Gallery of Goodies

It was so great to see you at Market Day today.  Meskel came and the rain is gone.  It's truly amazing how rainy season exits just as fast as it arrives.  The skies are blue and the sun is so warm!

The bagels went fast as well as the chocolate chip cookies.  Scones are always gone in the first 40 minutes as well.

toasted coconut scones

chocolate chip cookies and chocolate chip with peanut M&M's

Today these gorgeous edible art were on sale too.  These are Full Bloom Vanilla Bean sugar cookies and they are delicious.  I always use real butter.  The cookie isn't too sweet and the butter cream is a delicious compliment.  They were almost too pretty to eat.  Almost!

bagles

I miss going to the store in the States to buy fresh bagels.  Luckily, I have a wonderful boiled bagel recipe that fills that craving.  I think I might even like my homemade bagels better.  Homemade is usually better.  Don't you agree?

At the market today there will be sesame and poppy seed topped bagels for sale.  The dough is made with a combination of white and whole wheat flour with just a touch of honey.  Get them while they last!

I like to slice my bagel in half and eat it toasted with cream cheese.  Sadly, cream cheese is not always available here in Addis Ababa.  If you need some other ideas for bagel toppings, try honey butter.  Whip together equal parts honey and butter and slather it on a warm bagel.  I also really like nut butter (peanut or almond) and then a sprinkle of toasted coconut on top.  I tend to lean towards the sweet toppings but savory is delicious too!  What goes on your bagel?

Market Day Sept 28

Friday is coming up quickly again.  We are celebrating Meskel this week here in Ethiopia and it's truly an amazing celebration of the founding of the Ethiopian Orthodox church.  You can see more of my photos from the ICS Meskel celebration here.

I'm excited because my two older girls don't have school on Thursday and Friday so they get to help me bake and then set up at the market.  Adelaide, my eldest daughter is especially excited to help out.  Cooking with my girls is my very favorite thing to do.

As always, the market is at the US Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 12:00 -1:30 PM.  Ladytroupe Sweets tends to sell out in the first hour though so if you'd like to have a choice from the full selection of treats, please come early!

I accept special orders as well, so if you would like to take a batch of something home for the weekend or a party just let me know.

The menu for Friday:
Maple Walnut scones
Apple Cinnamon scones
Toasted Coconut scones
Classic Chocolate Chip cookies
Chocolate Chip cookies with peanut M&M's
Full Bloom Vanilla Bean sugar cookies
Bagels: sesame and poppy seed

Gallery of Goodies

Icebox cupcakes

 If you have an opportunity to come out to Market Day at the US Embassy on Fridays you will get a chance to see some of my creations in person.  But if you don't happen to live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia right now (seriously?!  Why don't you?), here are some photos of the goodies Ladytroupe Sweets has been creating and selling.  Aren't they lovely?

Orange blossom cupcakes

Orange liqueur cupcake with a lemon vanilla frosting

oatmeal butterscotch cookies with cranberries and pecans

Market Day September 21

Are you excited for Friday?  Are you ready to bring home treats to your family for the weekend?  Good, because you are going to love the menu for this week.

Orange blossom cupcakes (orange cake with a fluffy lemon frosting)

Apple hand pies (these will be on the menu as long as I can get the lovely New Zealand apples I've been using)

Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies (with pecans and cranberries).  It's my Mother's oatmeal cookie recipe that I grew up on and they are amazing!

Scones: Lemon Poppy Seed, Blueberry Vanilla, and Cranberry White Chocolate Almond

Maple Caramel Popcorn (perfect treat for the kids...or grown ups)

Come early, the goodies sell fast.

Market Day at the US Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 12:00-2:00PM

Market Day September 14

The menu for Ladytroupe Sweets for Market Day at the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa

Cheddar, bacon and rosemary scones 40 Birr
Strawberries 'n cream scones 40 Birr
Classic Chocolate Chip cookies (with a slightly reworked recipe for a softer cookie) 30 Birr
Apple hand pie 40 Birr

And these lovely treats are Icebox cupcakes with homemade chocolate wafers.  If you've ever tasted the original circa 1930's icebox cake, this is a individual sized portion of the wonderful classic.  Essentially a chocolate wafer cookie and whipped cream cake (traditionally Nabisco brand wafers). Housewives in the 30's created the recipe by stacking the wafers sandwiched with sweet whipping cream and allowed to sit in the icebox for a day or two so the wafers soften into a cake like consistency. I love the nostalgia behind the cake. It's also wonderfully delicious and I imagine it will be even tastier with my homemade chocolate wafers.  I hope you enjoy it.

Icebox cupcakes 30 Birr

Market Day

It was a great first day at the market!  I was so energized I could hardly sleep the night before.  Being organized really helped to keep things running smoothly.  Having small bills for change and bags for people to carry their goodies away with them really made a big difference.

Thank you to everyone who came out to Market Day and supported Ladytroupe Sweets for my debut.  I hope you like what you purchased enough to come back.  Please feel free to make recommendations for what you'd like me to bake.  I have a ton of goodies in line for the market but I'm always interested in hearing other's suggestions.

Here is what Ladytroupe Sweets sold at the market this week

Mini Bella Nut pies
Ashlynn Apple hand pies
Chocolate Chip cookies
Vanilla Bean scones
Cranberry White Chocolate Almond scones

From what I could tell people were super excited about the scones.  Who can blame them?  I love scones too.  

Americans love chocolate chip cookies and I am beyond excited to fulfill that need for my fellow American expats in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Apple pie and pecan pie are both pretty darn American as well.  There were a few other vendors selling baked goods but none were selling American goodies.  Sometimes you just want a big buttery scone with your cup of coffee.  Believe me, I get that!

I had a ton of fun and I can't wait to do it again next week.  Now I'm off to go bake something for me and mine since all the goodies sold.

preparations

I am busy with preparations for the first day at Market Day tomorrow.  I really love sorting out the logistics of baking more than one type of treat in large quantities.  It's really making me think about what I want to bake the morning of or the day before and how can I prep my materials so it all goes smoothly.  I like the logistics almost as much as the baking...almost!