Real Black Licorice
Black licorice tends to elicit strong opinions with most people falling into either the “love it” or “leave it” categories. For those who love it and for the few who are still on the fence, consider trying licorice made by Lakritsfabriken (“the licorice maker”) – a Swedish company committed to redefining what real licorice candy should taste like. Read more 
Mystic Knotwork Bracelets
The nautical look is a style that seems to be timeless whether it’s the quintessential French sailor’s shirt or the American nautical rope bracelet. Back in the early 80’s, I remember purchasing my first Breton red and white stripe long sleeve sailor shirt for $26 in Newport, Rhode Island along with a white nautical rope bracelet that I wore on my wrist for most of the summer until sand and dirt mixed with water (and probably spilled beer) pushed it into retirement. The preppy look reigned at the time and although briefly threatened by the flash of disco fashions, the nautical look persevered and is enjoying a resurgence in popularity today. Read more
Vivi Chocolate
What Love Tastes Like…Simply Chocolate
Back in 2006, Barbara Yeager was in an herbal apothecary store in Seattle, Washington when she noticed a jar of cacao nibs (cacao beans that have been roasted at a low temperature, separated from their husks, and broken into tiny pieces). After she tasted the nibs, she understood why people are really into chocolate: because cacao nibs taste like chocolate without the sweetness. It was love at first bite. Read more
Vermatzah
Vermatzah: Sustenance For The Body; Fuel For The Soul
There is matzah and there is Vermatzah: a round handmade wood-fired alternative to the mass-produced boxes of square-shaped matzah on store shelves. Made in Vermont by Naga Bakehouse – a small, village bakery perched on a rock edge in Middletown Springs where savory whole grain artisan breads are baked in a wood-fired oven for folks who care about good food.
Once a year in the weeks leading up to the Jewish holiday of Passover, Naga Bakehouse starts turning out Vermatzah: the best tasting matzah on the market. Crispy, flavorful, and delicious describe this very large cracker. Read more
Artifact Bag Company Aprons
Most aprons are stylish or cute but don’t provide the four practical attributes a baker really needs: fit, coverage, a few pockets, and durability. Artifact Bag Company of Omaha, Nebraska hand makes a heavy-duty apron that meets all those criteria and is nice on the eyes. Read more
Righteously Raw™ Chocolate Bars
Righteously Raw™ is at the forefront of a chocolate evolution – one in which chocolate bars are valued for taste and nutritional qualities – two attributes not often considered together to describe the “food of the gods.” Using raw organic cocoa (rich in antioxidants) and naturally occurring sweeteners and fruits (agave nectar, coconut sugar, coconut nectar, dates, figs and raisins), Righteously Raw™ provides a rich healthy alternative to traditional processed chocolate bars.
Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Baker
Baking is a passion and since Valentine’s Day is all about love, enthusiasm, and devotion, why not consider a gift this year that expresses the same sentiment but in a different way to those who rely on the oven to work their magic? Bakers put a lot of effort into having the right tools, bowls, pans, and appliances to bring their creations to fruition but with the constant introduction of new products, there’s always something a baker needs (as opposed to wants), including: Read more
Shotwell Candy Co. Caramels
Most caramel makers don’t try twelve different butters (before deciding which one to use) or heat pure cane sugar to temperatures above 320 degrees to create an authentic caramel flavor but Shotwell Candy Co. does. One bite into a buttery rich, creamy and chewy Shotwell caramel and you’re hooked, destined to become a member of a small group of friendly but committed caramel snobs who really can taste the difference between a caramel made the old-fashioned way (by hand) with high quality ingredients and the commercially made caramels made with artificial flavors. Read more
Somersaults®
Most people think somersaults are for the young, but a healthy new snack food called Somersaults® is for anyone who has come full circle and now wants a nutrient-dense delicious crunchy snack for themselves and their families. Made primarily of sunflower seeds and toasted grains, Somersaults® come in five flavors:
- Original Pacific Sea Salt
- Dutch Cocoa
- Cinnamon Crunch
- Salty Pepper
- Santa Fe Salsa
That’s It® Fruit Bars
Nature knows best. ~Mother Nature
For those who want all the taste and nutrition of fruit but don’t have easy access to an apple, banana, pear, strawberries, cherries, apricots, blueberries, or pineapple – or find transporting fresh fruit difficult – consider a That’s It® bar: a product made of natural, non-GMO fruit and nothing else. Just two fruits in each bar; that’s it, really. Read more
Paddock Post 