I know it sounds unbelievable, but we often have wine leftover. We also have a difficult time finding a decent wine vinegar, so I had the idea of making it out of the leftover wine. After all, how hard can it be?
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Rooster Ridge Organic Farm
Rooster Ridge Organic Farm is a local organic grower in the Santa Cruz area selling flowers, olives and lemons at the farmer’s market, The sunflowers and bells of Ireland make for a country style bouquet.
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Goose’s Goodies
Best toffee ever!! No lie! I know that’s just my opinion, but I’m pretty sure it’s true. This is what we decided was OMG toffee! Especially the white chocolate and macadamia nut. The toffee is handmade by Goose’s Goodies, a family candy maker in Santa Cruz.
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Cupcakes at Buttercup cakes in Santa Cruz
Tony and I had the pleasure of photographing at Buttercup Cakes and Farmhouse frosting yesterday. Easily the cutest cupcake shop I’ve ever been in, and the cupcakes taste like my grandmother used to make – homemade, buttery – but so much prettier! Carren, one of the owners told us how they make the buttery frosting and it stays looking beautiful on wedding cakes even for outdoor weddings, so a couple doesn’t have to choose between a gorgeous cake and one that taste incredible.
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Richard Donnelly Chocolates
Richard Donnelly Chocolates is perhaps the most well known Chocolatier in Santa Cruz. He has won a number of awards and is considered one of the best in the country, and it is easy to see why. There are a number of delicious choices for a wedding but we loved the little hearts the most. He also creates special little gift boxes which would be perfect for visiting guests’ welcome baskets or wedding favors.
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My Cupcake Corner
Beautiful Cupcakes …all dressed up for the tea party. My Cupcake Corner makes delicious cupcakes decorated for all sorts of occasions and events. They all have fillings that make them extra special (the Bonny Dune blackberries are fantastic!) Kelly, the owner, told me they are very popular for weddings because everyone gets their own little cake, and the couple saves the cost of cake cutting. She has a line of booze cakes just for such an occasion. They are local, vegan, organic, and she sells through the internet and at a pop-up stand – doesn’t get much more Santa Cruz than that!
Chocolate Visions
Tucked away in Scotts Valley is Chocolate Visions, a Chocolatier with a very unique and incredible product. They add wine from some of the local wineries, and fruits and herbs from local growers when making the ganache for their chocolates. Then they dip the chocolates on site to make innovative chocolates with the flavors of Santa Cruz. The olive oil and lavender is from Valencia Creek Farm in Aptos, the Framboise is from Bonny Doon Vineyard, and the wine is from Equinox and Burrell School vineyards and winery. They even do personalized monogrammed chocolates for special events.
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Cookies in a Jar – Oatmeal walnut
It’s not hard to make your own cookie mix, and you can use any of your favorite recipes.
Mika’s cupcakes for shelter
I recently discovered Mika’s Cupcakes for Shelter, located in Hayward www.mikascupcakes.com. The cupcakes are so cute, and incredible delicious! – not that I am a cupcake connoisseur or anything (oh wait, yes I am!) But they also have such a nice story behind the company – the owners created it to help the homeless families they were helping to support.
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