Celebrate Connecticut's Best food, drink, and entertainment at 2 parties.

Party North on Thursday, September 14th at the Wadsworth Mansion, Middletown, CT from 6 pm to 9:30 pm. Join us plus other winners from the Connecticut Magazine reader's poll as we sample our award winning specialties. Tickets are $50.00 on advance, and $60.00 at the door. Sales will benefit Connecticut Food Bank. For tickets call (203)469- 5000.

Party South on Thursday, October 5, at the Italian Center of Stamford from 6 pm to 9:30 pm. More great specialties! Visit ctfoodbank.org for more information. Don't miss the parties of the year!

Join us for hands-on baking classes here at Sweet Maria's. Our schedule features cake decorating and cookie classes. The perfect pre-holiday primer for all your baking.

Wednesday, September 20th 6:30 pm Hands-On Cake Decorating Class. Learn how to fill, frost and decorate a buttercream layer cake. Each student will be given their own cake, frosting and tools to make a fabulous cake. Class includes recipes, your cake to take home, and coffee and dessert. $ 60.00 (non-refundable) Class limited to 12.

Wednesday, November 1, 6:30 pm. Cookie Mania Class. Learn how to mix, bake and decorate an assortment of cookies.; from drop cookies to biscotti, to jelly filled cookies.This demonstration class includes hands-on opportunties. Class includes recipes, cookies to take home and coffee and dessert. $ 50.00 (non-refundable) Class limited to 15.

Our wildly popular fund raiser to benefit Greater Waterbury United Way is coming soon. This year's event will be Tuesday, October 17th 6:30 pm. Come and try a variety of hands-on baking stations featuring holiday desserts. Plus, learn how to pair your favorite desserts with a variety of dessert wines.Our wine experts Toby and Mike Amodeo from Highland Package store, Highland Avenue, Waterbury will be here to answer all your questions. Tuesday, October17th 6:30 to 9:00 pm $65.00 per person (limited to 50 people). For more information and for tickets, call the United Way of Greater Waterbury at (203) 757-9855.

September Cake of the Month is Red Velvet. By popular demand, this Southern classic cake is filled and frosted with cream cheese frosting. Order September 1st through the 30th at $1.00 off our regular prices.

October Cake of the Month is a Trick or Treat Cake. Try our fun mix of yellow cake filled with mixed candy (M& M's snickers, candy corn) and frosted with chocolate buttercream frosting. Order October 1st through the 31st at $1.00 off our regular prices.

The newest issue of Brides Connecticut (Fall 2006) features cakes created by Sweet Maria's. Two spectacular real life weddings both feature cakes from Sweet Maria's. Check out the new issue for all you need to know to plan your wedding in Connecticut, or visit www.brides.com. For more of our wedding designs visit our website photo gallery.

These cookies are flavorful and topped with an egg wash for a shiny finish.

1/2 pound butter, softened

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup sliced almonds

about 40 whole almonds to top and 1 egg for egg wash

Preheat oven to 350 F. In an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and confectioners sugar until light. Add egg and almond extract. Mix until well blended. On low speed, add flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir in sliced almonds. Mix just until blended. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place balls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, spacing each 2 inches apart. Using your fingers, slightly flatten the tops of the cookies. Press a whole almond into the center of the cookie. In a small bowl, beat the egg. Brush the tops of cookies with egg. Bake 10 to 12 minutesor until edges begin to brown. Remove cookie sheet from the oven. Cool completely on wire cooling rack. Yields: about 40 cookies.

Bring your best apple pie to the Waterbury Farmer's Market First Annual Apple Pie contest. The pies will be judged (and eaten!) on Thursday October12th during the market, open 11 am to 3 pm. For more information contact Main Street Waterbury at 83 Bank Street, Waterbury, or find an entry form in the Waterbury Republican-American Sept 6th issue.