Sue. Z's Finds

TO EMBELLISH your summer picnics and parties, look no further than Pam’s Pepper Jellies. Locally made and all natural, the jams range in flavor from mild to bold—the ultimate cheese-and-cracker toppers (pamspepperjam.com, 763-537-8097).

Emilie Cellai, native of France and food-business veteran of 15 years, knows her pies. And not just any pies: tarte tatins, the scrumptious upside-down French dessert filled with apples (the classic favorite), spinach and ricotta, rhubarb, or, new this fall, pumpkin. Get to her stand (appropriately named Tarte Tatins) at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market early enough to try one yourself, or pre-order a few, just to be safe (290 Fifth St. E., St. Paul; theoriginaltartetatin.com, 612-221-2980).

If you have little chefs at home, then the Counting Chef’s products and FriendChip Farm program are for you. Hoping to make cooking an activity parents and children can do together, Julane Severson started making and selling such as buttermilk-pancake mix—tasty and fun to make and eat (Kitchen in the Market, Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St., Mpls., kitcheninthemarket.com, 612-568-5486). She also began FriendChip Farm, a program designed for kids ages 3 to 8 that offers educational activities based on making healthy food choices. FriendChip Farm sets up shop at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market every week, giving kids a chance to go on scavenger hunts, learn about the food pyramid with the nutrition toss, or watch food demonstrations (friendchipfarm.com, countingchef.blogspot.com).

Sue Zelickson is the former host of WCCO Radio’s Food for Thought.

Sue Zelickson (Sue Z.) is a James Beard Award-winning food media personality, philanthropist, and longtime contributor to Minnesota Monthly and WCCO radio. She has founded the Charlie Awards, the Women Who Really Cook networking organization for women in the local food industry, and the Kids Cafe at Perspectives, Inc., which improves access to nutritious meals for families in need. You can find her buzzing around from event to event throughout the Twin Cities, helping to raise funds for charitable organizations, including some she has had a hand in building.