Happy Friday!

Good morning to all of you! We've had a busy week at BSNB...we started off the week by Troy and I participating in a relay at the Pittsburgh Marathon.  What a great experience!  We ran and raised money for Autism Awareness on our friend Stephen's team.  Instead of each doing a separate leg of the relay, we ran together for the last 11 miles and crossed the finish line together.  It was an amazing experience!  We already love Pittsburgh and the crowds along the marathon route just reminded us of why.  We spent the day before the marathon and the day after exploring Moraine State Park and McConnell's Mill State Park and came back home refreshed and ready to get back to the nut butters!

But, before we left, I was happy to be a part of A&A Village Treasure's 3rd Anniversary at Gettysburg's First Friday.  Anthony and Amado sure know how to throw a party and everyone leaves there feeling like family.  I made some special treats for the celebration...Pecan Turtle Cheesecake Dip (equal parts cream cheese and pecan turtle peanut butter with a bit of raw sugar added), 3 ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Bars, and the hit of the night, Nutty Chai Shrimp.  They were all super easy to make and serve and showed different ways to use our nut butters.

The Nutty Chai shrimp was super easy...I sauteed a bit of fresh diced garlic with butter, added the fresh shrimp to it and cooked it through.  Once that was done, I added a heaping tablespoon of Nutty Chai and a splash of sherry.  It was really that simple.  If you wanted to make more of a meal out of it, you could add some cream to make a bisque.  I love to play things by ear and figure out what works best, so feel free to give it a try!

Tonight I'm headed to Zest! in Lititz, PA to celebrate Second Fridays in Lititz so hopefully I'll see some of you there!

Restarting again...

So many people have asked me to start posting to the blog again that I will do my very best to keep up!!  I want to have a dedicated place for sharing our recipes so it will be great if I can!  I'm making some favorites of ours tonight to share with friends tomorrow at A&A Village Treasures in Gettysburg, PA.  Sea Salt Caramel PB Cookies.  YUM!  And Pecan Turtle Cheesecake Fluff...Another YUM!  And then I am going to try my hand at a savory combo of our new Nutty Chai flavor and Shrimp.  Stay tuned...

As always, thank you for being the most awesome customers out there!  I appreciate all of the support you give all the time!

-Sheri

Comparing Labels

A lot of talk lately has centered around nutrition labels...making them easier to understand, more applicable to the way people eat, etc, etc.  Do we really need to have this?  The single most important thing on a nutrition label can't be manipulated or changed - the ingredient list.  It's that simple.  Junk into your body = lousy nutrition.  I mean, a piece of fruit has sugar and so does a piece of chocolate but nutritionally, your body processes it different.  No label can account for that. 

Being a food manufacturer, I have a strong sense of responsibility to provide food that tastes good but also is a food I would be okay putting in my body.  It is so frustrating reading a "natural" label, or people asking me if we make a calorie free peanut butter.  Just think about that.  Calorie free peanut butter.  That is not possible.  Food has calories.  It's supposed to.  It is how our bodies work.  The problem is that food is no longer food.  And people consume it in much larger quantities than our bodies were designed to need.  There is no simple answer but rather a lifestyle overhaul to make us healthy.  Starving our bodies and feeding onchemicals will NOT make you healthy.  Maybe you'll lose weight but is that the overall goal for our lives?  Living a healthy life full of energy is way more important to me.

Just to illustrate what I mean, here's an example of two labels.

First one:
Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon
Calories: 60
Sodium: 35 mg
Fat: 3 g

Carbohydrates: 8g; Sugar: 8g
Protein: 2 g

Next one:
Serving Size: 1 oz (about 2 Tablespoons)
Calories: 131
Sodium: 2 mg
Fat: 9g
Carbohydrates: 5g: Fiber 2 g, Sugar 3g
Protein: 4g

So far, which would you eat?  Does the label really tell you all that you need to know?

Now for the ingredients:

First one:
Peanuts, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Water, Tapioca Starch, Dextrose, Hydrogenated Rapeseed/Cottonseed Oil, Contains 2% or less of the following: Egg Whites, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Carboxmethyl, Cellulose, Tartaric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Heliotrophine, Hydrochloric Acid, Sodium Benzoate

Second one:
Peanuts, Pecans, Raw Muscavado Sugar, Ghee

Did that help any more?  Which do you think says "Homemade" on the label?  Would it surprise you to know that it's not the 2nd one?  It is homemade but it doesn't need to try and fool you. 

I won't tell you what the first one is...but I will tell you it is sold as an Amish Homemade Peanut Butter.  Seriously.  What in that ingredient list says homemade to you?  Is it the Propylene Glycol?  Is it the Sodium Carboxmethyl? The Hydrochloric Acid maybe?  I hope you get the idea.  I would have no idea where to get those things or why I'd even want them in my food.  Is your peanut butter being free flowing that important to you?

I will say that the second one is our Butter Pecan nut butter and it is spreadable and wonderfully tasty and beyond all of that is is FOOD.  All food.  Real and wonderful and calorie and fat laden.  Now, I am not saying that eating a diet full of fat is okay.  It's not.  We have a resposibility to our bodies to nourish them in healthy ways.  But I am saying that a typical diet of processed, quick, fast crap is not the way. 

Bird Seed Cookies

To celebrate the debut of our new nutbutter, Birds & Bees, I made cookies for our demo today.  So many people loved it and said I should be selling those as well as the nutbutters!  I ran out of recipes so I'll share it here for anyone who'd like to try it. 

It's a great, chewy cookie and uses no flour!  Any nutbutter will work in this recipe as long as it's a natural one - no commercial nutbutter goop!  ;-) 

Bird Seed Cookies

Makes 4 dozen

Ingredients:

·         ½ c Birds & Bees Peanut Butter

·         ½ c Birds & Bees Almond & Cashew Butter

·         ¾ c packed brown sugar

·         1 egg

·         1 ripe banana mashed

·         2 ½ c oats

·         1 t baking soda

Directions

1.       Cream nut butters and sugar and add egg and banana, incorporate well.

2.       Add oats and baking soda to nut butter mixture, mix well.

3.       Drop by teaspoonful on greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. 

Sea Salt Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

Happy National Peanut Butter day!  What a great idea for a day...right?  I mean, peanut butter is pretty much the nectar of life around here at Blind Spot Nutbutters so any reason to further celebrate it is something I'll get behind! 

Anyway, how to celebrate..?  Cookies of course!  I love cookies and so it's one of my favorite go-to desserts.  Well, second to ice cream. And maybe cake.  Okay, so I love all desserts.  ;-)  Who doesn't? 

So here's what I came up with..just to share with all of you! 

These cookies had a great texture...nice and chewy but still with a bit of a crisp on the outside.  Hungry yet?  Well, here's the recipe...

Ingredients

    1 cup sugar

    1 cup Blind Spot Nutbutters Sea Salt Caramel (or your favorite flavor!)

    2 large eggs

    2 tablespoons milk

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1 cup All Purpose Flour

    1 teaspoon baking powder

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats

Directions

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large mixing bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; stir in rolled oats. Add to peanut butter mixture and beat on low speed until well blended. Cover and chill 30 minutes.

    Drop by heaping tablespoonful, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown around edges. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

I adapted this from a recipe I found online a long time ago.  I love the crunch of salt that is in each cookie from the Sea Salt.  It's a great combo!

I am thinking this cookie may make an appearance on a demo table soon...

Prep Time:	20 min
Cook Time:	12 min
Yield:	4 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup Smucker's® Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup flaked coconut

Directions

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large mixing bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; stir in rolled oats and coconut. Add to peanut butter mixture and beat on low speed until well blended. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
2. Drop by heaping tablespoonful, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown around edges. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
3. VARIATION:
4. JUMBO CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES: Prepare dough as directed above. Drop by 1/4-cupfuls, 3 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until light brown around edges. Makes 1 1/2 dozen.

- See more at: http://www.smuckersnaturalpeanutbutter.com/recipes/dessert/45#sthash.dMttQ6aT.dpuf

Prep Time:	20 min
Cook Time:	12 min
Yield:	4 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup Smucker's® Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup flaked coconut

Directions

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large mixing bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; stir in rolled oats and coconut. Add to peanut butter mixture and beat on low speed until well blended. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
2. Drop by heaping tablespoonful, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown around edges. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
3. VARIATION:
4. JUMBO CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES: Prepare dough as directed above. Drop by 1/4-cupfuls, 3 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until light brown around edges. Makes 1 1/2 dozen.

- See more at: http://www.smuckersnaturalpeanutbutter.com/recipes/dessert/45#sthash.dMttQ6aT.dpuf

Prep Time:	20 min
Cook Time:	12 min
Yield:	4 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup Smucker's® Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup flaked coconut

Directions

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large mixing bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; stir in rolled oats and coconut. Add to peanut butter mixture and beat on low speed until well blended. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
2. Drop by heaping tablespoonful, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown around edges. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
3. VARIATION:
4. JUMBO CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES: Prepare dough as directed above. Drop by 1/4-cupfuls, 3 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until light brown around edges. Makes 1 1/2 dozen.

- See more at: http://www.smuckersnaturalpeanutbutter.com/recipes/dessert/45#sthash.dMttQ6aT.dpuf

Lotta Latte Fudge

People go crazy for this fudge. Seriously, they do.  I have taken it to several tastings and it is crazy how much they love it.  I think that because the Lotta Latte is a denser nut butter it makes it easy to translate into a super creamy fudge.  Seriously, all I add is a bit of powdered sugar, some almond milk and voila it's a fudge.  :) 

I have some tasty treats ahead to share that I use in my demos of the nutbutters as well as using recipes for our every day. 

But in the meantime...make some fudge!  Now that Lotta Latte is ending it's run as a flavor for us, you better find a jar if you can! 

Out with 2013...bring on 2014

Looking back over all that's happened and changed in my life in 2013 and it's hard to believe that it's literally only been 12 months.  I mean, in 12 months our household has experienced our daughter getting married and us gaining a son in law, welcoming my precious grandbaby into our family, our son graduating high school and moving 3+ hours away for college, hubby leaving work to be home because of his disability, starting a new business while still maintaining the child care, losing some good friends but then gaining some awesome friends who I am thankful for and then just some assorted trials and tribulations along the way. 

Yes, it has been a year to remember that's for sure.

Thirteen things I've learned in 2013

1.  No matter what, be thankful.  Someone somewhere would be thankful to be facing the problems in your life you are, and if you live that way, you'll always look for the light not the darkness.  I try.  Really try. 

2.  Tomorrow is always a new day, even when you're crying all the way into it.  Frustration and fear can take a hold so easily, but there's always a new day and it's okay.  You'll be okay.  Everything looks better in the morning.

3.  Plans are not set in concrete. I'm a planner and in my head, I'm always making that plan and this year has taken my plans, balled them up into a piece of paper and tossed them out the window of a moving car.  But I'm still here and I'm still joyful to be living this life every day.  God's plan is far more important than mine.  I just wish sometimes he'd let me know what it is. 

4.  Family is family.  I've spent a lot of time of effort trying to fit in or make them fit and at the end of the day, I am just thankful to have them.  I love my crazy family and I know not everyone will always fit in the way you want or expect but when you embrace them all the way for who they are, that's when the magic happens.  That's love. 

5. Growth and change hurts.  It sucks.  Plain and simple.  But it's part of the process.  I hate it.  There are times when I'd give just about anything for Troy's sight to be restored, our life to be boring and predictable again and just to keep going on with how life was before.  But then, I wouldn't have made so many new friends and contacts this year and him and I wouldn't be building something together that could really be a great venture.  I hate that his disability brought us to this point but I am trying to keep embracing the change for what it is and work through all the hurt that goes with it. 

6. A clean house is overrated.  Those who know me best are going to be shocked, but this is a sincere statement.  My life has been such chaos that at times this year my house was a wreck and there was not one thing I could do about it.  And I learned that it's okay.  It really is.  The world does not stop if a pan sits in the sink overnight.  My life contains so many more precious moments than to waste another one worrying about something trivial like that. 

7.  Crying is necessary.  I have cried so much this year.  It's awful but I don't think I'd be sane if I hadn't cried.  Tears over losing a friend, tears over my daughter's wedding, tears over the emotion of gaining a granddaughter, leaving my son at college or just feeling overwhelmed and not knowing what else to do.  It's like my pressure valve and I tend to do it pretty easily these days.

8. People are put in your life at the time when you need them.  This one really doesn't need a lot of explanation I don't think.  Looking back over my year I realize that I always had the right people by my side at just the right moments when I needed them.  My sole sisters Rachel and Michele have been amazing listeners and logging miles with them has made for some awesome 2013 moments. 

9. Grandchildren are amazing.  Harper has been the greatest gift in my life next to my own children.  I feel so much love for her and being a grandma is an amazing experience.  I feel privileged to know her and be a part of her life and I can't wait for all the little moments to come.  It's made me appreciate all of the grandmas in my life.

10.  Do everything you can right now, don't put it off for someday.  I'm trying to cram all of the experiences we can into each moment as Troy is losing his sight and I want him to see all of the somedays now.  Yes, money is tight, and we probably could do more saving but right now is about doing.  You really never know what the future holds and sometimes you just need to go for it.  Those are the things you won't regret.  Memories made that carry you.  We rarely took vacations or trips and this year I have changed that.  I know it was the right choice.  Cram as much memory making into your life as you can.

11. Fight the fear.  I've been afraid a lot this year of making the wrong choices or disappointing people or just of making change and I'm learning to face it head on and battle the fear.  I might make a wrong choice, disappoint someone or have to change but being there for my family and doing what needs to be done is far more important to me these days. 

12. Be open. Be ready. Be willing.  Three big lessons. I'm working on it and I'll get there. 

13.  Take nothing for granted.  Every let down, every frustration and every heart ache brings you to the place where you can put all of the thankfulness, praise, joy and love into the right places in your life.  Every single second of every day has a purpose and a place and don't discount it. 

Well, those are my 2013 lessons. I know that these don't apply to everyone but I hope that through all of our struggles, joy and growth we've been able to be friends, family and a business that was a help to the people around us.  I'm so thankful for all of the people in my life and I love you all.

Sheri