November's Cake of the Month is a refreshing Orange Ginger Cake. It is a bright citrus cake filled and frosted with a lightly spiced whipped cream. Try it at $ 1.00 off our regular prices.

Our 3rd annual open house fundraiser for the Greater Waterbury United Way was great fun for everyone. Participants were able to visit our four stations and try their hands at frosting holiday cookies, making truffles and chocolate dipped marzipan pine cones, apple cream cheese tarts and decorating jack'o'lantern cakes. Don't miss next year's event ( Fall 2006) and an array of classes here at Sweet Maria's in Winter 2006. (Schedule to come).

Enjoy Sweet Maria's cookies along with a good book at the John Bale Bookshop and Cafe, Grand Street, downtown Waterbury. This best kept secret is a real resource for hard to find books. Be sure to try the John Bale Bar, a gooey combination of caramel, mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. Available only here!

1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 F. In an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until light. Add egg and pumpkin. Beat until well mixed. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon nutmeg and cloves on low speed.Mix just until blended. Drop from a teaspoon onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, spacing each 2-inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until firm. Cool completely before frosting.

In a small bowl, combine 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and about 1/2 cup water. Mix until smooth. Ice tops of cookies. Let dry completely. Yields: about 50 cookies.

Enjoy a sweet treat prior to the Friday, November 25th perormance of "Wild Mushrooms". Dessert starts at 7 pm, performance at 8pm. Don't miss this delightful Off-Broadway hit. Seven Angels Theater, Waterbury, CT.