>> MINDY BALLOU FITZPATRICK WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL
PLAYER AT SOUTH CAROLINA AS A FRESHMAN.
SHE AND HUSBAND MATT AND THEIR CHILDREN, ANNIE AND MATT,
ARE THE ONES WHO MODEL OUT THE INSPIRATION AND DEDICATION FOR
THE STAFF AT MINDY'S BAKED GOODS.
IT'S PART OF A COMPLEX THAT INCLUDES A PRODUCE MARKET,
SELLING LOCALLY-GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AN EMPORIUM
FEATURING PLANTS AND HANGING BASKETS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,
AND AN AREA FOR LOCAL VENDORS.
MINDY'S BAKED GOODS IS BEST KNOWN FOR PIES, BOTH SWEET AND
SAVORY.
YOU KNOW, IN A PLACE LIKE THIS, SAYING THIS IS THE BEST PIE THAT
WE DO IS REALLY SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE COCONUT CREAM PIE.
MMM!
THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS, NO SHORTCUTS,
NOTHING ARTIFICIAL.
YOU STAND AND YOU WHISK SIMPLE INGREDIENTS.
FOR ABOUT AN HOUR YOU'RE ADDING MILK AND SUGAR AND EGG YOLKS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
AGAIN, NO SHORTCUTS.
LOOK AT THIS SAVORY TOMATO PIE, WHICH EVERYONE AROUND HERE
LOVES.
HAS KIND OF A CRUMBLY TOPPING, LOTS OF CRUSTY CHEESE ON THERE,
WHICH IS A GIVEAWAY TO WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE LIKE.
A LOT OF FRESH BASIL IN THERE.
THERE'S A SEASONING BLEND THAT WAS MINDY'S MOM'S INVENTION
THAT'S ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT.
THAT CRUMBLE TOPPING IS VERY UNUSUAL.
THAT TOMATO CHEESE PIE IS BECOMING ONE OF THE REALLY
ICONIC TASTES OF THE MOREHEAD CITY AREA.
NOW, ONE CUSTOMER SAID, "OH, MY OPINION, THE BEST THING
THEY MAKE IS THE SHRIMP AND GRITS PIE."
YOU THINK I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE A SAMPLE OF THAT?
WOW!
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, IT REALLY DOESN'T HURT TO BE IN A PLACE
LIKE MOREHEAD CITY, WHERE YOU GET AS GOOD A SHRIMP AS YOU'RE
GOING TO FIND ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET.
BUT THERE'S BACON.
THERE'S TOMATO.
THERE'S A CREAMY-TYPE SAUCE.
THE GRITS HAVE JUST A PERFECT TEXTURE.
OH, MY GOODNESS!
I WILL REMEMBER THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
THE INSPIRATION FOR MANY OF THE RECIPES COMES FROM MINDY'S
MOTHER.
>> AND SHE WAS A WONDERFUL COOK, AND IT'S CARRIED OVER TO MATT
AND I, TOO.
WE ENJOY GOOD FOOD, AND WE'RE VERY CAREFUL ON WHAT WE PUT OUT.
FOR EVERY RECIPE THAT YOU SEE, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
>> THERE ARE DELICIOUS DIFFERENT SALADS, A ZUCCHINI CUCUMBER
NUMBER FEATURING NUTS AND FETA CHEESE, HUSBAND MATT'S CHICKEN
SALAD, WHICH IS HUGELY POPULAR, AND A DELIGHTFUL ASIAN-FLAVORED
TUNA SALAD.
OH, AND ONE OTHER BIG HIT.
WHAT A CLASSIC PIMENTO CHEESE IS IN THE SOUTH.
THIS IS A CHANGE-UP PITCH, THOUGH.
THIS IS TOMATO CHEESE WITH FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES INSTEAD OF
THE FIRE-ROASTED RED PEPPERS.
MMM!
OH, WOW!
I REALLY LOVE THAT.
AND THE REASON I LIKE IT SO MUCH IS THAT THE TOMATOES JUST REALLY
MELLOW THAT OUT AS FAR AS THE SILKY TEXTURE OF IT.
MMM.
THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL.
WONDERFUL.
MMM.
NOW, THIS MAY BE THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE ENTIRE BUSINESS.
THIS IS MINDY'S MOM'S RECIPE.
IT'S A SIMPLE CHOCOLATE PECAN COCONUT COOKIE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN MRS. BALLOU DIED, HER ASHES WENT
INTO HER FAVORITE COOKIE TIN.
MINDY SAYS IT JUST SEEMED SO INCREDIBLY APPROPRIATE.
YOU'LL LOVE THIS FAMILY AND THE SUPER ATTRACTIVE ATMOSPHERE
THEY'VE CREATED AT FRIENDLY MARKET.
FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M BOB GARNER.
>> THE FRIENDLY MARKET IS AT 205 FRIENDLY ROAD IN MOREHEAD CITY,
AND THEY'RE OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GIVE THEM A CALL AT 252-808-7954, OR GO
ONLINE TO THE friendlymarket.com.