Mrs. Kelly serves tea Time again for Mrs. Kelly's Teas' annual tasting of freshly blended teas such as Holiday Tea (a blend of cranberry, cinnamon, orange and vanilla) or a farmers market favorite, Earl Blue (classic Earl Grey but with a bit of lavender blossom). Also on deck: B.T. McElrath Chocolatier, Muddy Paws Cheesecake, Very Prairie, Edna's Caramels, a display of handmade pottery and more. The event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4-5 at the Grain Belt Brewery Warehouse, 77 13th Av. NE., Minneapolis. Suggested donation is a nonperishable food item or $2, with all proceeds donated to Second Harvest Food Shelf and/or Perspectives Kids Cafe.
Flying high and healthy Take heart in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport placing sixth out of 18 national airports this year for offering healthful food among its purveyors. Nutrition experts with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine reviewed the food served at some of the country's busiest airports and found that 82 percent of airport restaurants now offer at least one low-fat, high-fiber, cholesterol-free vegetarian entree, up from 79 percent last year. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport received the highest score for the second year in a row. Here in the Twin Towns, we gained two points on the strength of the Southwestern black bean salad at Caribou Coffee, the grilled tempeh Reuben or veggie chili and rice at French Meadow Bakery and Cafe, and the smoked tofu burrito at 360 Gourmet Burritos.
Butter makes it better The Land O'Lakes Test Kitchens have a new Butter Holiday Recipe Brochure available for mailing or downloading, and it features new treats such as chewy holiday macaroons and brownie holi-pops. Download it by visiting www.landolakes.com/offers/holidayoffers.aspx, or call 1-800-837-7702 to request it be sent to your home (one per address) by leaving a message with your name and address.
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board also offers a jar-full of cookie recipes, including a holiday cookie e-newsletter that offers subscribers a daily recipe between now and Dec. 25. Visit www.butterisbest.com to sign up and access other recipes that include all things dairy.
Cupcakes unbound The cupcake craze just got more adventurous. Scharffen Berger artisan chocolates is sponsoring a recipe contest that includes one of these "adventure ingredients" -- stout beer, fresh beets, ricotta, sweetened condensed milk, buttermilk, chile pepper, coconut milk, cream or butter, bee pollen, saffron, Meyer lemon, molasses, almond flour, adzuki beans or Sumatra coffee beans. There's $20,000 in prizes and a spot in Food Network Magazine. Deadline is Jan. 2. For details, visit www.chocolateadventurecontest.com.
