Sunday, January 31, 2010

Treats for a Winter Day

Saturday morning I woke up to a snow covered wonderland, the second big snow this winter. It has been many years since this has happened. Off to breakfast to warm up and enjoy the snow coming down. On a snowy day when it is cold out I like to enjoy waffles and hot cocoa for breakfast. It was one of those days on Saturday. I always have on hand Byrd Mill Raspberry Pancake and Waffle Mix to have with Puffenbarger Virginia Maple Syrup. Then it's time for a warm cup of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket while watching the snow come down. What a treat! After all the shoveling is done, another treat to enjoy is snacking on chocolate covered Virginia peanuts. What a way to end a magic day! Check all these great Virginia foods at www.thevirginiamarketplace.com

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

National Peanut Butter Day

Jan. 22 was National Peanut Butter Day. Check out our Peanut Shop of Williamsburg Natural Peanut Butter as well as other peanut butter products..Peanut Straws, Peanut Butter Pie, Peanut Butter Brownie Pie, Southern Truffles, Peanut Soup and Peanut Butter Petit Fours. There are other holidays associated with peanuts and peanut butter. National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day celebrates the "PB&J" sandwich. It is celebrated April 2. Novenber is National Peanut Butter Lover's Month, March is National Peanut Month, June 12 is National Peanut Butter Cookie Day, and September 13 is National Peanut Day.

Peanut butter was first created by blending together ground shelled peanuts, vegetable oil, salt. The peanuts are first shelled, then roasted and the skins removed. Then they are ground into a smooth butter spread. Peanut butter must be at least 90 percent peanuts with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives to officially be labelled peanut butter. It is sold as either "crunchy" or "smooth/creamy". It is popular in North America where it is used mainly as a sandwich spread, and a key ingredient in the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, as well as peanut flavored chocolate bars. Peanut butter may also be aded to desserts such as cakes and biscuits. In some types of peanut butter, chocolate, jelly or other ingredients may be added.

Health Benefits: Peanut Butter may protect against a high risk of cardiovascular disease due to high levels of monosaturated fats and resveratrol' butter prepared with the skin of the peanuts has a greater level of resveratrol and other health-aiding agents. Peanut butter (and peanuts) provide protein, vitamins B3 and E, magnesium, folate, dietary fiber, arginine, and high levels of the antioxidant p-coumaric acid.

Fun Facts About Peanut Butter:
Peanut Butter is the leading use of peanuts in the USA.
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
Peanut butter was first introduced to the USA in 1904 at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis by C.H. Sumner, who sold $705.11 of the "new treat" at his concession stand.
Peanut Butter is consumed in 89 percent of USA households.
Women and children prefer creamy; while most men opt for chunky.
People living on the East Coast prefer East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the chunky style.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.
The world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich was created in Oklahoma City,OK on Sept. 7, 2002 by the Oklahoma Peanut Commision and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. It weighed in at nearly 900 pounds and contained 350 pounds of peanut butter and 144 pounds of jelly.
The patent for peanut butter was awarded to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg in 1895.
Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter.
Americans eat enough peanut butter in a year to make more than 10 billion peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Americans eat 3 lbs. of peanut butter per person every year That's about 700 million pounds, or enough to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon.
The average American child eats 1500 peanut butter sandwiches by high school graduation.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

We're Back to Blogging

We want want to wish all our customers a Happy New Year and thank you for helping us have a successful holiday season. Thanks for your support of Virginia products! Now back to blogging. There will be many new gift baskets in the holiday and regular section of the VA Marketplace gift baskets this year. So far we've added Virginia Gourmet Treasures!, two versions of Let It Snow!, one with Blue Crab Bay Stingray Bloody Mary Mixer!, Winter at the Beach! and From the Heart! 5 new baskets that premiered this January. Click here to see all our gift baskets and stay tuned for more basket additions.

The Super Bowl is coming soon. Celebrate an American tradition withVirginia foods. What does Virginia have to offer in foods? Peanuts and the Super Bowl are a must...we have salted, unsalted, seasoned, sweet and chocolate. Appetizers and the Super Bowl are another must have...try Blue Crab Bay Seafood (crab, shrimp, and clam) dips or Ham and Cheddar together is a crowd pleaser. Crab Balls are an easy pick up food.

What party would be complete without dessert? Rowena's Double Treat has enough cake and curds for a large crowd or try her Baby Bundt sampler with small cakes that are easy to pick up. Try some brownies from Silverland Brownies...who doesn't love gooey pick up food. These and lots more ideas are in our Super Bowl Snacks section, so celebrate the Super Bowl with Virginia foods.