Right before opening on Saturday

Every Saturday is a production...no other day feels the same. It's usually high stress, but so much fun. Here is what it looks like right before opening on Saturday morning. I love how pieces of quiche and Big Momma Rolls are missing (it's hard to work around this stuff on a hungry, high-stress Saturday morning!) That's our vegan quiche to the left. A new Saturday morning guest. Come check her out.

grace & peace,

reine

Precious Cupcakes

A photo of our turtle cupcake (a customer favorite) and a new one we made on the fly...Le Grand Cupcake--a vanilla cake with caramel cream cheese frosting topped with a fresh strawberry and ganache. I know Le Grand is not on our site, like some other cupcakes you've seen in the shop on days we just decided to lovingly "throw something together".

Caramel Apple Tart

For those of you who LOVE cupcakes, I feel the same way about tarts and pies. I LOVE THEM!! Here's a beauty we made this morning...

Sunday Dinner

So I'm going in reverse this time. This was a Sunday dinner a couple of weeks ago. Sesame noodles with shittake mushrooms, leeks and edamame. I'll post the recipe soon. It was quick, healthy and delicious.

grace & peace,

reine

That To-fish photo I promised

Do you remember that to-fish blog not too far back? Well here is the photo...with my little ones' hands eagerly approaching. So delicious that to-fish!

Mini Rose Cupcakes

I don't know if people know that we do mini cupcakes...but we do. We decided to deck these out with buttercream roses. I think they'd be perfect for any bridal shower or as wedding favors.

grace & peace,

Reine

Caitlin Got Married!

A couple of photos from our most recent cupcake wedding at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Congratulations to Caitlin & Sean!

Catering Menu Now Online!

Our modest catering menu is now online. Please visit our site, click on "store info, EATS, and such", and take a look.

grace & peace,
reine

Tostada!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick note: This week's special is a delicious Black Bean Tostada. Not just any black bean, but black beans cooked from scratch!! I said this to my daughter and she said, "You grew them?" Which made me feel a little less accomplished. "No, my dear. I soaked them over night and cooked them for one thousand years (seemed like it, anyway)...and made a sofrito to add to them, which was cooked for one hundred years..." This special is vegan and gluten free. We made a delicious chimichurri sauce to go with it and it is topped with perfect avocados and cute cherry tomatoes. Best part? It's only $4.50.

Oh, and we improved our Tower Grove (chicken salad). It's more tender and more perfect now...in my opinion. Look forward to seeing you soon.

grace & peace,

reine...and I promise, when I get it together, i'll post photos!

Girl Talk

My daughter is strong willed. Just like her mother. I found myself telling Cbabi that every time I talk to her lately it feels like she is totally ignoring me--so i talk louder--which is so much fun for everybody(sarcasm). So last night I went into her room and sat on her bed and just started talking. And this sentence came out of my mouth: "Everything you learn about being a woman you will learn mostly from me. I will teach you, and it would be easier if I felt you were listening to me. " We ended up hugging it out, looking at Martha Stewart's wedding cake book (research) and everything was good.

Parenting stinks sometimes; and sometimes it's the best thing ever. Here's hoping I get it more right than wrong. And when I get it wrong, I apologize.

grace & peace,

reine

To-Fish Sandwiches

I wish I had taken a picture...but I made to-fish sandwiches yesterday as a guilty pleasure. I will post the recipe...and a picture sooner than later. I say guilty pleasure because I fried them in canola oil. Hmmmmmmmm, they were so good and crispy because of the "double batter" my mom used to do. I took some flour and seasoned it with Old Bay Seasoning, salt, dried dill, kelp, onion and garlic powder, and pepper. I dipped these amazingly thin sliced tofu sheets I found at Jay International Market on Grand in my area in the flour mixture, then dipped them in plain soy milk, then dipped them in panko bread crumbs and fried those babies up!

Enjoyed them on a toasted bun with mixed greens, onion, tomato...next time I'm going to make a creole sauce to go with it...this time was ketchup.

Does this happen after the first of every year?

What is this, you ask? Not blogging...but I'm back. And lots to blog about. Just had our first vegan Easter and took photos...finally mastered vegan mac n' cheese (thank goodness for Tease and Daiya!) and I want to share it with you all. Give me a chance to catch up and upload and I'll have a schedule for classes as well. As always, thanks for the support.

grace & peace,

reine