Baked Goods

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. will close its Baltimore bakery -- its last bread, pie and cake operation in the United States -- in December, marking the end of an era for what was once one of the nation's biggest bakers.The planned Dec. 18 closure of the A&P bakery on North Franklintown Road will eliminate about 210 jobs in a city that's been hammered by factory closures and layoffs in recent months.A&P said it was selling the bakery to locally based H&S Bakery Inc. and would be ordering goods from H&S to produce A&P stores' private label baked goods.

Under an overcast morning sky, Carole Ruppel carried basil herbs, fresh spinach, potatoes, cabbage and onions, and an apricot brandy pound cake, the latest haul from more than two decades of almost weekly shopping trips to her local farmers' market. For Ruppel, 68, of Westminster, the fresh produce, baked goods and potential Christmas presents at the Carroll County Farmers' Market's have led to hundreds of visits to the market's county Agriculture Center location since 1985. That year, she first heard about the market while scouting home locations in Carroll for a move from Catonsville.

The sweet scent of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries freshly plucked from leafy bushes reminds Jane Sussman of her business. A 46-year resident of Westminster, Sussman spends three days each week sifting flour and adding pectin to canisters of fruit, preparing to sell her homemade cakes, pies and jams at the Carroll County Farmers' Market. She's been at it nearly as long as the market has been around. This summer marks the Westminster market's 30th anniversary, and neither it nor Sussman appears to be going anywhere.

Every farmers market has its own personality; but at this time of year, all specialize in splendid tomatoes and vibrant mounds of root vegetables and apples. Prepared foods, crafts and jewelry are among other riches to be found at the outdoor markets. Baltimore Farmers Market, downtown Saratoga Street, between Holliday and Gay streets, Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon. This is the mother of Baltimore-area farmers markets, a cornucopia of vegetables, fruit, fried donuts, cheeses, dog biscuits, jewelry, barbecue, ice cream, omelets, fried fish sandwiches and wheat grass.

The longer the young bakers walked the runway showing off their items, the higher the prices went and the more the youngsters beamed at the annual 4-H cake auction last night.More than 150 items were auctioned last night. The money went to benefit the 4-H and FFA Fair at the Carroll County Ag Center.At press time, the highest price -- $1,000 -- was paid jointly by Bohn Pontiac and Liquid Gro chemicals for Marjorie Armacost's gingerbread. Bidding started at $500.The 12-year-old's project received the grand champion's ribbon among all the baked items that were judged.

Barbecue and baked goods will replace the smell of paint this morning when the Pennsylvania Dutch Market reopens at its new location in Cockeysville. With only final inspections left to go, the market should be ready at 9 a.m., said owner Rosemary Schinzel of Finksburg. "People are very, very receptive and eager for us to open," she said, noting a flood of e-mails. The popular Westminster market closed May 29, losing its lease after 11 years at the Crossroad Square Shopping Center at Routes 140 and 97. A search for new space led to the vacant Metro Food Market about 22 miles away at 11121 York Road.

A: When recently making my tried-and-true poundcake recipe, I decided to try it with corn-oil margarine rather than the butter I usually use. When serving the cake, I discovered a puddle of grease or oil on the doily. What caused this?A: If margarine can be used to replace butter in a recipe, the recipe will usually say either can be used. If the recipe doesn't mention it as an option when baking, it's best to use exactly the ingredients specified. Reduced-calorie or "light" margarine products, in particular, are never advised as a substitute for butter in baking.

Epiphany Episcopal Church in Odenton will hold the 14th annual Odenton Community Fair and Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 21 on church grounds.The day's events will include music and entertainment, games for children, an old-fashioned cake walk, items for sale by community crafts people, produce, raffles, a demonstration by the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department, baked goods, Odenton pTC T-shirts and hats, tractor rides, a magic show, a gigantic yard sale, information about community organizations and demonstrations.

AMAZING WHAT happens in spring in our community. We have so many chances to get together with our neighbors for fun and fellowship.We'll be able to get together from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, for example, at the May Fest, sponsored by the Patapsco Valley American Association of Retired Persons, Chapter 3850, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church hall, Sweetser and Marydell Roads in Linthicum.Tables will be full of baked goods, plants, woodworks, Christmas items, crafts, jewelry and lemon sticks for sale, and Orioles tickets, a picnic and a gift certificate to Snyder's Restaurant to be raffled off.Eleanor Pieroschek, club president, said the men will prepare lunch.

AS A CAR needs gasoline to run, the Kiwanis Club of Odenton needs donations to help it carry out its many service programs for our neighbors and their children.The club will conduct a road block from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday at Routes 170 and 175 to collect money for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.If you are in the area, stop, roll down your window and give.The club sponsors Boy Scout Troop 721, Fort Meade Senior High School Key Club and Builders and Key clubs at the Old Mill schools complex.