When these muffins rise, they raise money for research

GOSHEN — When Linda Stern built her house last year in the Town of Goshen, after living in the village for 29 years, her wish list included a professional kitchen. She got her wish, and began to bake muffins of all kinds and share them with friends. Her daughter, Kimberlee, who attends college in Buffalo, told her she should try to do something with them. After some thought, Stern decided to sell them and donate 20 percent of the profits to breast cancer research. She had lost both her parents to cancer as well as both of her in-laws, her sister, her best friend, and many other friends. She first approached Dawn Santoro, owner of the Moon Doze Café in Goshen, with her idea. Santoro was very receptive, she said. The “Texas-sized” muffins are wrapped in FDA-approved plastic sacks tied off with curly pink ribbons. Each muffin bears a sticker from the American Cancer Society. On the day of this interview, Stern was going to meet with the representative of the American Cancer Society to deliver her first check of $30. It took two months to get that $30. So far, it has been a very successful effort, she said. The muffins cost $2.50 each. People seem to feel good when making their purchase, when they see they are contributing to a worthwhile cause. The muffins come in a variety of flavors, including blueberry, chocolate chip, applesauce raisin, banana nut, pumpkin spice, coffeecake muffins with streusel, butterscotch bliss, cranberry pecan, cappuccino with a chocolate-covered nut, and carrot nut. The peanut-butter-and-jelly muffin has appeal for the young moms who gather at the café with their children. Stern bakes four or five times a week, and always takes away the muffins that remain unsold after two days. She uses only organic eggs, a special type of flour, fresh blueberries, and pure vanilla — with no preservatives. Because the muffins are big, Stern’s pans hold only six muffins. She can bake only two batches at a time. Before she got into the muffin business, Stern was a stay-at-home mom. She says she is having fun and feeling like she is doing something important with her life. Her husband is supportive, as are her sons and daughter. Her husband, an attorney, made sure she was meeting health codes in selling muffins baked at home. For now she is comfortable with the number of muffins she’s making and does not want to bite off more than she can chew. She is not trying to be Mrs. Fields or Sarah Lee — but should her muffins take off, her daughter will move back to Goshen and help with the business. On June 9, Stern will have her muffins available at the Relay for Life event at the Goshen High School, an all-night affair sponsored by the cancer society. The first team to run is made up entirely of cancer survivors. Activities for children will be available at the relay, and local restaurants will donate food. Some people will set up tents for camping out. Another event, sponsored by Horton Hospital, will be held during Breast Cancer Awareness Week in October. Stern is looking into selling the muffins by mail-order, but this idea is in the very early stages. For now, if you want to taste one of Stern’s muffins, you’ll have to stop by the Moon Doze Café. You’ll find them on the counter, by the coffee.