#the premies drove me to sugar

[sarcasticbabywhispererjess]

I bought this yesterday... it’s a little stale, but all the sugar means it’s still delicious.

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss (Minnesota State Fair edition): Of fruit-filled scones and cream puffs

It may seem rather surprising to picture as an early-morning exercise epicurean paying a call on French Meadow Bakery's Minnesota State Fair presence just as they open in the mornings, at 7 o'clock even, just as the Fair's presence for that legendary Twin Cities radio hayburner known as WCCO, The Good Neighbour to the Northwest (at least back in my heyday), is beginning its morning news bulletin across the way-ho-way.

In case you ask, French Meadow Bakery specialises in high-class baked goods, such as fruit-filled scones topped with a sweet cream cheese drizzle--and Fairtrade coffees and teas, said to be a favourite of Huckleberry Hound, a bosom companion of mine, no doubt. Strawberry and peach fillings are on offer, and what's more, such are fresh-frozen, sweetened in their own juices even!

Heavens to Escoffier ... and admittedly, it's rather hard to select between strawberry and peach for my morning's scone, so I settle on the old standby of strawberry. And you can just sense the warmth of that scone, fresh out of the very ovens on premi, and you can even watch the processes used in their baking while relaxing, salivating even, over such! Especially when a decent cup of Fairtrade arabica coffee is the accompaiment (and I can just smell the fragrance of the brew so freshly brewed as it was) ... and I have to acknowledge that with the plastic cutlery used, it takes some effort just to try and cut through said scone without breaking it.

And you just wouldn't believe who else among the Hanna-Barberian clan, so to speak, was also present concurrent with my own presence: For one, a certain Penelope Pitstop, who couldn't resist the sensation of peppermint tea as much as a basic scone for something of a breakfast. She, the former No. 5 of the Wacky Races, was doing a little touch-up in the cosmetics arena when she noticed yours truly ... and believe you me, much in the way of wonderful times past couldn't resist being shared. And admittedly was at a loss in explaining what drove her to The Great Minnesota Get-Together, to begin with. (She did acknowledge that the peppermint tea was full of serious minty bite, even with some raw demerrara sugar.)

*************

A few hours later, and we shift our scene to opposite the West End Market, an outdoor "bazaar"-type shopping area which, in years past, was Heritage Square and, before that, Young America Centre (where, I have it on good authority, The Banana Splits were once seen incognito). Specifically, it's to a stand selling cream puffs, freshly-baked even, and nothing less than 100% Colombian Coffee; Juan Valdez couldn't be prouder. Especially where you have Pure Cream, and nothing but, on the side (as proclaimed proudly on the front windows).

One certain way you could tell it was a cream puff stand was by the amounts of whipped-creme filling as fell upon the pavements just trying to consume such intact. Inevitably, such "accidents" with whipped cream on the pavement are bound to ensue, making things a little sticky for such heading towards The Mighty Midway, the Coliseum, even the livestock buildings, the All-You-Can-Drink Milk for $1.50 Stand even ... and even then, hoping to still manage to eat a cream puff intact, accompanied by the finest of Juan Valdez, was the least of my worries: No less than Super Snooper and his companion Blabbermouse were in the vicinity, also taking in what a serious state fair should be about. (And I just hope Super Snooper's jacket has Scotchguard treatment "just in case.")

(As an aside, it may be worth noting that the Wisconsin State Fair's big culinary distraction has been their Cream Puff Stand, which has been going since 1924 as a way to promote Wisconsin's agricultural produce besides dairy. Minnesota's cream puff stand may be rather miniscule by contrast, but when you get right down to it, their cream puffs--available in classic, chocolate, strawberry and pistachio flavour fillings--couldn't get any lighter or heartier.)

Now, where did I put those moist towelettes? It seems a bit of whipped topping has fallen upon my fur, attracting a few laughs from fairgoers, and I want to make sure I'm presentable, and then some. (Oh, and by the way: Snooper and Blabber found the coffee to be rather delectable, which is what I understand they were after as much as the cream puffs.)