Sue Z.’s Finds

Even if you think you’ve had your fill of food on a stick, head to the Mill City Farmers Market (704 Second St. S., Mpls.) for Susan Dietrich and Gary Robertson’s pie-on-a-stick. While there, be sure to pick up some of Dietrich’s homemade graham crackers. Feeling adventurous? Bake your own pie, using Thrive Baking Mix (rovingdish.com/thrivemixes). St. Paul chef Jenn Geisheker’s all-purpose, gluten-free, vegan, whole-grain ivory-teff flour lets you whip up healthy, satisfying baked goods in no time.

Prepare for winter and stock your shelves with the all-natural award-winning salsas, olive spreads, and jellies of Alya Shafik, made fresh in Forest Kake (cookedwithpride.com). A few of her delicious combinations include sweet-corn salsa, kalamata olive spread, tomato or date jam, apple-garlic-pepper jelly, and pineapple-pepper jelly, a new favorite.

Deena’s Gourmet, natural, locally made hummus comes in a variety of flavors (roasted red pepper, feta, eggplant, black bean-chipotle) and is a guaranteed hit at parties. The best part? It goes with anything—fresh vegetables, crackers, pita bread (deenasgourmet.com). Find it at local food co-ops, farmers’ markets, the Midtown Global Market, and Kowalski’s supermarkets. The wonderful hummus will be sold at the Thursday downtown Minneapolis Farmers Market till the market closes for the season in November—maybe this is the healthy, tasty lunch at your desk you’ve been looking for?

Sue Zelickson is the founder and director of Women Who Really Cook and Perspectives Family Center’s Kid’s Cafe. She is 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.