Editor's Choice: Justin's Peanut Butter Cups

When I was asked if I could take my little nephew out for trick or treating a few weeks ago, I couldn't have jumped higher at the chance. Not only was it a great excuse to dress up in costume (which I did, as Chewbacca from Star Wars), but it brought back great memories of sifting through a pillowcase of candy, looking for the "good stuff."

In my day, the "good stuff" was any kind of king-size candy bar. After looking through my nephew's haul at the end of the night, it was pretty evident that his total volume of "good stuff" was way larger than what it used to be when I was a kid. Thankfully, my nephew is a kind, sharing sort of fellow, and as he sat surrounded by his candy treasures, he granted me permission to partake from his sweet stockpile.

I have a crippling weakness for peanut butter, so I was intrigued by the clean, white packaging of some Justin's Peanut Butter Cups that some unknown neighbor was kind enough to introduce into our lives. I popped the packaging open, and we both had one. The results were unanimous: this was the most delicious peanut butter and chocolate item possible.

To make the deal even sweeter, each individually-wrapped Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup is 100 percent organic, vegan and Rainforest Alliance certified. The company uses only the highest quality organic and fair-trade peanut butter in their products.

The company also works hard to lessen their environmental footprint. All of their cartons, boxes and caddies are made with wind power, while all packaging cardboard is made with 100 percent recycled paper. All ingredients are sourced as locally and sustainably as possible. For example, they get the nuts for their peanut butter from Georgia, not China, using local ingredients to support local economies and lower their carbon footprint.

Their peanut butter cups come in Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate. Retailers can order them in packs of 12. These would be great items to stick by the register almost anywhere. Learn how to order some for your store, or check out their other peanut butter-related products at Justin's.com.

-Marc

Editor's Choice: Gearharts Peanut Butter Pups

If you've read this blog, you know that I am a fan of chocolate, peanut butter, and chocolate with peanut butter in it. It's not surprising that I loved these Peanut Butter Pups from Gearharts Fine Chocolates - they feature premium milk chocolate and Virginia artisan peanut butter, and are then decorated with a dark chocolate face and toasted almond ears. The puppy-faced treats are extremely cute and would make a great gift.

I am also a fan of dogs - to be specific, shelter dogs. Cursed with a tiny apartment and a huge heart for dogs, I have never been able to have a dog of my own so far in life. To get my puppy fix, I spent time volunteering at Chicago Animal Care & Control, and fell in love daily with every dog there. I was overjoyed to spend time with these friendly and lovable pups, but left feeling empty because of the enormous quantity of dogs that were brought in daily, knowing that many would inevitably not get adopted. 

That's why I love that Gearharts has decided to donate 5% of sales for their Peanut Butter Pups to Companions for Heroes, a terrific organization that provides companion animals, skilled companion dogs, and service dogs obtained from shelters and/or rescues, who might otherwise be euthanized, free of charge to active duty military personnel, military veterans, and first-responders recovering from the psychological challenges they suffered during service to our country. C4H increases public awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other challenges confronting our country’s heroes; and rally’s support for animal welfare and the adoption of shelter and/or rescue animals.

Tim Gearhart, the owner of Gearhart's Chocolates, started cooking as a Marine in Kuwait. He's created a quality chocolate item and partnered with a great organization to make something to be proud of. 

Editor's Choice: Lake Champlain Chocolates

You know something is good when it arrives at our office and disappears within minutes of being opened. The wrappers are soon discovered by employees who weren't around when the package came in the mail, and they can do nothing but sadly comment, "Wait, there was chocolate here? It's gone already?!" Such is the case with the new line of organic chocolate bars from Lake Champlain Chocolates.

With 10 chocolate bars and five varieties of bite-size squares, the line includes a flavor for nearly every occasion: Peruvian Dark, Cherries & Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Sea Salt & Almonds, Spicy Aztec, Crunchy Granola, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter and Creamy Coconut. The bars are packaged in vibrant designs, which will really grab customers' attention.

Peanut Butter was the first bar I targeted, and I was not disappointed. Made with creamy organic peanut butter, the result is a powerful taste that melts in your mouth and is near impossible not to enjoy. Peanut butter and chocolate is a pretty unbeatable combo, and this particular bar would be right up there with the tastiest I've ever experienced. Best in Show!

I wasn't sure what to expect from Crunchy Granola, but I was instantly surprised (and pleasantly so) with the trace of cinnamon. The bits of oats and raisins combined well, and I happily welcomed this new chocolate flavor combination to my chocolate-eating repertoire. I was for some reason taken aback by the creaminess of the Creamy Coconut bar - even though it was clearly stated in the name. Pairing that flavor burst with dark chocolate was highly agreeable. There was no chance I wasn't going to like Sea Salt & Almonds - I love almonds and chocolate almost as much as peanut butter, and I really enjoyed the extra something that sea salt added to the overall impression.

All in all, this is a great new line of chocolates from a Vermont-based company that's been producing quality treats since 1983. Not to mention the fact that all of their products will be made with fair trade certified chocolate by 2014. Do your taste buds a favor and head on over to their website to pick some up for your store, or for yourself.

-Marc Kozak (mkozak@talcott.com)

Peanut Butter-Salmonella Update

As you may be aware, a growing number of peanut butter manufacturers are recalling their products in connection with a salmonella outbreak. What follows is an update from the National Confectioners Association regarding candies and confections containing peanut butter. (Reproduced verbatim.)
-Stephanie

Confectionery Industry Reacts to Recent Salmonella Outbreak in Peanut Butter Containing Products
Provides Consumers Convenient Chart to Help Identify Products Free of Contamination

Vienna, VA – In response to an investigation into a recent outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to peanut butter and peanut paste, the National Confectioners Association has developed a table for consumers to check the status of their favorite confectionery products. The contamination has been linked to the Peanut Corporation of America whose products are sold and used within a variety of industries. While some confectionery manufacturers, especially makers of health and nutrition bars, do purchase from the source, the majority of peanut, peanut butter and peanut paste containing candies are safe for consumption at this time.

The FDA is keeping a comprehensive list of the products recalled that are not safe for consumption on its Web site, while NCA’s table lists products containing peanut butter that are safe to eat. More than 90 percent of commercially available candy products using peanut butter as an ingredient are free from contamination.

“The manufacture of products that are safe and wholesome is the number one concern of every confectionery company,” said NCA President Larry Graham. “On the very rare occasions that ingredients become a health concern on any level, the industry reacts quickly and in the best interests of its consumers. In this instance, we have worked closely with officials at the Food and Drug Administration to understand the problem, have disseminated information to thousands of manufacturers and retailers and are working to keep consumers up-to-date on the safety of a variety of candy products.”

Graham added the chart available on its Web site will be continually updated until the issue is contained.

NCA also encourages consumers with questions about specific products to contact the manufacturer directly. “Our members welcome calls from consumers who have questions about the safety of their products,” said Graham. “As always, if there is a concern over the safety of any food product and an answer cannot be ascertained in an expedient manner, the recommended course of action is not to consume the product.”

The National Confectioners Association’s table of candy products safe for consumption can be found on its Web site at http://www.candyusa.org/Media/Hot/PeanutButter.asp. The latest information from the FDA about this important food safety matter is found at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html#consumers.

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA):
Founded in 1884 in Chicago by representatives of 69 confectionery manufacturing firms, the National Confectioners Association is one of the oldest, most respected trade associations in the world. Today NCA has more than 600 members and is the major association representing the entire confectionery industry, offering education and leadership in manufacturing, technical research, public relations, retailing practices, government relations and statistical analyses. NCA fosters industry growth by advancing and promoting the interests of the confectionery industry, its customers and its consumers.

For Immediate Release: January 22, 2009
Contact: Susan Smith, susan.smith@CandyUSA.com, (703) 790-5750

Editor's Choice: Naturally More

Like many people, I try to eat healthy, but I have to admit “taste” usually trumps “good for you.” That’s why, when the sample jar of Naturally More arrived in the mail, I was interested. I read that it was peanut butter fortified with flax seed, flax seed oil and other nutrients. Since I have been spreading peanut butter on my “healthy” morning bagel anyway, I decided to take it home and give it a try. I stirred it up as directed and put in the refrigerator. Next morning was the try-out -- again, remembering it was good for me. Imagine my pleasant surprise to see how easily it spread on the bagel. One of the ingredients is egg whites, which may that has something to do with it. So far so good. Then the first taste -- another pleasant surprise. It has a creamy texture, not at all gritty, and a good peanut flavor. I guess all the good Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids it contains don’t affect the taste.

I bet this would be good on all kinds of toasted breads, on waffles, on a variety of crackers, and, of course, as part of a P & J sandwich. It is also shown as an alternative to cream cheese for filling traditional celery stick appetizers.
As I said, something good for you that tastes good.

Naturally More is made in the U.S. by SNACLite LLC (www.peanutsnack.com)

-Barbara