegan offerings. The pink velvet cupcake was perfection: moist and flavorful, not dense and gluey like the gluten-free goods that have come out of my kitchen and other bakeries. (Bloom is more than happy to bake up a big batch for you to store at home. Spitznagle is also willing to try things out: If you have a fave gluten/dairy free recipe or flavor, she wants to hear about it!) I also dream about the gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookie. It’s die for, especially if you like the taste of coconut with your chocolate, as Bloom makes them coconut oil instead of butter.
Hmmm, can you tell that we love the sweet bites at Bloom? And, as always at MomAppeal, we love her sustainable/local focus, and that it’s an example of another Madison-area mom putting her creativity out there to make great things happen—for the rest of us to enjoy!
—Mama Kate
May 22nd, 2010
In celebration of her Madison gig this Saturday morning at High Noon Saloon, Little Miss Ann is giving away a free CD to a lucky Mom Appeal reader!
To enter the random drawing, please send a comment with:
1) The answer to this question: Where’s Little Miss Ann from? (Hint hint — read the recent blog post below by moi…)
2) Your full name and e-mail address.
Drawing is Saturday, May 22. I’ll be in touch with the lucky winner, and post about it.
—Mama Kate
May 19th, 2010
Tot rock hits the High Noon Saloon this weekend!
Little Miss Ann and her Chicago band make their Madison debut. She’s 5′2″ (hence the name) and tall on fun. My kids are groupies — they love her latest CD, “Clap for Love.” Her style: overall fun and engaging, a little bit folk infused with some lilting melodies, rocking-out songs, world tunes, and even indie aspects, too, for parents to love. You can listen to some of her tunes on Land of Nod’s web site. To learn more about Little Miss Ann, check out our September 2009 blog (or search for Little Miss Ann). Or visit Little Miss Ann’s web site.
The cool thing about these daytime shows at the High Noon is that:
A) Thus, because it’s really a kid gig, you don’t need a babysitter,
B) We parents actually feel like we’re hitting the town, in part because
C) The gig is at a bar, and the bar is open — hello Bloody Marys!
D) It’s a blast to watch a whole gaggle of kids get down to some great music.
Showtime is 11 am. Cover: $10 grownups, $5 kids.
See you there!
— Mama Kate
May 18th, 2010
Come to the Capital Brewery on Sunday, June 6th from 2p-6pm to enjoy great music by Natty Nation, Capital Brewery’s brews, fun kid’s activities and amazing Ethiopian food —all while supporting Clinic at a Time, a wonderful grassroots organization that helps the people of Ethiopia!
“The goal of the organization is to improve the quality of health care for the poor and the underprivileged communities in the Province of Gojjam, located in northwestern Ethiopia. They do this by collecting and providing medical supplies; helping to improve existing public health care facilities; 
helping to build new facilities; and providing health care-related information and education to health care workers and the community.Working from her home – with no paid staff and virtually no “overhead” costs – Mulu is able to commit 100 percent of the donations collected for CAAT toward improving health conditions in Gojjam.
Everyone working with CAAT is doing so on a volunteer basis. And because of her lifelong ties to the community, Mulu can work directly with regional government authorities, civic organizations and community volunteers there.”
“CAAT is truly a unique organization. Because of Mulu’s personal connections to people in the region – and because of CAAT’s lack of “bureaucratic red tape” and expenses for office space and employees that that larger organizations must cover – donations to CAAT will have an immediate and direct impact on the health care needs of the region.”
I will post a reminder about this great event and will see you there!!! *If you cannot make it to the event, but want to make a donation, please visit Clinic At a Time. There is such a great need…I have seen it firsthand…
On a side note, Mama Jen is taking a break from MomAppeal for awhile because I find myself wanting the extra family time… I struggled with this decision, but it is the best thing for me right now…The fabulous Mama Kate plans to keep things going and would love to hear from you if you have a fab find or important event that you want people to know about!
Thank you for being wonderful, loyal readers!!!
Mama Jen
May 10th, 2010
Mamas!
Add this to your must-do list for Mother’s Day (uh, if it’s not already on your calendar, that’s Sunday, May 9):
After brunching it with the fam, grab your partner, favorite mommy pals, and maybe even your own mom, and head to “Listen to Your Mother.” It’ll be an afternoon of readings from some of “us”—12 Madison-area writerly “moms in the trenches” who read about the “beauty, the beast, and the barely rested that is motherhood” as we know and know and usually love it.
“Listen to Your Mother” kicks off at 3 pm at the Barrymore Theater on Atwood Avenue in Madison. Tickets are $10, available at the door, via phone, or online. Given the nature of some of the readings (aka “the beast” of motherhood), this is a perfect opp to line up a sitter and enjoy a little mommy time sans kiddos. A portion of the proceeds will go to “The Road Home,” a Dane County organization that finds solutions for homeless families.
Event sponsor Happy Bambino is hosting a giveaway—worth $300—that includes brunch for two, tickets to the show, a Happy Bambino gift certificate, and other goodies. Check out Happy Bambino’s blog for more details.
—Mama Kate
May 3rd, 2010
Mamas-
Check out this cool new event … think about submitting/auditioning if you’re a writerly type. There’ll be humor, poignant moments, and just motherly comaraderie. Ann Imig, a cool mommy/writer pal is organizing it. She’s HILARIOUS by the way, and if you don’t yet read her blog, you should! Check it out: www.annsrants.com.
Hope to see you there! Wear your corsage!
—Mama Kate
Dear Friends, Loved ones, and People who may/may not be interested:
I’m directing and producing a show on Mother’s Day: LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER will be an afternoon of readings by Madison writers on Motherhood at 3:00 pm, Sunday 5/9/10 at The Barrymore.
Auditions are scheduled for Saturday April 10th by appointment, and full details can be found here.http://www.listentoyourmothershow.blogspot.com
I am so excited about creating a new Mother’s Day Madison tradition. After brunch and seeing the lilacs, why not celebrate yourself or your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Best Friend, or hamster by listening to authentic voices from women who know the beauty, beast and the barely-rested that is MOTHERHOOD.
Thank you for your help and I really hope you’ll come. Now, back to your regularly scheduled screen-time.
With fondest regards and appreciation,
Ann
March 18th, 2010
Hot off the griddle!
I just nabbed a copy of Bean Appétit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food, and can’t wait to put it to work in the kitchen with my kiddos.
Dynamic duo Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen—co-owners of Bean Sprouts Cafe and Cooking School, a kid friendly restaurant serving healthy fare to Madison, WI, families—have filled their book with fun, fun, fun. What grown-up cookbook has instructions that tell you to spin in a circle three times before beginning or to waddle like a penguin around the table or shake your hips while the blender’s a whirling?
The book’s design is bright and colorful, filled with a mix of illustration and engaging “food as art” photography kids will love perusing. The recipe instructions are easy for families to follow together, and feature ingredients lists that are reasonable in length and with easily attainable items. Though they run the gamut from breakfast to snacks to outdoor eats and sweet bites, recipes are organized in clever new ways—food fun for a wintry day, book-themed eats, making music and munchies.
The book’s overriding philosophy: Encourage kids to “play” with their food, and you’ll instill a lifelong interest in preparing delicious healthy foods. It’s good for kid giggles, and frustrated parents. Because they’re engaged in the process and having so much fun prepping food in the kitchen, that should translate to fun at the table for mom and dad, as the kids gobble up the new yummy recipes they’ve helped make—perhaps out of foods their tastebuds had previously rejected. Amen to that.
I also dig the cookbook’s fun extras: questions to inspire table talk, games, crafts, and factoids, like favorite pizza toppings, birthday treats, and table manners from around the world. It’s also got handy conversion charts and tips, on top of its just plain good ideas.
So, get cookin’ with your kids. Pick up your copy at a bookstore near you, or order online.
Our Mom Appeal kudos go out to these two busy and creative mompreneurs, who have got the mojo thing going on! Successful cafe and cooking classes, now the fab cookbook, and also a cooking show that’s in the works! Whew! I don’t know how they do it!
—Mama Kate
March 3rd, 2010
As spring edges closer, the snow will begin to melt, the ground will thaw and plants and trees will suddenly spring to life again. But, that doesn’t mean cold weather is behind us. For those chilly mid-winter days, or cool spring nights, Nowali is making sure little feet are protected with four new styles of their award-winning Swedish moccasins.
The four new styles are inspired by spring and include a flower, frog, dot and boat style. Each traditional Swedish moccasin is hand-stitched, and made with yarn and foxing materials that meet the Öko-Tex Standard 100, an ‘eco’ standard which ensures they contain no harmful dyes or substances—AND they are washable!! No worries if your tot trots outside…
We have the adorable blue frog style that is pictured above(alongside the brown frog style), and they are sooooo soft and sweet on our little man’s feet! The flexible soles that are non-slip keep him steady as he learns to take his first steps!!
I just love these moccasins and the fun designs they come in.
Nowali is offering one lucky MomAppeal reader a pair of moccasins for their little one! Perfect while cozy-ing up and watching the Olympics! To enter to win, you need to visit www.nowali.com and choose your favorite design of the four new styles released (flower, frog, dot or boat styles) and email mamajen@momappeal.com with your favorite and we will randomly choose a winner!
Good luck!!
Mama Jen
February 24th, 2010
How have I lived in Wisconsin, nearly all my life, and never known about this deliciousness?
Snow ice cream. It’s simple. No fancy machines or gadgets necessary: Snow, milk, sugar…and whatever else, like chocolate sauce, or sprinkles, or fruit, or brown sugar and cinnamon and nuts, or ???
Here’s what we did. Fill a cereal bowl with about a cup of clean snow, pack it down well (the Madison, WI, snow is perfect right now) and add more if there’s room in the bowl. Add sugar (1TB), unsweetened cocoa powder (1/2 TB), and heavy cream (about 1/4 c to 1/2 c … wait, guess that would be 1/3 c). Stir it up. Eat. Repeat.
My kids told me I should go out and get my own bowl, and stop tasting theirs. So I did. I mixed mine instead with chocolate soy milk. It was fab, and the calorie count’s a little sweeter on the waistline (heavy cream is, gulp, 50 cals per TB with 3.5g sat fat, 20mg protein, 0 sugar and protein):
1 cup snow
1/2c chocolate soymilk
90 cals
1.75g fat
.5g sat fat
7g sugar
4g protein
0 cholesterol
Thank you Mama Theresa for cluing me in (my kids bless you for it, my waistline may curse you if the snow keeps accumulating!).
It’s a new reason not to shovel. Enjoy!
—Mama Kate
February 22nd, 2010
Some busy days it’s all I can do to eat something green and leafy, or remember to grab fruit on the way out the door so I don’t hoard the Bunny Crackers I packed for the kids. On tired days, I fall back on chocolate and caffeine, with maybe some raisins for fiber. And, usually, I just end up feeling more tired … and wanting more sugary stuff … and totally cranky by day’s end. I need a new plan.
You are what you eat—right? Maybe, like me, you’d like to rethink things—and think a bit more about yourself when you hit the grocery aisles—and know more about what and how you should eat. What’s more important—overall calories, saturated fat calories, protein, fiber, the ingredients? How do you figure it all out?
Find out at our Tuesday, February 23, 10-11 am Coffee Talk, at Bean Sprouts Cafe in Middleton.
Our expert guest is nutrition consultant Tracie Hittman, owner of It’s Your Plate. Tracie’s primary philosophy is easy to remember and embrace (perfect for us busy mamas): “Eat Real Food.” She is known around Madison for her great and insightful events—from healthy grocery store tours to a slew of educational classes, including her upcoming Balance Your Blood Suagar, Nutrition 101, and Endless Energy.
She’ll focus on nutrition for moms, and fill us in on how to balance food choices to create health—whether it’s about just eating more healthfully, eating smarter, eating to fuel and active lifestyle, or eating to be slimmer.Her great tips and advice will include: How to read nutrition labels to find the right choices for best health, including the importance of how choices—especially poor ones—can affect blood sugar, hormones, behavior/how your feel, weight, etc. We’ll start with an interactive “Know Your Ingredients” quiz, and also share shopping lists, snack choices to keep you in balance, and resources for best foods.
An added morsel: All Coffee Talk attendees can enjoy a free 20-minute session with Tracie, by appointment!!!
See you at Bean Sprouts. Bring your nutrition and food questions for Tracie Hittman. Enjoy a gratis cuppa joe. Stay for some great (and healthy) eats! Kids are welcome!
—Mama Kate
veggie photos by Kate Bast
February 12th, 2010
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