Finding a Sugary Nirvana of Butter Cakes and Snickerdoodle Cookies at Farmer’s Market – National Harbor, MD

JORDAN WRIGHT – Food Editor
Published -LocalKicks.COM – NIBBLES AND SIPS
MAY 2009

Anita Benton, of Desserts, Etc., exudes a certain unmistakable Southern style. She’s Hattiesburg, Mississippi, born and bred, and although the drawl is nearly gone you’ll know you’re down-home with her steal-the-show Southern-inspired cakes and cookies. I had a chance to meet Anita and her delectable desserts this Saturday at National Harbor’s local-centric Farmers Market. This lady cooks with love and you can taste it in every bite.

We tried tender and moist Sweet Potato Brownies, Kentucky Butter Cake, Snickerdoodle cookies and Mocha Madness Cake. They were sumptuous and mouth-wateringly memorable. She does Strawberry Red Velvet Cakes, Orange Dream Cakes layered with orange mousse, and my personal favorite Coconut Cake, which she fills with lemon curd pineapple curd or coconut cream. How divinely decadent! Another specialty is called Felicia’s Favorite Cake. It’s a white vanilla bean cake made with chunks of brownies and pecans, layered with caramel pastry cream and topped with chocolate sauce. Heaven can wait!

A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland Anita is also a personal chef and creates dinner parties with classics like Shrimp and Grits.

To order online visit her site at www.desserts-etc.com or taste her wares at National Harbor’s Farmers Market, Saturday mornings from 10AM till 3PM.

I met farmers like Monica Medina

of Valle Produce who grow all their produce in Westmoreland County. Her French Breakfast radishes, tiny strawberries and kohlrabi were particularly beautiful and delicious.

David Thorne of Zekiah Farms raises Roseda Black Angus beef on his farm in Bryantown, MD. Free range grazed in his pastures without hormones or antibiotics, the beef is sold to some of our top local restaurants. Each animal has its own “biography” and they can even trace the meat back to the farm.

With over 16 cuts to choose from you can surely find your preference. He also raises pork, lamb, goat and poultry with the same high standards.

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