 The Papa Ben's Brittle Story
This delicious, gourmet peanut brittle was created over 60 years ago in a small kitchen in Decatur, Indiana by Papa Ben Eichenauer. Having a limited income with 3 young children, Papa Ben wanted to make simple holiday presents for family and friends, and so he created the tradition of making batches of peanut brittle. He passed the recipe down to his son John who has been keeping the family tradition alive for the past 35 years.
It's Only Natural Gifts approached Papa Ben's recently and inquired about the possibility of making the recipe 100% organic and owners John and Fran were pleased to give it a try. The now amazing organic brittle is made with organic Valencia peanuts, organic sugar and organic corn syrup. Organic peanuts are the first ingredient with over 1.5 cups of peanuts in every pound! The dark skin on the peanuts and the molasses in the sugar give the brittle a deep, rich color and taste. Since the main ingredient is peanuts, the brittle makes a wholesome and delicious treat.
Without a doubt the new organic version is just as addictive and yummy as the original and it will be a highlight to any gift basket you send.
We make it a point to find out as much as possible about the suppliers of our products; how the business took root, why the people behind the company have a passion for what they do, and the nuts (no pun intended) and bolts of making their products.
We asked John and Fran about a bit about themselves: 
Q: Why was evolving the recipe to be 100% organic important to you?
A: We purchase organic food for our own consumption, so we naturally wanted to make our candy organic.
Q: What other culinary delights do you enjoy and like to make for yourselves?
A: John makes great chicken noodle soup and chili and Fran likes to make fruit pies with fresh organic fruit.
Q: What hobbies, work, interests, recreational activities do you have other then peanut brittle?
A: Both of us love to read novels. In the summer we enjoy camping and canoeing. For our 35th anniversary in 2009 we hope to return to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota for a week long canoe trip where we celebrated our 25th and 30th anniversaries. John enjoys long bike rides and Fran likes walking and NIA classes.
Q: Making a high quality and yummy sweet is a heartfelt business. Are there other ways in which you live your life that make this world a better place - volunteer, recycle, community activities, ride a bike instead of driving?
A: Since we live in downtown Boulder, we drive as little as possible. A year ago we bought a second hand Honda Civic Hybrid. John mainly uses his bike to get around town and Fran buys all of her clothes at second hand shops and thrift stores as a way of reusing and recycling. Fran was the director of a family resource center, and now plans on volunteering at a community preschool and at Boulder County Aging Services. John devotes a great deal of time to politics, trying to get progressive candidates into office.
We're honored to have added Papa Ben's to our repetoire. You'll find 1/2 pound packages of peanut brittle in the Naturally Colorado and Just Because gift sets (below), and is available to be added in every customized gift set.
|
