I came across Mindy's Kountry Delights on a list of locally made products. The cottage food business is based in St. Albans and features a variety of sweets like baked goods, candies, jellies, jams and other snacks. I found her on Facebook and asked to place an order.
She makes a little bit of everything, so I just let her know what kinds of things I like - milk chocolate, caramel, etc., and asked her to make up a platter for me. And, she did just that. She delivered it to my door (contactless!) and it was full of milk chocolates, soft caramels, chocolate-covered peanut butter balls and these O'Henry bars that have peanut butter and chocolate and like oats? Just delishhh.
If you haven't checked out her tasty treats, give her a try!
Appalachian Beekeeping Collective is:
"We are a nonprofit organization that trains, supports, and provides bees and equipment at no cost to partner beekeepers in economically distressed Appalachian communities.
We help our partners produce natural honey (and income) in the “greenest” possible way. Our bees gather pollen and nectar from nearby forests and fields, not agricultural crops sprayed with pesticides. ABC partners practice natural beekeeping, using no synthetic chemicals or antibiotics."
I was so excited to receive a sample in the mail to try. What an incredible mission and concept. I love local food AND creating an industry that's sustainable. Check out how they do it and the impact they make.
Go check out how cool it is to learn about the beekeepers producing the honey!
The Appalachian Beekeeping Collective is a project of Appalachian Headwaters, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Headwaters’ primary focus is on ecological restoration and environmental education. Headwaters creates and supports a wide range of environmental programs in addition to the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective.
OK - but how is it? It's absolutely lovely! I've taken to using honey in tons of stuff - biscuits, sauces and more. This evening, it made for the perfect topping on a spicy chicken biscuit. Mmmm Mmm. Try some and support an amazing initiative.
You're probably familiar with Girl Scout Cookies in the spring ... but did you know they sell fall products, as well? And, you know how good the cookies are ... so just think about how delicious these candies and nuts are!
They sell things like:
Birthday Party Mix
Chocolate Almonds
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Covered Raisins
Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt Cashews
Cranberry Trail Mix
Dark Chocolate Mint Trefoils
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels
Dulce Daisies
English Butter Toffee
Fruit Slices
GORP Trail Mix - 28oz Jar
Honey BBQ Snack Mix
Honey Roasted Peanuts
Mint Trefoils Tin
Peanut Butter Monkeys
Pecan Supremes Box
Peppermint Bark Round
Spicy Cajun Mix
Whole Cashews
So, of course I had to try a whole bunch! Just like cookies, there are two main suppliers. So the folks outside this region have a different supplier who has slightly different products, like:
Dulce Owls
Fresh, milky caramel surrounded by smooth milk chocolate.
Fruit Slices
Fat free! Chewy fruit slices in an assortment of flavors.
Peanut Butter Bears
Milk chocolate bears with a smooth peanut butter filling.
Hot Cajun Crunch
Cajun corn sticks, seasoned peanuts, pretzels and sesame sticks.
Chocolate Covered Raisins
The plumpest raisins covered in smooth milk chocolate.
Cranberry Trail Mix
A tasty mix of peanuts, raisins, cranberries, cashews, banana chips, almonds and walnuts.
Dark Chocolate Caramel Caps with Sea Salt
Dark chocolate covered caramel topped with sea salt.
English Butter Toffee
Crunchy handcrafted toffee drenched in milk chocolate.
Deluxe Pecan Clusters
Roasted pecans covered in caramel and milk chocolate.
Chocolate Covered Almonds
Crunchy almonds covered in milk chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Mint Penguins
Rich dark chocolate penguins bursting with frosted mint.
Cashews with Sea Salt
A classic favorite roasted and salted with sea salt.
Peanut Butter Trail Mix
Peanuts, peanut butter gems, peanut butter mini cups, mini pretzels and cashews.
Girl Scout Tin with Mint Treasures
Creamy milk chocolate with a refreshing mint-filled center.
Holiday Tin with Caramel Treasures
Creamy caramel centers covered in smooth milk chocolate. < >
I used a combination of both the nuts and candies to make a nice snack spread for Thanksgiving. Tasty!
Look how cute these products are! Appalachian Huntsman has created some chili mix, steak & brisket dust, and pork & rib rub. I haven't had a chance to try these yet, but I knew I needed to have them. Because of these adorable illustrations - from my fav cryptid artist Liz Pavlovic.
Have you tried these yet?! I can't wait.
If I could afford it, my regular diet every day would be a charcuterie board. I love snacking, and cheese may be my favorite food group. Paired with fruit, pickles, and other fun nibbles, it's perfection on a plate - or board.
I just learned of KSBoards in Charleston and put in an order as soon as I could. I ordered a small munch box, which included meats, cheeses, spreads and fruit. There are a few different options - like brunch or other snack trays - but this one had me written all over it. And look how cute the little utensils are!
Ordering was super easy - simply go to the Facebook page, open the Google form, select what you want, receive an invoice then pay! They even did free contactless delivery - which was perfect.
The Bonne Maman preserves were delish, plus there were crackers, salamis, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, a creamy spread, these cute leaf cheeses and more cheese, olives, pickles, nuts and chocolates! It was so, sooo good. What's your favorite addition to a charcuterie board?
Ray's Rub is a new seasoning blend located in Morgantown that I've been wanting to try. Why this one? Well, it's an all-purpose seasoning blend - meaning it works on beef, pork, turkey, chicken... and the list goes on.
I got lucky and won some on an Instagram contest - 6 to be exact! So, they made perfect little presents for my boyfriend, friends and parents. So, we could all try a little bit.
And - so far, so good! I've used it to season ground beef - and it added some nice flavor! And, maybe, just maybe, it might make an appearance on my Thanksgiving turkey. We shall see. But if you, like me, appreciate an all-in-one, versatile spice that punches up the flavor of everything just a bit - give it a try.
I was so excited to receive my J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile box today that I wanted to share it asap! I've already devoured these sweet potato chips and have my candle burning as I type this!
Y'all. I've been trying to write this blog post for a few days now, but I literally cannot. stop. eating. this. chex mix.
Buckle's Cocktail Snacks is a brand-new product with an age-old recipe. This spicy, salty, crunchy mix from Tyler Jordan combines pretzels, cereal balls, corn chips, whole grain circles, rendered bacon fat, accent salt, celery salt, garlic salt, worcestershire sauce and tobasco to create an addicting snack.
Many folks have a little spin on their own homemade chex mix, but Tyler's recipe originated with his grandmother who passed away a decade ago. Her recipe was legendary in the community, and Tyler has mastered it. Now, he has put his own twist on it and is adding additional flavors, too.
"When I learned how to make it years ago with my grandma, I didn’t use measurements. I go off of culinary instinct. I know what the sauce is supposed to look, smell and taste like. However, I’m working on creating exact recipes, potentially for a Medium, Spicy and Spicy BBQ," he said.
Tyler was kind enough to not only bring some of the "Original" by for me to try out, but to also share with you all. Head over to his Etsy Store and use the code "CANDACEFOODWV" to get 10% off your order! (No, I don't get a cut of this, but yes I did get to sample for free - and I want to share with you!)
You can also get it at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Work and Peace, Love and Little Donuts in Charleston.
And, if you take a close look at the label, you'll see that culinary genius runs in the family. This mix is made in a cottage kitchen by Hernshaw Farms - the folks bringing us delicious mushrooms grown on reclaimed mine land.
It's my favorite time of the month! Appalachian Mercantile Box day! I love all the little goodies each month. I'm excited to try those chips and salsa for a snack later, and those chopsticks came in handy for my delivery sushi last night! What's your favorite?
Any time there is a new coffee roaster in West Virginia, I am excited to check them out. The same goes for the West Virginia Coffee Company.
"We are the West Virginia Coffee Company. We are a small company that focuses on roasting the best Arabica coffee beans, freshly to order. Your coffee will be roasted, and packaged (ground or whole) in a sealed foil bag with a fresh-lock valve, and promptly shipped, priority-class mail, so that you get the freshest coffee possible."
Not only do I love this name - simple, iconic, straight to the point - but this coffee is delish. And, this is just one of their varieties. But, it's the perfect way to wake up.
I've mentioned before that my favorite thing to receive in the mail is my JQ Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile Box. And, I love to give you all a sneak peek at some of the goodies I receive. Is anyone else loving these as much as I am?!
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