There were exciting things going on at Muddy’s over the Thanksgiving break! After rousing ourselves from the turkey and dressing coma, we got on our comfy jeans, picked up our power tools and paint brushes, and rolled up our sleeves.

We’ve done a little re-arranging and I think the new set-up will work well for everyone. We’ve moved the coffee station to be beside the new cold-case (which I apologize is taking so long to be functioning… making the doors has turned into a construction nightmare), put up lots of things on the wall, re-painted the bench, painted a bookcase, put up window shades, made a new eat-in table, sanded and re-painted the dirty dish station trolley, touched up the walls, built shelving into two cabinets, re-painted a wall, built three new doors for the back, painted the counter-island, and expanded the dry goods/merchandise area. Actually, that expansion isn’t quite complete as the Big Ugly Cooler is still there, but once we get our new refrigeration delivered, we can finish dolling up that space.

PS. Many thanks to Thomas and Kip for volunteering to help with the heavy lifting; I appreciate y’all using your days off to help out!

Well folks, yet another independent restaurant has closed its doors.
I wish all the best to Alyce Mantia, who has made the incredibly difficult decision to close her business, Mantia’s. I really enjoyed going there for lunch, special cheeses, and assorted cooking items. Alyce is still available for cooking classes (perfect wedding shower or birthday idea!), private dinner parties, speaking engagements, etc and if you’d like to book her, please contact her at alyce.mantia@gmail.com.
Here is an excerpt from her farewell newsletter:
As you almost certainly know, many local businesses have been affected by the recent drastic economic downturn. Few have been harder hit than our independent restaurants. With costs rising, and revenue falling, many of us have struggled to carry on what we believe to be the best we can do for you, our loyal supporters. Unfortunately there comes a time when difficult decisions must be made. And that time has come for me.

It is important, now more than ever, to support our local businesses, our local people! Please remember, when you purchase a gift, to buy locally. When you go out to eat, please choose local eateries!

Please please please forgive me. I realize this isn’t strictly “bakery related”, but I just have to publicly gush for a minute…
Thomas Robinson is without a doubt the MOST considerate man that exists anywhere on this planet.
He makes a fresh pot of coffee for me almost every morning when he leaves for work.
He constantly helps out around the house WITHOUT being asked.
He helps at the bakery and never lets me feel overwhelmed.
He stops by Petco randomly on the way home from work just to get special treats for our dogs.
He brings me chai lattes in bed on Sunday mornings that he picks up on his way home from teaching Sunday school.
And last night, I got home from work around 10-ish at night and when I went in the back to kick off my shoes, I found THIS (see photo) on my bedside table.

Thomas = Great Guy

Well, not everything turns out as planned…
As y’all know I’ve been totally obsessed with the Baked cookbook (from Brooklyn bakery, Baked) and so far just about everything I’ve tried has been super-yummy-funtime-delicious.
They are apparently famous for their ‘sweet and salty’ cake, a chocolate and caramel and sea salt concoction that sounds divine.
I certainly don’t blame the recipe (it’s one of their best sellers, so clearly their version tastes pretty good), rather, I think I must have seriously mis-stepped somewhere along the way. Personally, I think I burned the caramel… it had a decidedly charred taste to it.
It looks good, but man, did it taste… well, NOT good.
Even I make mistakes in the kitchen!

Ok, new experiment is successful!
Keep your eye out for our November special, in the shop starting November 11!

Sweet Potato cupcakes with Marshmallow icing

My testers at Fox 13 and MIFA were so helpful in getting feedback to me. These are moist and yummy and taste just like Thanksgiving!

Huzzah!

I just wanted everyone to see how cute our tray of Plain Janes looked yesterday!
I had SO hoped to have toothpicks with photos of McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden on them, but alas, I don’t have nearly that much free time…

This month’s Real Simple question of its readers was “What are your hopes for this country?”
These are some of my favorite answers:

“I want the young people of America to realize and understand the sacrifices their grandparents and forebears made so that they could have the freedom to speak, write, and worship as they choose.” -Laura Youlios, California

“Mindfulness. Be mindful of the impact everyday activities have on others, the earth, and ourselves. Even the smallest things have the capacity for a big impact. Be mindful of yourself, your surroundings, and your audience before taking action.” -Kelly Megill, Pennsylvania

“That people will slow down to talk to each other face to face and not rely so much on virtual communication.” -Kanesha Baynard, Colorado

Congratulations to Susye and Nick!
In case you missed the excitement last week, two of our customers got engaged last week… Nick proposed to Susye in Muddy’s!!! We’ve all been swooning over the romance of it all… cupcakes AND a ring!

Laura, one of our resident badass bakers, wrote adorable letters on the cupcakes, “Marry me Susye?”
Nick brought Susye to Muddy’s, where he’d already placed a special order for cupcakes asking her to marry him, and he asked at the counter for a flavor he knew we didn’t have that week. Anne (who had been previously made aware of her role) said “oh, have a seat and let me check in the back for you!” and brought out his order to him and he asked Susye to marry him! (She totally said yes).

We’ve had our goodies used at weddings and even in a proposal, but this was the first proposal actually IN the shop. Huzzah!!! Congratulations!!!!!!

Susye was sweet enough to email me a couple of photos from the big event. Thanks Susye!

Ok, some of you early (and oh so loyal) readers may remember my attempt at basil and rosemary this summer… and my claim to a deadly black thumb.

I have BIG, and I mean truly HUMONGOUS, news. I succeeded wildly this year. Maybe it was all the good vibes from y’all, but my basil was like super-enormous mutant ninja basil. At its highest, it stood about 5 feet tall. Booyah!

check out the earlier post here for a photo right after I’d planted… oh yeah… it wasn’t a total success. The blueberry bush committed suicide about 4 days into the dirt. Sigh. I guess I can’t have everything.

Please, no writing/coloring
on the furniture…
or on the walls, the floors, or any place except the designated orange chalkboard area.
If you must use markers and crayons, please just ask us for some paper; I promise we’ll give you some.
Thanks!!!

We would love to hear from you!

Muddy’s has been in business for 7 months now and we’d like to take the opportunity to survey our customers to see how we’re doing and ask for y’all’s ideas.

Please visit this link to take our twenty question anonymous survey. It really helps us out to know what y’all are thinking, wishing for, etc. Some of our best ideas so far have been customer inspired, so please speak up and tell us what you want!

Thanks!