Sweet Treat Without Wheat

You may have noticed a new vendor at the Downtown Farmer's Market this season...Sweet Treat Without Wheat.  While they leave out the gluten, their products don't lack in taste.

Owner/Chef Sarah came up with the idea for the business after creating some tasty gluten-free treats for her daughter who has celiac disease and thought others would enjoy these items too.  There is certainly a need with the number of people on gluten-free diets growing.

Her donuts, cookies, cheesecakes and even crepes have been really popular at the Farmer's Market and while the market is over for the season, you can still order these items and more by contacting them on Facebook here.

I've stopped by their tent at the market a few times and was lucky enough to stop by last month for the last Downtown Market of the season for a Hawaiian crepe (awesome choice for lunch) and a donut, yum!  Certainly a treat for those with gluten intolerance's or celiac disease, but just as good tasting for those without!

The crepes are made to order and you'd never know they were gluten-free.  Try a neutella and banana! Yum!

If you or a friend are in the market for some gluten-free deliciousness, check out Sweet Treat Without Wheat's Facebook page for more info and and to order!  You can pick up or she will deliver in the DSM area.

Their products have been so popular that they are looking to expand and in a recent Facebook Post they proclaimed that their resolution for 2014 is to spread more gluten-free goodness!  Cool!

Della Dolce Bakery

Today's guest post is by my friend Christie who knows a good cookie when she tastes one!  Check out her experience at this brand new bakery and make plans to attend the Grand Opening for some samples!

I had the chance to be one of the first customers at Della Dolce Bakery on their opening day yesterday!

This is the most beautiful bakery I’ve ever been in.  No surface was left untouched when turning this space into a cozy bakery.

Stop in the morning for a cup of tea or coffee and a scone, cinnamon roll, caramel roll, quiche, or turnover.  By afternoon they have dessert favorites such as cookies, cupcakes, pies, and tarts.  I had one of the chocolate chip cookies and it was DELICIOUS.  Crunchy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside.

Owner, Catherine, also makes wedding cakes and caters other beautiful desserts for events. 

Catherine is hosting her Grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday, November 2 from 5-8pm with the ribbon cutting at 6pm.  She will have light appetizers and samples sizes of menu items for everyone to try.

You can find Della Dolce Bakery at 13435, Suite 300 University Ave, Clive  IA 50325.  Phone: 515-330-2848.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DellaDulceBakery

Hiland Bakery

If you live in a 20 mile radius of the East Side of Des Moines, you have got to get your butt over to the Hiland Bakery.  This place is the real deal.  It's not a huge place as most of the bakery is kitchen with a little store-front area.  But the products make a big impression.  Freshly made donuts for under a buck.  Pecan rolls, for $1.25, Dutch letter for $2. And my favorite item, the Cream Puff (OMG the Cream Puff), for $2.50, look at this fine specimen of a Cream Puff!  It was perfect. Light and fluffy pastry dusted with powdered sugar and a rich filling which was more vanilla-pudding-y than cream-like, but that's exactly how I used to get them from the Italian bakeries in Boston when I was little.  It was perfect.

My son was a fan of the soft and chewy decorated sugar cookies and I was too.  The hubby had some sticky buns and said they were very good.

The bakery is small, but if you come in early, you can catch them fully stocked with some of the most wonderful baked goods in town.
I'm not sure you could go wrong with anything you get here.  I had to contain my self and not try the mini champagne cakes or petite fours that looked so delectable.  Next time...

They also take custom orders for weddings, birthdays and other events.

The staff was friendly, the baked goods were great and the prices were right.  Whether you are looking to make a good impression at the office, have a party coming up and you need a cake, or just need to satisfy a sweet craving, Hiland Bakery is worth the drive from every corner of the suburbs.  Check it out!

Adventureland of America

Summer is fast approaching it's end and we're trying to fit in all of the fun, summery things to do in Iowa while we can.  We always try to hit Adventurland in Altoona at least once per summer.  While it's not Disney World, it's still awesome that Des Moines has an amusement park to call it's own.  It's fun to ride a few roller coasters, play some fair games and eat some amusement park food.

There is a significant amount of kid-friendly rides so young kids enjoy the park as well us old kids.

The fairly new Kokomo Cove water park is really nice and a great spot for a hot summer day.  They have a kids water play area as well as a giant older kids play area with dump bucket.  They have some big slides and a lazy river.  The water park is my kid's favorite part.  My only complaint would be that to get to the water park you have to walk through the whole amusement park to get there.  Hopefully they'll at some point make an entrance near the water park so you can enter and exit closer to it.

They also have a good selection of park food to choose from. From corn dogs and funnel cakes to pizza and tacos and dippin dots, you'll get a mini-taste of the State Fair here.  Some heartier items like Philly cheese steaks and fried chicken are available too.

 I think a good amusement park experience includes a little bit of unhealthy food.  Though we see a lot of people packing coolers and leaving them in their cars to exit the park for snack breaks and re-enter since outside food isn't allowed in the park.

While, like every amusement park, things are overpriced, games are almost impossible to win and someone always throws up on the tilt-a-whirl.  But that's all part of the memories and what summer is complete without that?!

Donut Hut

Those that know me well, know that my family has a slight addiction to Dunkin' Donuts.  After living without it for 8 years in Des Moines after moving here from Boston, we were delighted when it opened in the Metro.  For us, Dunks is all about the coffee.  I'm not saying we don't have the occasional Boston Creme or Blueberry Cake, but the donuts aren't the real draw for us.

In fact, I hadn't had a great donut in while, until I had a Donut Hut sugary mound of happiness.  They have the moistest cake donuts I've ever experienced in lots of flavors like your normal chocolate and vanilla and the cherry seems to be a favorite among regulars.  Along with regular donuts they have  "fancies" like apple fritters and caramel pecan rolls.  The Bavarian Creme was similar to our beloved Boston Creme only less custardy of course.  It was a winner. Donuts are mostly under a buck except for the fancier ones which are about a buck forty-nine.

The best part about Donut Hut is that the Owner/Operator Al must be the nicest donut shop owner I've ever met.  He happily walked around the tidy shop refilling coffee and making sure customers were content.  He made sure to introduce himself as he realized we were newbies.

Al explained that they make all of the donuts fresh daily in the store and you can tell he takes a lot of pride in his store and products.  They have a much bigger selection than some other shops in town and by far the best service.  Al is awesome!

Donut Hut is not far from Merle Hay and is definitely worth the drive.  Al has other offerings like smoothies and ice cream so don't skip the trip if donuts aren't your thing.  What a cool coffee/donut shop. It's my new fave.

Donut King, you know, next to Burger King

I used to drive down Grand ave. in West Des Moines and wonder what the "Donut King" (next to the Burger King) was.  The outside isn't the most inviting and it's only open in the mornings.  And as you may or may not know, I have a Dunkin Donuts addiction so I never actually got around to stopping in.  

One day a friend told me the Donut King "cake-style" donuts were better than Dunks!  I was in disbelief and had to try for myself.  I have to say the sour cream cake donut was really good and the blueberry cake donuts were awesome.  The donuts are small but moist and tasty.  Not overly sugary like Krispy Kreme.  Just right actually.

While Donut King offers coffee, lattes and hot cocoa, if you are going for a specialty drink, you won't find it here.  They don't offer any fancy breakfast sandwiches or anything other than donuts and pastries, but I have to admit they are really good.  

There isn't much eating space in the shop, and the seats that are there are usually occupied mostly by "the regulars". If you are in the mood for a good, cheap donut and maybe a different experience then you're used to, stop by Donut King.  Make sure you bring cash or check, no cards taken here!  Grab a donut, coffee and a seat at the counter and then let us know what you think!  

What's for breakfast?

Growing up in Massachusetts, there is a Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Literally!  I just figured America does "Run on Dunkin" like the commercials.  

Little did I know that in Iowa, there were no DDs in 100 mile radius!  Great thing there are thousands of other redeeming qualities to Des Moines or we may not have lasted here this long!

Don't get me wrong, the donuts are good, but how can people live without iced coffee?! Well, now we don't have to!  

Dunks is now open in West Des Moines! It opened on Halloween this year! I know because I was there the minute they opened =) It's right on 73rd street near Walmart.  Pretty conveniently located off of the 73rd exit on 235.

What to order:

* Boston Creme Donuts. (And not because of the name...) Blueberry cake donuts or apple filled donuts are our favorites.

*Coffee Coolattas (Try one with a flavor shot, french vanilla is awesome) They can also make these with skim milk to cut down on calories. But, of course tastier with cream.

*Munchkin variety box.  Right now the special flavor is sprinkles munchkins (Katie's favorite) and they also come in chocolate glazed, jelly filled and original.  Kids LOVE these!

*Chocolate chunk cookies.  They're just good.

*Surprisingly, the chicken salad is awesome! Try a croissant sandwhich with chicken salad for lunch. You'll like it!

* For a little over a buck you can get a meat, egg and cheese on a tortilla. Tasty and filling for a quick breakfast with your coffee if you are looking to cut down on calories.

The drive-through is open 24 hours and there is some seating inside.  Easy to find a seat during the week, a little more difficult on the weekend mornings.  Oh, and did you know gluten free donuts and muffins are coming soon?!

This was the wonderful DD employee who made my first coffee coolatta. I think she was a little confused as to why I was taking her picture.

Here is a link to the DunkinIowa facebook page, it's a little hard to find: DunkinIowa