This Is How We Do

Holy guacamole, folks!

Last weekend was just... wow. We had so much fun sharing dad's (and/or great dude's) day with you. And based on the fact that we came home with only a few things (let's be real, I totes ate the last power puff bar on the way home) - we're thinking you had a pretty smashing day too. Talk about a win-win! Cannot thank you enough for the love and support. This is how we do it my planty people!

Looking forward to another weekend at the Pilsen Community Market this Sunday from 9am-2pm [18th/Halsted]. Hope you can join us! Papa Smash will even be making an appearance in the afternoon. Don't leave him hanging. Show him some planty lovin' for me (pretty please with flax seeds on top?)!! 

Get ready. Katie and Pops will be slinging the following : 

Chocolate Almond Oatmeal Cookies ($6/6-pk)

Puff Cereal Power Bars ($3/ea)
Peanut Butter Bars ($4/ea)
Rhubarb Cake ($6/ea)
Coffee Brownie Cake ($6/ea)
Cranberry Chocolate Oatmeal Cream Pies ($4/ea)

Snickerdoodle Cookies ($4/ea)

Banana Oat Muffins ($3/ea)

Blueberry Muffins ($3/ea)

PinkRaz Granola ($6/jar)

As always, if you need anything - holla at this girl!

Keep doin' as you do.

Kisses,

-k

-- 

Katie Johnson

Owner

Smashed Muffin Goods

smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com 

(630) 209-7793 (call or txt!)

Website

Facebook

Instagram @smashedmuffingoods

Twitter @smashedmuffin

The Dude

In case you missed it.... Here's our ode to all the dudes in your life. Fathers, brothers, friends, all the dudes that rock your world. And we're celebrating them in a big way this weekend at the PCM. Hope you can join us! Don't currently receive the newsletter and want to? Stay fresh. Email Katie at  smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com to be added to our distribution.

Hello there lovelies. Thank you SO much for your support and love last weekend during another rainy, humid weekend. Regardless of the crazy weather, we still had an absolute blast spending a slice of our Sunday with you.

Please join us the Sunday (9am-2pm) for the Pilsen Community Market - fathers day edition. The invite on facebook can be found here. It's gonna be a par-tay. Los Guapachosos will play from ~11-12. Yoga starts at 12:30 under the trees in the grassy knoll. Man, this weekend is going to be fuuuun. Bring your dad, bring the whole famalam, bring a friend, bring yourself. Just plan on celebrating whoever the best dudes are in your life while having a grand ol' time.

We're planning on the following menu to add to the celebration : 

Chocolate Almond Oatmeal Cookies ($6/6-pk)

Puff Cereal Power Bars ($3/ea)

Peanut Butter Bars ($4/ea)

Mustache/Bow Tie Cookies ($2/ea)

Rhubarb Cake ($6/ea)

Coffee Brownie Cake ($6/ea)

Cranberry Chocolate Oatmeal Cream Pies ($4/ea)

Banana Oat Muffins ($3/ea)

It's getting late so I'll wrap this up now.

As always, if you'd like anything, just give me a holler! :)

See you soons. And give my regards to the dude you're celebrating this weekend.

xoxxooo,

-k

Katie Smash

Katie Johnson

Owner

Smashed Muffin Goods

smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com 

(630) 209-7793 (call or txt!)

Website

Facebook

Instagram @smashedmuffingoods

Twitter @smashedmuffin

Like A Boss

Holla my planty friends!! 

We're back at the Pilsen market this Sunday 6/14 (9-2) - rain or shine. Can't wait to see your face! Yes, yours. Especially after you made us feel pretty darn boss last week. [THANK YOU!!!] Despite the raindrops and wet humid weather, you still came out to get smashed and shop til ya dropped at the PCM. Job well done! (Not to mention we sold out of blackberry applesauce donuts in no time. Who says you can only celebrate national donut day on a Friday?)

This week's menu should be relatively similar to last weekends. Oatmeal cream pies went over well so I'll have a small batch of those this Sunday too. I've also got some South Haven Michigan blueberries chillin' in the freezer that are just begging to be baked with. I'm thinkin some blueberry streusel loaves are in order. Ya feel me? 

Can't make it to the market this weekend? Have a hankering for something not on the June menu/items mentioned above? Give me a holler via one of the methods below.

Okies. That's all I've got for now. Hope you're having a smashing week. CUsoons.

-k

Katie Johnson

Owner

Smashed Muffin Goods

smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com 

(630) 209-7793 (call or txt!)

Website

Facebook

Instagram @smashedmuffingoods

Twitter @smashedmuffin

Giving Planty THANKS

Hello My Planty Lovelies,

It's been a while. A long while. But we're going to start sharing some updates on this dusty old blog thing more often. (Hopefully. We're human. Life gets in the way sometimes, but we're trying to do better...!!) 

Here's a quick recap from our newsletter of our first outdoor farmers market of the 2015 season as well as a sneaky peaky at what's to come this weekend. [Side note - not signed up for the newsletter? Want to be? Email Katie at smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com and she'll get ya set up stat!] This will be our third year as a market vendor - holy farm sanctuary cow, can you believe it?! Feeling very grateful to continue to have the opportunity to smash your faces with planty goodness.

Anyways, just wanted to take a quick minute (or two or ten...) to say THANK YOU for your love and support last weekend at the first outdoor market of the season. Despite the rain/wind/chill and in general yucky weather - we managed to have a grand ol' time as we warmed right up by getting to see your pretty faces again. And how about our adorbs VTC Tote Bag Winner?!! It was beyond great to see y'all. And to feel your planty love. 

 

As if we weren't feeling the love enough, we also had the opportunity to do this rad smash cake for a cute little dude who turned the big numero uno last weekend. Keep it comin' babes.

We will be back at the Pilsen Community Market this weekend, Sunday 6/7 from 9am-2pm. Attached is the stock item menu. Don't forget to save some room for a post-national donut day treat...!

Need something special? 

Give us a holler. 

Can't make it to the market?

Email Katie [smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com] and we can arrange a custom order. Delivery available throughout Downers Grove (+ neighboring suburbs) and Chicago.

Make it a great week!

Kisses + hope to see you soons. Mwah.

xoxxooo,

-k

Katie Smash

Katie Johnson

Owner

Smashed Muffin Goods

smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com 

(630) 209-7793 (call or txt!)

Website

Facebook

Instagram @smashedmuffingoods

Twitter @smashedmuffin

It's FRIDAY, I'm In Love...!

You guys. It's true. I'm in love. In love with Friday (what's not to love about the end of the work week, duh). In love with the love you've been showing us at the farmers markets. Not to mention with your custom orders - wowza do you guys know how to keep us busy and on our toes - love that! In love with summer (and this -ahem/nottrynajinxit- gorg weather). In love with getting to do what I love (even if for now that means squeezing it in to any nook and cranny on nights and weekends).

Now I'm not saying it hasn't ever been a challenge. And I'm not saying I never have any doubts (I do, quite often). Nothing's perfect. But wholly plant based goodness this has been a pretty amazing past few months. And I'm so grateful to have experienced all this joy (ok, and even the unsavory parts too - where are you without some triumphs and troubles, right?). So I wanted to take a moment. To spread the love. And share a few of the things that I'm loving right now. Cuz hey, all you need is love, right?

PILSEN COMMUNITY MARKET
(loving it so much, we came back for more!)
As you know, this summer our newest addition to our market schedule has been Pilsen in the good ol’ Chi. Not having lived in the city for a while now, has me itching to be back. And while I'm not quite "on my feet" enough to make the move - I have been loving getting to spend a few Sundays in the city at the Pilsen Market. (Yes, ok. Perhaps this market pick was slightly selfish.) But, manna banana - I picked the right neighborhood to hang in. I have never in my life felt so included in a real, well, community. Who’da thunk this little niche of an area on the south side would embrace us with such open arms. It’s a small market, but a mighty one. (Kinda like us!) And we’ve enjoyed being there so so much, that we decided to work a little harder and up the ante, cuz we just love it there SO so much. Instead of just being there every other week, we are now officially - from July through the end of season – (wait for it, wait for it) a FULL TIME vendor / squee! So please, swing by any ol’ Sunday you like (just get there before the end of Oct) and get smashed with us sometime. And get a little slice of life in this cute, urban, ohso welcoming (not to mention hip and fun) neighborhood. We’re lovin it and we’re certain you’ll love it too.
Sundays @ 18^th / Halsted St (Chicago Community Bank parking lot) 9am-2pm

HAMPTON CREEK
(Brands that inspire…)
Anytime a brand attempts to off the (shall we say, evils) of “big” food, I’m with them. When that company just so happens to be plant strong and concerned about the effects of the dairy industry too – well then, in that case, (you guessed it), I’m in love. More and more brands are emerging with this focus all the time, but this is one of the first (that I know of at least) – that’s got the backing to compete with big food, much less have an impact on the market. I mean, have you seen their pitch deck? It’s simply genius. And makes SO much sense. Even if I wasn’t already living plant strong, I think I would be sold. Not to mention that I’m SO lovin the relentless passion to create a business structure out of wanting to do something fulfilling that matters. I relate to that a whole bunch. Might be on a teenier scale, but regardless, I’m behind it. (By the way - they are a mostly mayo, proactively replacing eggs with plants type company, about to launch an eggless cookie dough mix. Sounds uber crazy good, right?)

FOOD GENIUS
(Speaking of genius…)
I am seriously in love with this company. I’m a borderline stalker of theirs. You may not know it, but I am a numbers and data geek at heart. While I love being creative and baking thing that are safe for all with love, I also love numbers and analysis. And this company is the trifecta blend of things I love (food + data + creative). Not to mention they did a pretty rad blog post about the company mentioned above. Plus, they’re based in Chicago (love local), have an office dog (named Dexter, no less), and volunteer at one of my favorite causes – The Chicago Food Depository. (Um, seriously when can I start working here?) If you haven’t checked them out – do. You’ll scour the blog for hours. I’m not ashamed to say that I have, often.

CHICAGO MARKET
(You say you want a revolution…)
I’m absolutely loving the call to action this business is promoting. Giving the power to the people, literally – this co-op is making waves (the good kind). They are currently rallying for owners. And the owners will decide which businesses and products will be sold in this unique concept grocery store. Co-ops are nothing new. But I feel like so few do it well (and make it to execution). Know your farmer has been a buzz worthy phrase of late. And we love that they’re taking that one step further. Knowing your food (from your plate of organic locally farmed brunch to the beer you drink on the weekend) means knowing the person that makes it. That’s part of what has made doing the farmers markets so rewarding for me. I’m not a farmer so I’m not growing product. But I do cultivate and tend to the good I make with a lot of care and love, just as a farmer would. And interacting with the customers who consume and (hopefully) enjoy that product, creates a very powerful community. Don’t you just love that?

JENNIFER'S WAY
(A journey to health has never been so sweet.)
I believe my mom tipped me off to this one, which is appropriate because we are both gleefully powering through her book at a moment (wouldn’t you know it – just like kids in a candy shop – very fitting). If you know Jennifer Esposito, you probably think of her work as an actress. But behind the scenes she (like most actresses, I presume who we tend to only see certain limited sides of) is so much more than that. Lately, you will see her take on a bigger role as activist,  brave sufferer and voice of/for celiac’s. Oh yea, and bake shop owner to boot - new role model alert. (Did you catch her on The Daily Show? It was the highlight of my week. I put down my spatula during a long night of farmers market baking to watch it. Which trust me, is a BIG deal. Not much tears me away.) With the advent of eating gluten free becoming somewhat of a "trend" of late, it’s become to seem more a fad than the serious and grossly misunderstood health issue it is. But Jennifer is here to clear things up. I’m midway through her book right now (not to mention feverishly liking everything her bakery posts on social media) and it really got to my core. (Yes, reading the intro caused some tearing up. So what.) Despite not suffering from the disease myself, I can relate to various aspects of Jennifer’s journey in so many ways. She speaks a lot to her childhood. Growing up with various ailments and with a sick parent can cause some tension and alienation that others have no perception of, even if they’re causing it. As a preemie and a frequently sick child, I understood. And I too grew up most of my childhood with an ailing (though mostly healthy now, thank the goodness) parent. Regardless, Jennifer’s story makes things personal, so whether you grew up or have had those experiences or not, you’ll be able to relate - on a human level. (Remember the triumphs and troubles I was talking about...?) Trust me. And yes yes, ok. So I love and admire the bakery part too. No doy. It gives me hope that there is a place for businesses like my small little operation. And who knows, maybe someday I'll actually have the capital to put it to fruition with an actual "facility" like Jennifer's. (But seriously, c’mon - just read her book already!!! I mean, can you say beach read?) Anyways. Love the book already. Can’t wait to finish. (Cuz, yano me - I’m all about journeys to health – partial health, complete health – anything that leads to less unnecessary suffering, especially when it comes with the realization that we can control a lot of that suffering by acknowledging what we’re putting in our mouths.) And further, I cannot wait to have an excuse to visit NYC again sometime soon – with the hope at a chance to be a patron at Jennifer’s gorgeously inviting bakery. I have a pretty big feeling that I’ll love it.

Okies. Enough blabbering from me. That’s what I’m mclovin’ right now (yeah, take that big food). 
What are you loving this summer, sweet thangs?
Don’t wait another minute. Spread it around and share it!

xoxxoooo,

Katie Smash

Farmers Market Season 2.O

I am excited to announce that Smashed Muffin is ready to officially release the 2014 farmers market schedule. It's going to be a busy season and we are ohsoexcited to be back this season to bring you your weekly fix of plant strong sweet treats. Hope you can join us!

DOWNTOWN DOWNERS GROVE
Saturdays in the Main St. Metra parking lot off of Burlington Ave
7 AM - 12:30 PM
May 10th - Oct 18th*
*Except for June 21st

NAPERVILLE AT ST. JOHN'S
Wednesdays in the St. John's Parish parking lot
750 Aurora Ave Naperville, IL
3 PM - 7 PM
June 4th - Sept 24th

PILSEN COMMUNITY MARKET
Evr'y other Sunday in the Chicago Community Bank parking lot
1800 S. Halsted St Chicago, IL
May 25th - Oct 26th

We have full month by month calendars on the farmers market tab of the website too.
Check it check it...!

In other exciting news, we are thrilled to announce that in addition to beginning the farmers markets in a matter of weeks, next month we will also be Dosing! If you are free, we'd love to see your face (and smash it with wholesome sweet treat goodness) at the May 18th Dose Market at 1st Ward/Chicago Chop Shop.

Hope to see you around in the coming months, sweet thangs! 

Springing Forward in 2014

Hopefully your new year is off to a "sweet" and "smashing" start. 2014 has brought lots of exciting news and developments in the world of Smashed Muffin, so I decided to briefly bring y'all up to speed on a few of them...! Here goes:

-We got a new helper. (Ok, not really. But she looks so good in aprons, I couldn't help it.) Meet Kicha Lorraine, the newest addition to the Smashed Muffin clan. While she doesn't do much in the way of kitchen work, she is another one of our much appreciated cheerleaders and makes for a pretty adorable mascot to boot. I mean, when you look this good in red gingham aprons... :)

-In other dog related news, Papa smash had a big birthday this month. How did he celebrate? With a cake by yours truly of course. Here he is showing it off (below).

He specifically requested that it look like his early birthday present - his new puppy Sprinkles. (Appropriate name, don't you think?) Sprinkles has joined Kicha in becoming another top cheerleader and cutie pie mascot. Where would we be without these joys? A special thanks goes out to OTAT - the shelter where both pups were rescued from. We've been fans for years and now finally got the opportunity to show our support by taking home a companion (or two) to love.

-We had a very exciting custom order last month - a wedding cake! Ross and Sarah found out about me by visiting and picking up my card at the markets last summer. I was lucky enough to be asked to do their gluten free wedding cake, complete with bride and groom robot toppers. (The bot's were my favorite.) Congrats to the happy couple and thanks for letting Smashed Muffin be a part of the celebration! (And a shout out to mama and papa Smash for helping out with the delivery.)

-Plant Based Nutrition Certification - Check! I recently finished coursework to complete my certification in Plant Based Nutrition through the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies in partnership with Cornell. I learned a TON and kind of wish it wasn't over. But the extra time will be needed and appreciated as we gear up for the farmers market season! And the extra knowledge certainly doesn't hurt either!

-Speaking of Nutrition and Health, I am flattered and honored to announce that I will be attending the 2014 Hunger Summit in Springfield, IL next month through the Illinois Commission to End Hunger. As a 2014 Hunger Study Volunteer, I was extended an invitation and I'm excited to learn more and interact with some of the people involved with food advocacy and education in our state. Thrilled at the opportunity to get some insight into how we can work towards a better food system - straight from the capital!
 

-Last but not least, we wanted to let everyone know that we are hoping to have our "official" farmers market schedule soon. (In the meantime we are, as always, available to you for any custom order needs!) Please stay posted - and check the farmers market tab on the website for updates! We also have a few fun events in the 'burbs and in the big city that are in the works - so stay tuned for those too!  Wahooooo.