Blueberry Jammers

This past January I went to Portland, Oregan for a wedding.  As is the case anytime I travel, I decided to visit a few bakeries.  One of the bakeries that I visited was actually a bakery that I had been following on Facebook.  

It’s called Grand Central Bakery and they have several locations in Portland.  One of my favorite items was the “Jammer.”  I’m not sure if this is an invention of Grand Central Bakery or something that is indigenous to the area, but when something is this delicious, I’m just glad it exists!  

What’s a “Jammer” you ask?  It’s a buttermilk biscuit with jam baked inside!  It’s really a simple concept, but sooo delicious. 

“Where can I get a Jammer in Houston” you ask?  Well, recently I had the pleasure of visiting a new bakery in Tomball called Jane and John Dough Bakery.  They have absolutely delicious pastries that are “Influenced by time-tested traditions of the East Coast and the imagination and ingenuity of the Pacific Northwest.”  And they have Jammers!

As part of our Blueberry Festival, we are also offering Blueberry Jammers!  If you don’t happen to be near Portland or Tomball, give ours a try!  You won’t be disappointed!

It's Blueberry Season!

Welcome to our first ever “Blueberry Festival!”  Like so many other special events at the bakery, this one was part planned and part happenstance.  

This event began last fall when we introduced the “Karma Apple Tart” which was a huge success.  Our Guests loved the flaky pastry crust with apple and dulce de leche filling.  Our Pastry Team was also excited to stretch their culinary endeavors beyond cookies!  

As a result of that success, I wanted to offer similarly styled tarts for the summer, but made with seasonal berries.  Like so many other projects, I put it on the back burner until early this year.  I was teaching one of my baking classes and a long time student (she has been in several of my classes as well as being a regular customer) revealed to me that her family has a blueberry farm (Moorhead's Blueberry Farm in Conroe) and they would be delighted if I could come up with a cookie that used their berries.  I could barely contain my excitement!  I told her I’d do more than make a cookie with their blueberries, I’d have a festival and offer a plethora of blueberry pastry delights!!

Typically blueberries are available from Memorial Day until the 4th of July.  However, our heavy rain delayed everything and blueberry picking did not start until the second week of June.  No worries!  When we’re working with Mother Nature, we hope that all our Guests know that they’re getting the very best, even if they have to wait a little longer.  

When we did get out to the farm, my Team and I picked nearly 60 lbs of berries.  The great thing about blueberries is that after you wash and dry them, they keep in the fridge for up to two weeks and in the freezer for several weeks.  This is very helpful to allow us to minimize the number of trips we need to take to the farm.  Did I mention that the Festival is four weeks long (06/09 - 07/03)?

The fun of this event is that we get to stretch our culinary wings again.  Because blueberries are very wet, it's a bit of a challenge to make a cookie with them, so we came up with a menu that makes the best use of this precious fruit.  Our first question was how to get blueberries into a cookie?  We decided to make jam out of the berries to maximize the flavor and then use it as a filling for our linzer cookies.  The result was a deliciously sweet and delicate cookie!  This cookie, as well as our Blueberry Banana Bread are offered throughout the festival.

Then, we are having weekly specials.  At the time of this writing, we will be offering Blueberry Tarts (fashioned after last year’s Karma Apple Tart) for the week of June 15th.  The following week we’ll have a gluten free blueberry cheesecake bar.  Not “into” gluten free?  No worries, if I didn’t tell you it was gluten free, you wouldn’t even know!  And finally, the last week we’ll have mini blueberry pies and throughout the festival, we’re taking pre-orders for 9” blueberries pies for the 4th of July weekend.  We’ll also have some other surprise pastries, so stay in touch via our Facebook page or sign up to receive weekly emails.

Michael's Cookie Jar Downtown Grand Opening

What makes a grand opening GRAND?   Well…the word "grand" is synonymous with Magnificent, and can be thought of as awe-inspiring, splendid and monumental.  

We at Michael’s Cookie Jar want to share the GRAND experience of our small business expanding, growing, and thriving with you, the community, our patrons, friends and fans. What is an exciting moment in time if you can’t share it? We are prepared to do just that on Friday, March 14^th from 12-4 p.m. at Michael’s Cookie Jar downtown in the Pennzoil Tower.

Did you know there is a whole world that work and play under the streets of downtown Houston? Most people don’t know such a world exists and that you can get #cookiesunderground as well as a hearty lunch, shop for gifts and meet people from interesting and intriguing professions of all kinds.

Michael’s Cookie jar is proud to be a part of this underground world and to share their cookies with the best of the best when it comes to cookie lovers. Why don’t you set some time aside on Friday the 14^th (or any day for that matter) and take a field trip to explore and visit us in the Pennzoil Tower.  

During our Grand Opening you will meet the “Cookie Master” himself, Michael Savino, our local vendors and partners from Araya Chocolate, Chocolate Pizzazz, Caphin and Mill-King. A Star of Hope representative will be on site and a percentage of our proceeds from our event will be given to this worthy cause as giving back is part of Michael’s “Grand” scheme.  If that is not enough, warm cookies out of the oven, door prizes and a fun filled atmosphere will have you in cookie heaven.

In closing, be in the know, experience #cookiesunderground and join us for our Grand, Magnificent and awe-inspiring event.  We’ll preheat the oven now!

Bronco Buster Rides into Houston!

There’s a new cookie in town!  Inspired by the deep traditions of Houston’s beloved rodeo, Michael has created a cookie that embodies the spirit of life on the range!

The Bronco Buster is a cowboy inspired cookie. A little like an oversized (4 oz) chocolate chip cookie, but made with candied bacon, Texas pecans and a hint of chipotle. It’s a rebel of a cookie, one that deserves its own box.

At first bite you might need time to process the experience.  The flavors rush through your mouth like a stampede of wild horses. As your eyes roll back into your head you realize you have just tasted the best cookie this side of the Mason Dixon line. When only crumbs remain you might find yourself in need of an ice cold glass of milk, a shot of bourbon, or a nap, either way, be assured, your taste buds will never be the same.

Order Holiday Gifts Early!

We're gearing up for a very busy holiday season at Michael's Cookie Jar.  As you know, our new store will be opening later this month.  We're anticipating that our production will double almost instantly.  As such, we want to make sure that if you need gift boxes shipped in December, to please order early!

If you'd like to order cookie gifts (individual or corporate) to be shipped in December, please place those orders (or commit to place an order) by November 15th.

Although we will accept gift box orders after November 15th, we will not be able to ship them in December.

Click here for our Holiday Cookie Gift Box Brochure.  

Click here for our general holiday cookie brochure.

Meet Sherry Eichberger!

Meet Sherry Eichberger, a woman who loves Entrepreneurship and small business!  It’s no surprise because she's lived her life with the entrepreneurial spirit! Growing up in a small suburban town in Michigan, the youngster Sherry led her neighborhood through one entrepreneurial experiment after another from Kool-Aid stands to stuffed animal zoos! She was always thinking of the next big thing to share, make money and use her creativity.

Fast forward many years to motherhood where Sherry, a stay at home mom, once again found a way to keep her entrepreneurial spirit alive by starting a small business she could run out of the house while raising her two small children. It was called “The Tickle Trunk” and the idea was that busy moms could rent a trunk of costumes for their kids’ events.   It must have been a meaningful enterprise because she still has the business cards in her wallet today!  I’ll bet anything she has a few costume still at the house, because you just never know when someone might need one!

Fast forward many more years later.  With grown children in college, Sherry took a huge leap of faith and built a business from scratch during the worst economic times in years. “One Green Street” served the community as a “green” retailer for many years until unfortunately they had to close their doors in July of this year.

With the passion for entrepreneurship still alive, a fateful cell phone text brought her to Michael’s Cookie Jar.  It started with a simple enough message. I was checking on Sherry to see how she was doing when she replied: “Do you need a manager?”

My response: “Do you know a Sherry clone that could manage my new location?”

Her answer: “How about the real thing?” And the rest is history.  

Sherry has always been passionate about her work and I’m thrilled that she’s chosen to work with me and my crew.  In her own words: “I have always respected and admired Michael as a local business owner, pastry chef and a person who gives back to the community. It is an absolute honor and privilege to manage his new location and assist him in growing this inspiring local business.”  Our little bakery has quickly become a place she could call home and could continue to fuel her lifelong passions.

Once you meet her at the new store, you'll see how Sherry will care for and delight downtown “sweet” lovers with her professional, yet down to earth style. Sherry's words again: “I know my purpose and it is to serve. I look forward to doing just that.”

We are thrilled to have her on board!  

Michael's Cookie Jar Opens Second Location

Great News!  Downtown Houston will grow sweeter this fall when we open our second location in Houston’s Pennzoil Tower! We will be located at tunnel level with easy access to street level.  The shop will open in late October.  

This second sweet spot will feature all the same delectable "chef-prepared" all-butter cookie creations Houstonians have grown to love over the years – classic soft-baked Americana cookies, decorated cut-outs, biscotti, fancy tea cookies, and mouth-watering dessert bars. Fresh beverages and local collaborations, including Chocolate Pizazz and Fat Cat Creamery “Ice Cream Sammies,” will also be available for purchase.  

Like the flagship Weslayan location, our downtown shop will offer delivery to businesses in the area, but downtown employees will be encouraged to stretch their legs and step outside the office for a tunnel walk and a sweet treat. We will also offer dessert catering for business affairs, birthday celebrations and employee events.  

We've been a long time supporter of the local community from our charitable contributions to local schools and business partnerships with favorite local businesses like Sundance Cinemas, Agora Coffee House, Inversion Coffee House, and Spec’s Liquor House on Smith Street. You can also find our vegan cookies on board some of Houston’s beloved food trucks, like Monster PBJ. 

One of the best kept secrets is that we offer vegan cookies, sugar-free cookies and gluten-free cookies.  Once the new store opens, these items will be readily available to meet modern-day demands. 

Our soon-to-be second location is a direct product of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, where in we crafted a business growth plan during an intensive 10-week program.  The mission of the program is to increase sales and increase employment.  We will do both!  As such, we are hiring customer service people, delivery people, a store manager and pastry cooks.  Full-time and part-time positions are available.  We've worked with many students over the years and are happy to work with their sometimes erratic schedule needs.  Click here for an application.

Stay tuned to this blog for further developments!

You can find Michael’s Cookie Jar at our website; on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Big Taste at the Corinthian - April 21, 2013

 

I have been a Big Brother twice. The first time was way back in the late 80's. "Little" Justin is now all grown up and doing well in Ohio. My current Little Brother, Larry, is 11 years old and we've been matched now for more than two years. Being a "Big" is a very rewarding thing to do because more than anything, these kids just need your time. So, I'm delighted to be helping in another way as Big Brother/Big Sisters of Houston hosts their first "Big Taste" at the Corinthian on April 21st. Along with dozens of other wonderful Houston restaurants, we'll be giving out sweets to folks whose ticket purchase goes to fund important programs at BBBS. Join us!

 

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SPOTLIGHTING OUR STAFF

Who makes YOUR food? So often the answer is “How the heck would I know?” Much of our food comes from distant places. Even in restaurants, you rarely see the people making your tasty meal.

We opened our current bakery in 2010 and from the beginning, we wanted transparency in how and where your cookies are made. Our open kitchen design is a rarity in bakeries. Everyday our customers marvel at the team of people they see mixing, rolling, baking and decorating their cookies. Many times our customers are so transfixed by what our crew is making they order something related to whatever is in production at the moment!

An open kitchen is a first step in knowing how your cookie came to be, but who are those people and what are their stories? Today we begin a multi-part series of profiles on the talented and dedicated people who make magic everyday at our bakery.

Name: Katherine “Katie” Rangel

 

Where did you grow up? Sugarland, TX

 

Position/Title at MCJ: General Manager

 

How did you get into cooking? My first job was at a candy store when I was 14 years old. I have a major sweet tooth. I used to dine out with my firend’s parents at fancy restaurants so I was exposed to many different cuisines and it caught my interest. After high school I enrolled in Houston Community College’s baking and pastry program and studied under a Belgian chef name Eddy Van Damme (he was fantastic). I also did an internship at Mark’s American Cuisine and worked in a handful of other places to gain experience. I was then hired as the first employee at Michael’s Cookie Jar and have been happily working there ever since.

 

Favorite Cookie: Chocolate Chip - hot, gooey, and fresh out of the oven.

 

Favorite food: Almond Croissants and the Chile Rellenos at Hugo’s Mexican Restaurant. 

 

Guilty pleasure: Watching a movie, sitting alone on my couch with a glass of wine.

 

Best way to spend a Sunday afternoon: Playing with my family in the park.

 

Hobbies: I like to read, draw, and paint.

 

An interesting or secret fact about yourself: I can speak Spanish, I have an armful of tattoos, and matching moles on my feet.

 

If you never had to work what would you do? I would make croissants all day and take care of my son.

 

What is the last book you read? Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won’t Eat Meat by Howard Lyman.

 

What is on your bucket list? Travel the world and drag race on a professional speedway.

 

Favorite Quote: “When I am in trouble eating is the only thing that consoles me...at the present I am eating muffins because I am unhappy. Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins.” - Oscar Wilde

 

Favorite Hangout Spot: Lounging in the grass at the Menil Collection in Montrose

 

What do you think everyone should know about Michael’s Cookie Jar? Going to MCJ is like buying a luxury item - you get great service and a great product - it is the Nieman Marcus of bakeries!

Girl Scout Cookies

We were delighted to be part of the annual "Just Desserts" event sponsored by the Girl Scouts. Our dessert was made using the "Thanks-A-Lot" cookie.

 

It's that time of year again - when young girls wearing green and khaki vests camp outside the entrances and exits of stores and co-workers hang up order forms by their desks beconing you with the temptation of gluttonous bliss which we gleefully flock to and pay money for because they are only available once a year causing demand to soar - that's right, it is officially girl scout cookie season!

Members of the GSUSA have been selling cookies since 1917 to raise funds on an individual basis. It wasn't until 1933 when Girl Scouts in Philadelphia organized the first official sale, selling homemade cookies at the windows of local utility companies. The first Girl Scout cookie recipe was a sugar cookie and  in 1936 the national organization began licensing commercial bakers to produce their cookies.

The main licensed companies are Little Brownie Bakers (LBB), a subsidiary of Keebler, which is owned by Kellogg's; and ABC Bakers, a subsidiary of Interbake Foods, which is owned by George Weston Limited. ABC Bakers has been licensed to produce Girl Scout cookies since 1936. Up to 28 varieties of Girl Scout cookies are offered and the same cookies may be sold under different names by different bakeries, with the choice of bakery determining the name.

For example:
Caramel Delights / Samoas
Peanut Butter Patties / Tagalongs
Peanut Butter Sandwiches / Do-si-dos
Shortbreads / Trefoils

There are even some new flavors available this year. Don't resist the temptation, go ahead and buy a box of your favorites - I know I will!

Also, at Michael's Cookie Jar we like to hear from our customers. Tell us what your favorite flavors are and we might make it in our bakery one day or maybe even all year round.

The History of Cookies

 

I love the smell of cookies baking. It brings back such comforting and happy memories of childhood. I’m sure every family has a long and interesting history of their own cookie making experiences and traditions.

In fact, cookies go back a long way in world history! Nobody is actually sure who created the very first cookie, but as the story goes, it was a mistake. Many cooking experts believe that centuries ago - before thermometers and electricity - cooks who wanted to test the temperature of their ovens would bake a small amount of cake batter to find out if the oven was hot enough to bake an entire cake. Not wanting to waste precious food, these early bakers ate their samples and later decided they were worthy of a spot in the “pastry case!”

The earliest cookie-style cakes are thought to date back to 7th century Persia (now Iran), one of the first countries to cultivate sugar (luxurious cakes and pastries were well known in the Persian Empire). Sugar originated in the lowlands of Southeast Asia, spread to Persia, and then to the Eastern Mediterranean. With the Muslim invasion of Spain, then the Crusades and the developing spice trade, the cooking techniques and ingredients of Arabia spread into Northern Europe where baked goods became mainstream items.

By the end of the 14th century, one could buy little filled wafers on the streets of Paris and as people started to explore the globe, biscuits (hard cookies) became the ideal traveling food, because they were portable and stayed fresh for long periods of time.

Today there are thousands of different cookie recipes around the globe and at Michael’s Cookie Jar we celebrate a few of the most popular ones such as the French palmier, the Mexican ojarasca, the Italian biscotti, the Austrian linzer, and the Jewish rugelach in addition to our American classics - Yum.

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday sits Small Business Saturday®, a day dedicated to helping small businesses and their communities. .

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Michael’s Cookie Jar is proud to take part in Small Business Saturday this year and we want to encourage you to Shop Small® with us on November 24th.

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On Small Business Saturday, we are excited to offer easy parking, complimentary hot cocoa and cookie treats at Michael's Cookie Jar on Friday and Saturday from 11AM-close.  And from 2 pm-5:30 pm (4:30 pm on Saturday) we'll have cookie decorating!

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Visit ShopSmall.com to learn about other ways to get involved and support  your favorite small businesses. Also, don’t forget to “Like” and recommend us on Facebook at facebook.com/michaelscookiejar! 

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Thank you for supporting Small Business Saturday 2012..

photo by www.morrismalakoff.com

Cookies for a Cause

 

We will be hosting a Halloween Open House on Oct. 31 to benefit The Children's Assessment Center, an organization that helps victims of child abuse.

Many kids and grown-ups are looking forward to having an exciting and safe Halloween this year, and they won't be disappointed when they come to the Weslayan Plaza on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. as we join together with other participating merchants to hold a Halloween Open House.
 

We want to provide a safe and fun environment for our customers to enjoy the cool Houston air on Halloween and since children are such an important part of our customer base, we wanted to raise money and awareness for The Children's Assessment Center which provides vital services to abused children.

The event starts at Michael's Cookie Jar at 5330 Weslayan. Guests check in, make their donation (suggested $10), and enjoy treats, games and cookie decorating. From there, the guests will visit all the other participating merchants in the Weslayan Plaza, namely GameStop, Menchies, Curves West University, West U Vet and Bernie's Burger Bus, where they will receive treats, play games and win raffle prizes. There will also be photos with a pet snake and pet bobbing for apples, courtesy of West U Vet.

Everyone is encouraged to come in costume to participate in the costume contest at 7 p.m.

Every dollar raised represents important funds to support the direct service programs which are critical to the hope and healing of young victims of child abuse. We strongly believe in the welfare and protection of our young people.

For more information about the Halloween Open House, please call 713~771~8603 or go to www.michaelscookiejar.com. Remember, we are located at the corner of Weslayan & Bissonnet, behind Petco. Click here for a map.

Support the Arts with Cookies!

Our "official" one year anniversary is October 1st which is appropriate since it is also National Cookie Day (Really!  look it up!).  We've started a tradition of giving gifts on our birthday instead of receiving them.  Last year we donated the proceeds from our grand opening to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Houston.  As a matter of fact, I became a big brother in January.  When I'm not in the kitchen, my little brother and I are hanging out!

As I mulled ideas in my head this year about which organization to support, I came up with some criteria.  It had to be about kids (many of our best customers are kids!).  It had to be local.  And this year I wanted it to be about the arts.  Living a good life is  a work of art, so we should surround ourselves with good food, good music and good art.

I work with a lot of kids throughout the year through various schools and organizations.  One group, The Children's Music Foundation, stood out in my mind.  Their mission is to teach kids how to play the guitar (in fact, the kids receive their own guitar) but in return the child must "pay it forward," which means he or she must also teach someone to play the guitar.  I love the idea of "pay it forward."  It allows each one of us to accept the kindness and guidance of others while placing a responsibility on us to do the same for another person in our life.

If you'd like more information about the Children's Music Foundation, please click this link.  Even better, come and see us on October 1st and decorate some cookies for a good cause!

Special Touches Bridal Open House

Join us for an intimate evening of cookie decorating, tasty food, music, wedding planning advice and more!  Michael's Cookie Jar is hosting its first ever Bridal Open House.  We've teamed up with some of the finest wedding professionals in Houston to bring you a memorable evening of "Special Touches."

Visit our partners' website

and then meet them in person on September 29th!

Abuso Catering

Adam Nyholt Photography

A Day to Remember (event planning)

Elegant Beginnings

Maxit Florist

Michael's Cookie Jar

Space City

Stella & Dot

Please RSVP to: michael@michaelscookiejar.com

We're Turning One!

It's hard to believe our bakery has been open a whole year! 

We are very grateful to all our customers
who have supported us!

 

And we look forward to serving you for years to come!

All this week, every customer will receive
a complimentary "number one" cookie!

Please stop in!

Happy Father's Day!

The summer heat is here and school is out.  It's been especially warm this spring, but we still ramp up the ovens every morning at 6AM to bake the day's cookies.   The ebb and flow of our customers has change a bit as people adjust to their summer schedules. 

We were quite busy for graduation events and now we're looking forward Father's Day, which is the first holiday of the summer season. 

We also have another milestone coming up in the next couple weeks.  Our retail bakery opened to the public on June 22 of last year.  We'll be celebrating by giving out tasty sugar cookies in the shape of the number "1" (More on that in the next post). 

For now, dad's are on our mind and we've got a special cookie pie that the whole family will love!

Happy Easter!

I think decorated Easter cookies may be my favorite of all the holidays.  There's something about a bright yellow baby chick or a smiling bunny face that just makes me feel happy!  Since Easter falls late in the year we get a little extra time to show off our decorated Easter cookies and Easter cookie gift bags. 



One new item we're offering this year is a jumbo decorated rabbit.  It stands 8" tall and comes in a gift bag with baby chicks and decorated egg-shaped cookies. 

 

And we have our signature cookie cake on display at the bakery.  It's all decked out for Easter.  Stop by and have a look!



Our Signature Cookie Cake





On a side note, April 2 marks the one year anniversary that we moved into our current retail location.  And you loyal customers already know that June 22 is the one year anniversary of opening our doors to the public.  Thank you!