New Moon
Interested in influencing the location of the next Molly Moon Ice Cream shop? Owner Molly Moon Neitzel, with stores in Wallingford and Capitol Hill, plans to open a third outpost this summer in Queen Anne, Madrona or Ballard. Root for Ballard by visiting her ice cream truck there throughout February – sorry, it's already finished its popularity tours of Madrona and Queen Anne. Check twitter.com/mollymoon for locations. Or, cast your vote for the location of your choice by clicking "Like" on the Facebook page for "Bring Molly Moon to…" Queen Anne or Madrona or Ballard. (We suspect you could write Moon an old-fashioned letter if you like too, or give the shop a call.) Last we checked, Ballard was winning the popularity contest by a double-scoop.
Cake Mix Doctor
Check in with the Cake Mix Doctor, Anne Byrn, who comes through town Feb. 3-4 for her new book, The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free. We can see the value in gluten-free cake mixes. The various flours and gums required for gluten-free baking can add up fast if you're buying them separately for occasional use, and gluten-free mixes tend not to contain the artificial ingredients and colors in standard boxed mixes. Byrn offers good tips here for gluten-free baking, and dresses up the mixes with homemade frostings and enhancements for treats like German Chocolate Cake and strawberry cupcakes. She'll be at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park (17171 Bothell Way N.E.) at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 and at the Woodmark Kirkland Hotel (1200 Carillon Point, Kirkland) at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 for a reading and signing sponsored by the University Bookstore. The event is free, but an RSVP is required to 425-827-1986 or debra.seier@thewoodmark.com.
Tools for Tots
Fans of Oxo's smartly designed kitchen tools (we're partial to the ergonomic vegetable peeler and can opener), note that an "Oxo Tot" line is now widely available. Products range from silicone feeding spoons with "contoured handle angles" to a baby food mill and a flip-top snack holder. All are advertised as free of PVC, BPA and phthalates.
Canlis to Match Gifts
Canlis restaurant is celebrating its 60th birthday this year with a community present. Buy a gift certificate to the high-end restaurant, donate it to any nonprofit in Seattle (this means you, PTA auctions), and the Canlis owners will match the amount. Matches will continue until the restaurant has donated $500,000.
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