Mix and Match

Photo by Lauren Logan / Courtesy of Stubborn Foodie

Even though major prepared-food manufacturers are increasingly switching over to non-GMO and organic ingredients, cage-free eggs, or hormone- and antibiotic-free dairy products due to customer demand, a close reading of most product labels still requires some research to decipher the names of chemicals in our food. If you regularly opt for the best food choices when shopping, an unexpected last-minute baking assignment can prove to be a challenge.

Now a local foodie who shares that stubborn streak when it comes to quality has developed a solution for the occasionally harried home baker. Amanda Rales has excelled at everything from coaching tennis to financial planning analysis, but the gifted home baker recently decided to put her passion for a healthier lifestyle to work for her. Although she didn't have any previous professional food experience, Rales explored turning food concepts into business proposals while studying for her MBA. She has since learned the food business "on the fly" since founding Stubborn Foodie earlier this year. "I started comparing the cupcakes I was making for friends to the products that were already available commercially, and I kept coming across ingredients that I had to look up online," she says. "That's what gave me the idea for creating this new brand – I wanted convenience, great taste, and quality with no compromises. That's what makes me a stubborn foodie, and that's where I got the name for my product line."

To test Stubborn Foodie out, I asked two experienced home cooks to prepare the batters last week and share their samples and notes. Both were impressed by the ease of preparation – no measuring or mixing. All the baker needs to do is pour the batter into lined muffin tins or a lightly greased and floured cake pan and spread evenly.

Kellye Rila said her chocolate cupcakes weren't done in the middle at the end of the listed baking time, but they came out fine after an extra couple of minutes, so remember that all ovens may vary a little. She said she wished for a stronger chocolate flavor in the cupcakes but was very impressed with the creamy frosting. Likewise, Kate Thornberry wished for a more pronounced vanilla flavor in her cupcakes, but they emerged moist and delicious. She said she would probably add some good quality vanilla extract or a scraping of vanilla bean seeds to the batter if she used it again.

I shared their desire for more intense flavor when I discussed the outcome of the taste test with Rales, and she said the new website will include a section with suggestions for mix-ins such as citrus zests, nuts, and dried fruits. Rales is currently making and packaging the products herself in a rented commercial kitchen that belongs to another local food start-up, but she's actively looking for a co-packer so she can concentrate on growing the business. In addition to both Wheatsville stores, look for Stubborn Foodie products this week in the refrigerated cases at the Fresh Plus outlets on West Lynn and West Anderson Lane.