Local Lisa

Salsa Lisa began making salsa out of her kitchen during college, when her crop of tomatoes was taking over her yard and kitchen. Lisa began creating salsa in large batches and giving it away to friends. Salsa Lisa was born and Lisa  Nicholson started selling her product at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. Demand grew, and before she knew it, Salsa Lisa was being sold in 16 states!

Salsa Lisa currently sells six varieties of her salsa from Mild to Tomatillo & Green Chile Authentic Green Salsa to Pineapple Ginger Sweet and Savory.

Salsa Lisa is sold in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.  I think having the salsa in the refrigerator makes a big difference. Salsa Lisa tastes fresh and the vegetables feel crisp when it sits on your chip! I tried the Medium flavor, and it seemed to have the perfect balance of “heat.” This salsa was $4.19 for 15 ounces and comes in a new plastic recyclable square container.

 

Nutty Butter Peanut Butter

There is peanut butter, and there is peanut butter. No need for anything artificial when enjoying the good taste of real peanut butter! Parker Farms All Natural Peanut Butter has all of the good stuff without any preservatives. The peanut butter is also without trans fats, hydrogenated oils and low in sodium.

The peanut butter is made in Coon Rapids at the Parkers Farm company which began in 1977. The company produced cold pack cheese, and later expanded their products to include peanut butter. The ingredients are all natural and need to be kept in the refrigerator. Parker Farms also produces salsas and spreads which can be found in the refrigerated section.

Salad Days!

Salads can get boring with the same old lettuce and toppings but Jim and Pam Powell have changed that! Pam worked in the past as a personal chef and was always creating salads. She often created home made vinaigrettes using the fruits and herbs of the season. In 2007 she and her husband teamed up to create small batch fresh, organic and natural salad dressings to be sold at the Mill City Farmer's Market. They have been so successful, that are now sold around the Twin Cities.

The flavors they offer are Pomegranate Pear, Crisp Apple Maple, Blueberry Basil and Curry and Fig. In addition, they also have added fruit and nut toppings for the perfect salad accompaniments.

They can be found regularly at the Mill City Farmers Market, Kowalski's Markets, Whole Foods, as well as other natural stores in the metro area.

Nut Goodieness!

Minnesota is famous for many things, but Nut Goodie bars have to be one of the best! Manufactured by Pearson's Candy company in St. Paul, the candy bar was invented in 1912. It helped put the Pearson company on the map in the candy world, and the Salted Nut Roll, Mint Patty and Bun bars all followed. The Pearson family sold the company in the 1960's and the company changed hands a few other times. In 1985 however, a few Pearson's employees bought the company with the goal of returning the Pearson's products back with their original quality. The original recipe of the Nut Goodie and the wrapper were in use again!

The Nut Goodie bar is not a beautiful bar. It tends to look like a big lump of chocolate and nuts. The filling is maple flavored and has a nice creamy consistency. The maple filling compliments the crunch of the nuts. The chocolate has a nice smooth flavor, and is just the right coating for this treat. The packaging is styled like the original back in 1912. It has a nice nostalgic feel.

The Nut Goodie is hard to find outside of Minnesota. Many former Minnesotans find that the Nut Goodie cravings are difficult to satisfy due to a limited distribution outside of our state.

Pearson's Candy Company will be 100 years old next year. Have a Nut Goodie Bar to celebrate!

Local Popper

Angie's Kettle Corn out of North Mankato, Minnesota has to be one of the best products at your local grocery store. Now we can all enjoy the flavors of kettle corn without going to an outdoor festival!

Angie's uses no preservatives, trans fats, or cholesterol in the product. The result is a perfect balance of salt and sweet.

According to the Star Tribune, Angie and Dan Bastian started selling Kettle Corn at fairs in 2001. They live near the Minnesota Vikings training camp in Mankato Minnesota, and started giving it away to team members. The kettle corn was a hit, and they became a corporate team sponsor.

Eventually, they found their way in to the Byerly's Grocery Store chain, and now they can be found on the shelves of 50 twin cities metro area and Mankato area stores. Supermarket sales account for 80 percent of their revenue.

What a fantastic local product! My bag was on sale for $3.99. When I opened it the popcorn was perfectly crunchy as if it had been made at the fair this morning! Not only does Angie's Kettle Corn taste great, it is a healthier snack choice!

Workout Cereal?

General Mills has introduced a new cereal named after a chain of workout facilities. I have to admit the name did not draw me in. However, after tasting the bumpy flakes, I was converted.

The whole grain cereal is a lot like "Wheaties" with small little "Special K" nuggets embedded inside. The cereal has just the right amount of sweetness without any of the artificial sweeteners I try to avoid.

One serving of "Curves Whole Grain Crunch Cereal" is 3/4 cup and has 100 calories , 0.5 grams of total fat, 2 grams of protein and 22 grams of total carbohydrates which includes 8% of the daily requirement of fiber (2 grams) and 4 grams of sugars. They advertise that the cereal has 16 grams of whole grain. Whole grain is a great weight loss tool. (Good for you and makes you feel full!)

The serving size is quite small. When I eat a bowl of cereal, it has quite a bit more than 3/4 of a cup. The cereal costs a little over $3.00 and also comes in a "Honey Crunch" flavor. The "Curves" product line also includes two flavors of granola bars, "Chocolate Peanut" and "Strawberries and Cream. "

The back of the box if full of motivational messages about exercise and the side panel even gives calories used per hour for fourteen activities. If these motivate people to get up off the couch and exercise, then I guess this is a good addition to the standard box information. I would definitely buy this cereal again. I could end up snacking on this cereal quite often and not feel very guilty!

Abdallah Candies

I have always wondered about this company when I spot their treats in Byerly's grocery stores! I finally have investigated the Abdallah Candy company, and did not know that it was a local treasure!

Since 1909 the Abdallah family has been making candy in small batches for sale in our State and beyond. The company had it's beginnings at the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, and the company really grew in Albert Abdallah's candy kitchen basement.

Despite declaring bankruptcy during the Depression in 1935, and a fire in 1965 as a result of an explosion, the company continues to put out a quality product made in small batches.

I really enjoy some of their seasonal products. I found a Halloween Peanut "Grizzly" at the General Store in Minnetonka. The candy is fresh and clearly made from quality ingredients. Whole fresh and crispy peanuts form the base, and a generous mound of gooey caramel fills the second layer. Next, a stiffer form of chocolate gives the "Grizzly" some structure. Finally a cute little sugar disc in the form of a pumpkin gives the "Grizzly" a little seasonal appeal. I would compare this to a turtle, but with peanuts instead of pecans. It is priced at a high $2.95, but I can tell this was made with care and fresh ingredients. I would definitely buy one again.