Tasting Tour: The Great MN Get Together!

Last week, I told you showed you a butter bust and these great MN State Fair posters for this year's event. This weekend, we went to the fair for a free outdoor concert and we made a second trip to check out all of the great desserts. I acted as event photographer, so I'm behind the lens. Maddy of Inspired Bride and her husband also joined us for the food fest.

Our first stop was the dairy barn to get fresh ice cream made by Minnesota's dairy farmers. We also met one of the Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists and watched the sculptor carve her butter bust. The other blocks of butter will soon be carved with the other finalists' faces, and Princess Kay's bust will be in the middle on a higher pedestal. Each finalist spends 8 hours in the cooler!  

Next, we bought some huge cups of fresh-squeezed lemonade and went down the giant slide. Our next dessert stop was at the chocolate covered strawberry booth. Maddy thought she would get one strawberry (like at most chocolate shops) but she got five berries, and of course they were on a stick!

While her husband enjoyed his fried cheesecake, we nibbled on funnel cake. It's just not a proper fair without funnel cake.

We went to the baby barn to see the new baby chicks, ducks, pigs, and goats. Then, we decided to get some cookies from Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar. These cookies are a Minneapolis staple, and you'll often see people walking around with an entire bucket overflowing with warm, soft chocolate chip cookies. We opted for the smaller, but still heaping helping of cookies in a cone before walking to the All You Can Drink for $1 milk stand.

Our final food stop was to a little candy shop where Maddy found gummy bears-on-a-stick. A few of those bundled together would be a great thank you bouquet for a flower girl.

I checked out the woodland creature gummies on a stick. These would be fun favors for a kid's party with an animal or wood theme. Simply tie a thick strand of twine around the stick to complete the natural vibe.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the sugary, deep-fried goodness of the MN State Fair. What fair foods do you love?

Dessert Table: Elephants Go Girly (Finally!)

I realized earlier in the year after posting this and this that elephants were increasingly popular for baby boy's showers. Style Me Pretty recently posted this dessert table that proves they are even popular for girl-themed showers.

I love the pattern on the linens and the gorgeous flowers in shades of pink and orange. Powdered donuts, cheesecake bites, and cupcakes make for simple, tasty sweets.

Be sure to check out more photos from the event here.

Images (Gertrude & Mabel Photography)

Deconstructed Cheesecake

I found this recipe for Deconstructed Rhubarb White Chocolate Ginger Cheesecake on Whisk the Pantry. Whew, that's a mouthful. Even if you think the recipe is a little too much to tackle, consider presenting some other layered cake or cheesecake in similar cute little jars.

Want to share some of your sweet creations? Email images along with the recipe, tips, and techniques to info {at} shaunayounge {dot} com

Cheesecake Alternatives

Cheesecakes come in hundreds of flavors now, so you really have to be creative to "wow" folks these days. Munchkin-sized cakes can accomplish that goal, especially if presentation is taken into consideration. An assortment of minis are sure to please everyone, while beautifully boxed classic minis make dessert a true gift. But, nothing beats a heart adorned cupcake-sized cheesecake. The delicate raspberry puree hearts are perfectly sweet and perfectly unexpected.

Assorted Mini Cheesecakes (David's Cookies), Queen of Hearts Cheesecakes (Martha Stewart), Millie's Cheesecake Bites (Brides.com)

Calling All Scotties!

Leave it to designer Isaac Mizrahi to design a plaid cheesecake. It, along with a tartan-trimmed bouquet, would have fit right into Charlotte York's first wedding to Scottsman Trey McDougal. Homemade tartan cupcakes in a variety of patterns and colors would dress up an otherwise traditional dessert table.