No Kid Hungry ... and How You Can Help

How can your sweet tooth help to feed hungry children???

By tempting you to click on this link to make a contribution (any amount is welcome!) to No Kid Hungry, which will then give you access to download an e-cookbook from Solo Foods that's filled with 35 recipes for sweet treats and desserts that were contributed by "the top bloggers around the internet" ... including li'l ol' me, with my recipe for Bear Claws. I am enormously proud to have been invited to contribute to such a cool project, and to support the exceptional work of this organization.

No Kid Hungry is "a nonprofit organization that works to end childhood hunger in America. Hunger in children affects everything from nutrition to socialization and education. It has been proven that hungry children are distracted at school and lose the basic skills needed to achieve higher education. No Kid Hungry funds school breakfasts, summer meals, and solutions community-wide. They are working to educate kids and families about nutrition and budgets to encourage healthy shopping. No Kid Hungry works tirelessly to raise awareness throughout the United States, where many Americans are unaware of childhood hunger. By placing a spotlight on this important issue, we can make a difference in thousands of childrens’ lives."

Especially now that November is here and food benefits have been cut to millions who were already struggling (working poor, people with disabilities, people who just need some help because of unforeseen circumstances), it's more critical than ever to support organizations that help to provide nutrition and sustenance to children.

So click on this link and donate, then download, and then share both the link and the fabulous baked goods you'll make with all your new recipes ... :)

Frugal Floozie Friday - Glee Cake & Pastry

First of all, let me congratulate Dawn - of mummytotwoboys - who won the $25 Whole Foods Market gift card in my recent giveaway! Mazal tov!!!

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Now, on to today's post ... :)

Craig and I took a trip out to Chelsea last Saturday to putter around, to see the Christmas-y sites, and to revel in small-town friendliness, quaintness and charm. And a highlight of our afternoon, of course, was cupcakes. But not just any cupcakes - these were baked by Glee Havens, who won the 2012 Girl Scout Cookie Bake-Off Benefit that I was thrilled to help judge this past September.

And so, when you can relish decadent treats like these for less than $5 per person,
Glee Cake & Pastry is a natural fit for Frugal Floozie Friday!

There are so many treats to choose from: cupcakes, dessert bars, slices of tortes or cakes ... sigh. I wandered back and forth from one display case to another (there are three); and instead of narrowing down my list of options, each time I considered my choices my list grew longer.

Craig knew readily what he wanted: the Boston Cream cupcake pictured at right - "A light moist vanilla cake topped with a rich vanilla custard and dipped in chocolate ganache." Having gone to graduate school in Boston, it was a taste of his former home. And who doesn't love this lovely, decadent treat?

I debated among the Peanut Butter and Ganache cupcake, the coconut-topped Toasted Mounds variety, and the Death by Chocolate (no surprise to learn this is the shop's best seller). But I succumbed ultimately to the Salted Butterscotch cupcake pictured at the top of the post - salty, sweet, and sublime.

Cupcakes cost $3 each - well within our mandatory Frugal Floozie Friday budget of $5 or less per person; but if you buy two or more, they are only $2.75. Slices of elegant, sophisticated, luscious cakes and tortes cost $4.25; and cookies, brownies, or bars range from 75 cents to $3 each.

Even better, if you visit Glee on a Sunday you can enjoy Happy Hour prices: from 12-5 p.m., "all items in the case are 1/2 off!"

Whether you're looking to enjoy treats for a special occasion, or just want a little something sweet "just because," be sure to stop by Glee's shop for wonderful items.

Glee Cake & Pastry
117 S. Main Street
Chelsea, MI 48118
734-475-3000
Tuesday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: 12 - 5 p.m.



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Frugal Floozie Friday - The Songbird Cafe

The Songbird Cafe is the newest addition to the dining options on the northeast side of town, and so it's today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature in order to let everyone know that it's open for business and ready to welcome you.

Ann Arbor native Jenny Song and her mother, Youn, have opened this spot that is great whether you want to grab a quick coffee and cake to go or linger for awhile over a latte and lunch.  (A greater variety of food options will be available imminently.  But there are so many other treats that it's absolutely worth an initial visit before going back again once the salad bar, sandwiches, and weekend brunch come along.)

The Hummingbird Cake pictured above - a Southern classic, and a very generous portion for $4 - is a rich, moist banana-walnut cake with a luscious, buttery, cream cheese frosting.  This and other baked goods, such as scones and cookies, are provided by the People's Food Co-Op, letting you support two local businesses at once when you cater to your sweet tooth.

I had heard the Samoa latte calling to me ever since the Cafe had posted about its "caramel, coconut, cocoa goodness" on Facebook a few days before my first visit.  (And let me personally thank Taylor, one of the Songbird's "talented baristas," for creating this treat.)  It was the liquid essence of my second-favorite Girl Scout cookie since, as we all know, Thin Mints reign supreme.  This was creamy and definitely showcased the key flavors - a luxurious indulgence at $4.35.

All of the pastries, teas, coffees, juices, sodas, and specialty drinks fall within our mandatory frugal budget of $5 or less per person, ranging in price from $1.50 to $4.60.  There are unique and intriguing lattes, from the seductive Nutella-flavored one to the Cardamom Rose and the Fig Vanilla Black Pepper varieties.  There is also a Tangerine Lavender Hot Cocoa ... something to look forward to when cold weather returns to Michigan (and sadly, we all know it will).

Another really nice feature of The Songbird Cafe - besides the friendliness of Jenny and the staff, the delicious goodies, and the free wi-fi, among other perks - is the half-off sale on leftover baked goods.  Stop by to pick up some scones or cookies for a midnight snack or for the next morning's breakfast!

Visit The Songbird Cafe and say "hi." With lots of light, it's very cheerful; with wood furniture, it offers warmth.  And with great food and drink offerings, served by smiling staff, it'd be a lovely place to become a regular.

The Songbird Cafe
2707 Plymouth Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-761-1555
Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.



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