Desserts

SURVIVAL OF THE MOST DELICIOUS

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The other day, I was driving to teach at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office after hosting another live author interview at a senior community or library or Rotary Club meeting or maybe all of those and I realized I had not had lunch.

Reaching into my teaching bag, I was fortunate enough to find a packet from Nutrient Survival.

While I admit that true starvation was nowhere to be felt and that I probably could have made it through the class, as I wanted to give my students my best, I was glad and grateful to have such great sustenance on hand!

Created by a former Army Ranger, Nutrient Survival is very much like the meals ready-to-eat (MREs) that our brave men and women in uniform carry with them into battle, where the next meal and the next day may not be guaranteed. And while they have the same nutrition and energy that MREs offer, Nutrient Survival’s offerings are far more diverse in terms of menu options and far more delicious!

From essentials like powdered milk and vitamin eggs to hearty lasagna and a variety of granolas and cereals that come in cannon-proof cans or emergency-ready bug-out bags, Nutrient Survival has everything you need to stock your bunker or just to have handy snacks on the go that do not need refrigeration or much fuss to prepare. And with foods that fit every diet from gluten-free to vegetarian, pretty much everyone can make it through the day with their help.

Not sure military-grade food is for you (it is!)? Nutrient Survival offers a one-time trial purchase where you can get samples of their basics, breakfasts, entrees, or drinks for a super low price that acts like basic training before you jump from the boring food plane and find your true mission.

CALLING ALL CONES!

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When I am not talking about food, I am teaching writing and entrepreneurship to inmates at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office in Dedham, MA.

While there, I get to work alongside and marvel at the efforts of the men and women in uniform who protect our community and keep order among the inmates.

Recently, as I was leaving the facility, I noticed a large red truck parked out front in the Sheriff’s own space!

At first, I thought there must be some kind of emergency.

It was- An Ice Cream Emergency!

This converted bus is literally an ice cream parlor on wheels and brings fresh ice cream and all the toppings you can handle to almost anywhere you would want it.

From simple cups and cones to all-out sundae supremes and mega packages, the ICE can bring packages that fit any occasion and appetite, making it perfect for every situation. Whether it be a private party or corporate event or even a well-deserved sweet serving of appreciation for police, fire, or other emergency workers, this tasty truck puts the ICE in ice cream in a friendly, non-threatening way that will be welcomed by anyone it visits! 

And with a team of trucks that reaches from Massachusetts and Connecticut to New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and all the way to Florida, most any East Coasters you know are in range. 

If there is a spot that could use ICE that does not have one, franchises are also available.

Who knows? Maybe some of my entrepreneurship students will be driving one after they are released!

BEHIND THE BABKA

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I recently talked about the babka baking classes at my favorite bakery – Bakey – so I wanted to report that I have tried one and it was AMAZING!

Not only did I get to use the same ingredients that legendary baker Uri Scheft and his talented team use to make their delicious dough and delectable delights daily (and not overnight or ahead of time as most other bakeries do), I also got to watch some of those talented teammates craft sweet and savory babka right before my eyes before trying my own hands at it!

During the class, my new friends and I rolled, shmeared, and sliced Bakey’s famous handmade dough and specially-imported Callebaut chocolate and other impressive ingredients. In between our hands-on sessions, we got to enjoy some of Bakey’s many favorite flavors along with their expertly-expressed espresso and other barista-d beverages (including a hot cocoa that is made with the same chocolate as the babka!).

By the end of the night, everyone left with a babka they had made and one that Bakey had provided, as well as a smile on their face and a very happily full belly.

Even if you can’t make it to Bakey’s commissary in Downtown Boston, it is easier than ever to enjoy their amazing fresh flavors. In addition to stores in Newton, Brookline, and Cambridge (and more on the way!), Bakey is also appearing at farmers markets in Copley Square and SoWa Open Market, among other locations.

And especially as they support Bakes for Breast Cancer, cheating on your diet is more justifiable than ever!   

EXPANDING THE MARKET

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Whenever I am at a loss for food friends to celebrate (as if!), I can always turn to our friends at Boston Public Market for good food news.

I recently mentioned how Q’s Nuts has recently released a redesign of their popular packages and I never miss an opportunity to grab a Beantown Pastrami sandwich or a half-dozen Bagel Guild bagels when I am in the area. As the weather gets warmer, nothing bears Crescent Ridge ice cream or a healthy drink from Mother Juice. The main issue is that there are just too many great places to eat and shop under one roof to fully appreciate them all- at least not in one visit!

Adding to this happy problem is the arrival of two new vendors – Mr. Tamole and The Happy Cactus.

Mr. Tamole is a mother-son culinary venture that specializes in traditional Mexican fare. Launched (as so many successful BPM ventures are) in farmers markets, Andrés and Margarita Carreto were members of the  Market’s 2024 Entrepreneurship Forum and will be bringing their famed Puebla-style tamales, tacos, tortas, mole poblano, and green pipián, among other authentic tastes.

The Happy Cactus is a plant and gift shop that began in a college dorm room. In addition to curated plants, the Happy Cactus also offers crystals, and other naturally-inspired gifts that reflect founder Tucker Gaccione’s love for plants, creativity, and community.

By the way, the Market is celebrating 10 years this year and will host a special music festival that will feature RLETTO from The Voice on June 8. As our listeners know, their events are always great, so be sure to check it out!     

IF ONLY IT WERE THIS EASY (AND DELICIOUS)!

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With the way of the world today, people are looking for options that can bring them peace of mind and maybe a little more peace on earth.

And if there could be a little sweetness too- all the better!

That is why I’m such a fan of Sweet Diplomacy – the gluten-free and special diet-friendly treats and gift boxes that feature authentic flavors from all over the world.

With a menu that offers items that are not only appropriate for such special diets as nut-free, sugar-free, paleo, and vegan but that are good enough to convince people to try out these diets and improve their health, Sweet Diplomacy’s most popular offering is the monthly bread campaign that includes such artisanal flavors as everything bagel, chocolate babka, and parmesan thyme.

For those who want to explore other culinary cultures, the Diplomatic Box set that features an ever-expanding menu of favorites that can be shipped to nearly any nation as a token of peace, friendship, and wishes for good health and happiness. From a Japanese-sourced set of cherry blossom cookies and matcha marble cakes to the Parisian collection of chocolate-covered strawberry cookies and decadent lava cakes to an internationally-inspired (and I mean “inspired”!) collection of cookies, cakes, and cocoa mix that will mix well at any party or event and give the most sensitive eater plenty to chew on and enjoy.

If more people shared these delicious treats, the world would surely be a better place, so do your part and establish some Sweet Diplomacy in your community.   

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Q’S NEWS

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It has been said that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Well- when the “book” is a product as fresh and delicious as Q’s Nuts, the cover does not really matter.

Q’s Nuts has been around for 25 years and is constantly adding new flavors to their delicious menu of sweet and savory snacks.

 In an effort to keep up with the latest trends Q’s will soon be appearing in new packaging. But rest assured it’s what’s inside that counts and that every package of Q’s Nuts will still include the freshest, most creatively-flavored nuts and snacks around!

With fabulous flavors like rosemary sea salt, cayenne mango, maple bourbon, and Mexican chocolate (as well as their recently-released cacao nibs), Q’s has flavors for every taste and are perfect for lunchbox treats, traffic jam meltdown diffusers, housewarming gifts, or just to nibble on for a punch of flavor, protein, and energy any time of day.

A regular at Boston Public Market for years, Q’s can also be found at farmers markets and other special locations and has long been a sponsor of my nationally-syndicated author interview series, “The Writer’s Block,” where they are quickly gobbled up by literary and snack fans of all ages. They are available for wholesale purchase and their website offers a wide range of giftable packages that are perfect for every occasion, so whenever you want to treat yourself or someone else, make sure you start your quest with “Q.”

https://qsnuts.com
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LET THEM EAT (MORE) CAKE

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As Matt’s Meals fans know, I am a HUGE fan of My Grandma’s Coffee Cake and pick up a few for myself and my dear friends whenever I can.

While I am not a fan of TV shopping, I have been VERY tempted of late to go on QVC to pick up their exclusive apple cider donut cake, but it has sold out every time!

Fortunately, Grandma has decided to make this AMAZING dessert/snack/breakfast staple available directly to the public at www.mygrandma.com and, as is so often the case, you heard it here first!

Not only will the prized recipe be available without having to watch TV for hours (though I PROMISE it is worth it!), it is being shipped in the famed QVC gift box for $5 less than any other cake through Mother’s Day so you can give Grandma’s to your grandma no matter where she is and KNOW that she will feel loved (and full)!

From Oprah to the Royal Couple to the millions of fans on QVC, Grandma’s cakes are an international sensation and come in an ever-expanding menu of flavors that feature the finest ingredients and nothing artificial. 

Whether you like Grandma’s original cinnamon walnut coffee cake or their more creative concoctions like the pineapple coconut, Granny Smith apple, New England blueberry, Cape Cod cranberry, and (just in time for baseball season) Ted Williams chocolate cake (most of which come in a variety of sizes to fit every appetite), Grandma’s has you covered. 

You better hurry, though, because I will be ordering some too!

A “SPECIAL” BREW

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As I recently hosted an episode of  “Belmont Business Report“ that was produced by Belmont Media Center about Art’s Specialties, I figured it would be appropriate to revisit them for Matt’s Meals as well!

In addition to opening his latest store in Cambridge with more on the way, Art has also been brewing his own coffee in his Maynard location and is making hand-distilled cold brew that is now available at all of is stores.

As is the based with so much of what Art does, he started selling other canned cold brew brands but figured that he could do it better!

Using the family coffee traditions of his Armenian roots, Arts cold brew is rich and refreshing and comes in handy 12-ounce glass bottles that can be enjoyed or their own or used to make your favorite coffee drinks and treats. They go especially well with ice cream from Art’s Creamery as a lower-caffeine and low-acid Affogato or to wash down any of the special culinary treats you pick up at his main stores.

While at Art’s, be sure to peruse his collection of over 100 local and international beers, as well as his shelves of non-alcoholic drinks, international snacks and prepared foods, and, of course, the wide selection of curated olive oils and vinegars and teas and cheeses that first made him famous. 

I find something new and delicious every time I visit and Art is always happy to honor special requests for new products, so even if he does not have exactly what I am looking for, he surely will soon!

Art already has locations in Belmont, Sherburne, Maynard, and Carlisle and is opening Cambridge and Everett, so a visit to Art’s Specialties (and Art’s Creamery) is more convenient from more places and more worth the trip from anywhere else.

See you there and see you on Belmont Media!

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SWEET FREEDOM

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While Passover may best be known as a story of slavery, there is a sweetness and sustenance to the Spring holiday that help keep more people participating than in any other Jewish holiday.

In an effort to up the ante, chocolatier Sarah Shapiro of Wild Child Chocolate in Somerville has combined her passion for single-origin chocolate with her Jewish roots to come up with a series of culinary questions that are as delicious as they are provocative.Based on the famous four questions that are for many an anchor of the observance of Passover, Shapiro has created a quartet of candies that encourage those who enjoy them to pose further questions about the people and relationships that are involved in their production and consumption and to make sure that the people involved are free to produce and procure them without anyone feeling enslaved or insulted.The four bars (which Shapiro maintains are the only small batch, Orthodox-certified Kosher chocolates made in the Northeast if not the country!) are all made with single-origin chocolates that are ethically-sourced. As they are all made with only three ingredients (cacao beans, cocoa butter, and sugar), they allow even the flavor of each bean to roam free. And as they are available as a set of tasting squares or larger bars, they can be enjoyed alone, at a family seder, or with groups of any size at any time of year.For those who want to be guided through the process (just as they may be at a seder), Shapiro also offers tasting experiences at her new Davis Square location, where guests can also enjoy her adventurous truffles made with such surprising ingredients as olive oil, curried peanuts, lapsang tea, and coffee and bourbon, and drinking chocolates enhanced with lavender, orange, wasabi, ginger, and even mole spices.Whether you ask the four questions at Passover or just want to know where to get the best locally-made chocolate, Wild Child Chocolate is a great place to find the answers.

GOLDEN SNACKS

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In addition to offering protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals, flaxseed may help lower the risk of cancer, help maintain weight, and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.

While some take issue with its gritty texture and bland taste, those excuses are going by the wayside, thanks to a bakery called Flax 4 Life.

For nearly 25 years, this family-owned business has been helping people of all ages enjoy this nutritious seed through its ever-expanding line of dairy-, gluten-, and nut-free baked goods. In fact, as so many great food companies have been, Flax 4 Life was created to help a family member who had a gluten sensitivity and grew from there.Whether you want to start the day with sweet and crunchy apple cinnamon granola or a hearty blueberry muffin, snack on a chocolate chip cookie, or finish a favorite family meal with dark cherry brownies (my personal favorite!) or a no sugar added chocolate brownie, you can be sure that you are enjoying nutritious, clean food that is made with familial love and delivered in renewable recyclable packaging.Speaking of packaging, if you can’t decide on just one tasty treat or if you want to ensure that your friends and colleagues enjoy great flavor and great health, Flax 4 Life has an amazing gift box that includes a bag of granola, single-served muffins and brownies, a pen and pad to keep track of your fitness journey, and a t-shirt that can be worn at the gym or just relaxing while you enjoy another bite.No matter what you choose, you are sure to get all the benefits of flax seed without the slightest hint of complaint and know that you are helping keep others happier and healthier as well!