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She browned butter in a small pot on her kitchen stove, stirring in powdered sugar and milk to make a creamy brown glaze. No measuring cups needed.
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Barbara Pierce, 57, better known as "the scone lady," frosts cinnamon pecan scones Friday with brown butter icing in her Minnesota City kitchen in preparation for the first Winona Farmer's Market of the season today. Pierce has taken baked goods, including scones, tarts and bread to the market for the past five years. Market hours are from 7:30 to noon, each Saturday and from 2 to 5pm on Wednesdays through October.
(Photo by Melissa Carlo/Winona Daily News) |
Her kitchen smelled like sugar cookies, raisins and pasta. A basketful of baguettes and honey wheat loafs, two raspberry crumb cakes and several tarts — filled with combinations such as spinach, sweet onion and feta or pear, cranberry and apple — cooled on the counter.
Pierce spread the glaze over fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon pecan scones, which will be packaged for the season opening of the Winona Farmers Market today from 7:30 a.m. to noon at Second and Main streets. A longtime vendor, she’s back this year after missing half of the season last year to have two knees and a hip replaced.
“I was being rebuilt,” Pierce joked.
Affectionately called “The Scone Lady” by Winona market regulars, The 57-year-old Minnesota City baker and former Italian chef has created a niche with her scrumptious tarts and scones made from organic grains and flour. Sitting at home 12 hours a day without being able to drive, Pierce became anxious to bake and return to the market — the only place to find her signature scones, tarts, baguettes, biscotti, short bread cookies and crumb cakes.
“I missed the socialization,” she said. “To me, everybody comes down there in the morning and says hello to their neighbors.”
And people craved Pierce’s tarts and scones in the meantime, said vegetable vendor Sandy Dietz of Whitewater Gardens near Altura, Minn. For some, they were the reason for coming back to the market every Saturday, she said.
“She will be very welcomed back,” Dietz said. “People did really miss her last year.”
Many familiar faces — including Pierce’s — can be found again this year at the Winona Farmers Market, with some new vendors offering gourmet cupcakes, pork and lamb.
All 40 vending slots are filled, but the cold, rainy weather has put a damper on vegetable farmers, said market co-chairwoman Jennifer Rupprecht of Earth-Be-Glad Farms in Lewiston, Minn. She didn’t expect all venders to be there today.
Flowers, perennial plants, baked and canned goods, honey, meats and limited early spring vegetables will be available today — rain or shine, she said. But milk and elk products won’t be back this year.
Farmers market patrons also might find some higher prices, just like at the supermarket.
“My prices are going up just with the cost of flour,” said Pierce. “It costs more to grow stuff, too, so I’m sure that’s the same for others vendors. But even if it’s a little bit more expensive, it’s worth it because (the produce) lasts longer.”
IF YOU GO
The Winona Farmers Markets 2008 season:
When: 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays
What: 40 vendors with products raised or made within 50 miles of Winona
Where: Second and Main streets
Bonus: Live music, an herbal exhibit and prize drawings May 10
Contact reporter Amber Dulek at amber.dulek@lee.net or (507) 453-3513.
