"The Tattooed Baker"

Beginning two weeks ago, “The Tattooed Baker” has been a new stand at the Waseca farmers market on Saturday morning at the fairgrounds. Armed with her new license to sell baked goods, she and her husband had their stand open for business. The temp was in the lower 70s, giving the market vendors a much-needed break from the relentless heat which has hit Waseca these past few weeks.

 

Amanda, 41, and Andy Riehm, 44, are Waseca locals, he’s been here 29 years, she’s been here for 18.

 

“Cake pops” she said, “I will always have cake pops whenever I am open, but the rest of my selection will be a rotating menu.” She has four separate cake pop flavors. Six different truffle flavors, (think cake pop without the stick), 40 different cake flavors, 10 cookies to choose from and of course pies come autumn. “But the pies will wait till fall, to keep them in season. I have also been trying bagels, specifically protein bagels, I have two different flavors there, both are blueberry related.”

 

Her husband Andy was tending to customers, a group of little girls was questioning him about the Oreo cake flavor. Little girl, “Are there real Oreos in your cakes?” His reply, “Yes, there are crushed Oreos in our cakes, it’s in the batter.” His prowess as a salesman was showing because he sold one. Said Amanda, “My husband? We go almost everywhere together. We’re both retired from the Federal Correctional Institute in town here. He’s what brought me to Waseca.” Not only that, but they live on Seventh Avenue northeast, so the farmers market isn’t far from their house.

They have two adult offspring and two still in the Waseca school district. When asked where her love for baking came from, Amanda replied, “My whole life I grew up being taught to bake, like cakes and cookies. I’m always the desert lady. Whenever there is a potluck, that’s what the request is for me, to bring a baked good.” This week she was working on selling her cakes, next week at the farmers market she says she will be changing her menu to cookies, “But the cake pops will be here every time no matter what, they’re my number one.” She has also been selling in Blooming Prairie every Wednesday. Said Amanda, “I also want to eventually start selling at the Janesville Farmers Market but that might be a while. I will also be in Mankato every Thursday.” The name of her stand is “The Tattooed Baker,” a name that fits since, when asked how many tattoos she has, her answer was “So many I’ve lost count.”