A few days ago, I went shopping at flour girls & dough boys. Dave and I spent a long weekend in Santa Barbara, and I wanted to put together a small gift of appreciation for the family that kept Tagg for the weekend.

Since I clearly wanted to do something special and unique, I chose to go to the one place I knew I could rely on for delicious, always-from-scratch baked goods. I always feel comfortable buying treats at the bakery, since they actually are my own home-made recipes, made from the same quality ingredients I use when I bake in my own kitchen. I invite you all to feel equally free to pass them off as your own, I won’t tell!

When I walked through the front door, handbag at the ready, I got that special ‘shopping thrill’. I don’t often walk through the front door, so I was struck by the amazing visual treat that greeted me. The cookie smells coming from the kitchen didn’t hurt either. Like so many of you, I walked along the pastry case, and the front counter, and thought to myself, how do I choose from so many delicious options? Since I’m starting to feel the pull of autumn, I opted for some seasonal items that made me think of the harvest.

I bought a loaf of zucchini bread made from a locally grown zucchini and Rhonda’s own recipe. I also decided to try a few of Natalie’s new free form fall fruit tarts, made with a delicious buttery pastry crust, and apples or peaches with just the right combination of sugar and spices. I passed by the pumpkin bar with cream cheese icing, although it’s a Flour Girls original recipe and definitely says ‘Fall’ and ‘Yum’, and opted instead for the molasses cookies, which are finally back after their summer hiatus. In all my travels, I can’t find a molasses cookie (or any cookie for that matter) to compare with ours. To round things out, I picked up a few of our delicious made from scratch, frosted with real buttercream cupcakes, and 2 loaves of artisan bread.

Once I had everything assembled in a pretty pink ‘thank you’ box, I have to admit I was a little envious of the recipients. It all looked delicious! I get so caught up in the day to day of running a bakery that I don’t always remember how fun it is to shop at a bakery. This experience reminded me that it’s REALLY FUN! If you need a gift, or a school or office treat, or just a treat, come in and join us, the weather and the pastries are equally gorgeous.