Brownie Pops Born in Kansas City to a family who never met a cookie it didn’t like, Marsha Pener Johnston learned early from her mother the fine art of baking. She went on to perfect her craft as a home economics major at Stephens College and later at Le Going door to door with a homemade, chocolate mousse pie, she landed restaurant accounts belonging to Richard Melman of Lettuce Entertain You and the Levy Brother’s chain of restaurants in the famous Watertower Place, to name a few. Thus, The Mousserie wholesale bakery was born, supplying Chicago’s finest restaurants with various flavors of mousse pies, chocolate cakes, carrot cakes, brownies and blondies. In Chicago, she once again taught cooking classes while continuing her education, studying with chefs such as Marcella Hazan, Nina Simonds, Nick Malgieri, Giuliano Bugiallis, Jim Dodge, and Colin Cowie. Three years and 40 restaurant accounts later, Marsha closed up shop and moved back to her hometown of Prairie Village, Kansas. A true love of American desserts followed her home and her new catering business became known for its luscious cakes, cookies and brownies. For the next two years, her labor of love was the pursuit of a perfectly moist and gooey brownie. After studying in Paris once again at Anne Willan’s famous La Varenne cooking school, she triumphantly came home with the perfect techniques to reach her goal. Now Marsha makes (and samples) Browniepops™, the perfect combination of a gooey brownie interior with a crisp chocolate exterior. Browniepops are available in 11 delicious flavors, including peppermint, toffee, Earlier this year, Browniepops were featured as Rachael's "Snack of the Day" on the Rachael Ray show. Browniepops are great for bridal shower favors, corporate events, gift giving, and are even available in personalized holiday and event designs! www.browniepops.com __________________________ Marley Coffee Earlier this year R The brainchild of long time friends Rohan Marley and Shane Whittle, the company is a labor of love and a tribute to Rohan's father, music legend Bob Marley. "My father came from the farmland in Nine Mile. There, he learned a deep respect for nature and humanity--respect that helped guide his life and ours. He said he would return to the farm one day. That was his dream," said Rohan. Bob Marley's dream has now become a reality and is very much alive in the company's core philosophy “ITAL”, meaning for all things Pure, True and Vital. ITAL is embodied in everything the company represents, from the ethical treatment of the company's farm workers on the Marley coffee farm to the sustainable cultivation of coffee trees. The Marley Estate sits atop of the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, a beloved region of the world especially for coffee lovers. Marley Coffee offers both single origin and intoxicating blended coffees.
Proceeds from the sale of the coffee will go to the Marley Coffee Foundation, which helps youth soccer programs in rural coffee growing regions of Jamaica. www.MarleyCoffee.com Café La Paz If
you don’t have an olla de barro (earthen pot) on hand, don’t
worry. You can still enjoy all the flavor and aroma of an authentic
Mexi Rich and delicious, an authentic Mexican café de olla is created by making coffee, pot-boiled in traditional earthenware pots, with cinnamon, cloves, and piloncillo sugar. While contemporary recipes may use dark brown sugar as a substitute for the traditional piloncillo, the historical recipe dates back to the 18th century where reports tell of thisbeloved coffee being served at funerals in remote Mexican villages and even spiked, on occasion, with a splash of tequila or rum to relieve an evening chill. Today, you can enjoy a café de olla at authentic Mexican restaurants or at specialty coffeehouses (where you may still get your café served in a traditional earthenware mug). Now you can also enjoy a café de olla at home, in an instant, with Café La Paz. Hailing
from the Chiapas region of Mexico is an instant and delicious version
of the traditional caf 100% natural, you need only to add hot water to enjoy all the flavor, aroma, color and taste of the original café de olla Mexican style coffee. Feeling adventurous? Add a bit of warm milk and you’ll enjoy a delicious cappuccino de olla or serve it over ice for a sweet treat to beat the heat. Café La Paz is currently available in select specialty grocers in the New York/New Jersey area. www.CafeLaPaz.com
In 1946, young Albert Braswell returned from World War II with a GI Bill and no job. Using his mom’s recipe, he began canning and selling pear preserves out of the back of his truck. More than 60 years later, Braswell's of Georgia has grown into a true Southern tradition and one of the country's largest producers of specialty jams, jellies, preserves, toppings, relishes, dressings, fruit butters, fruit spreads, fruit syrups, sauces, marmalades, and salsas. Known for its tremendous selection of flavors and consistent high quality, Braswell’s is one of the most popular suppliers of specialty and gourmet condiments for private labels, and is known for its own brand of gourmet items like preserves and teas packaged in European glassware. The Braswell Food Company introduced Braswell’s Select Special Teas at the 2009 Summer Fancy Food Show held last month in New York. Made with all natural and/or organic ingredients and packaged in beautiful, reusable European glassware, Braswell’s Special Teas are available in 11 fl. oz. glasses for 3.75 at specialty retailers. Braswell’s Special Teas are handcrafted in small batches using triple-filtered water and all natural and/or organic ingredients and flavors. Deliciously unique flavors include:
“Like biscuits and gravy, and homemade peach pie, an ice cold glass of tea is a true Southern tradition” said Andrew Oliver, President of Braswell’s. “While Braswell’s Special Teas have distinctly modern flavors and packaging, we hope they will help transport us back to when we had the time to sit, relax and enjoy a neighbor’s company over a delicious glass o A small number of foods and drinks have been packaged and sold in reusable drinking glasses or jars over the years, however Braswell’s is the first to package its gourmet preserves and teas in high quality, attractive European glassware, making them a uniquely elegant and eco-friendly gift. For more information on Braswell’s and to purchase products, visit www.Braswells.com. __________________________ A long-time newsletter reader, Patty K. (Omaha, NE) wrote to us to From a small still on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina, comes a unique hand-crafted sweet tea vodka from Firefly. The vodka is infused with tea grown on a local plantation and blended with real Louisiana sugar cane. As per Patty’s recommendation, we mixed it with lemonade to create an adult-only version of the well-known Arnold Palmer (a mix of lemonade and iced tea). Refreshing and delicious, this sweet tea cocktail really satisfies and it sure to be a big hit at summer bbqs and backyard gatherings. Thank you, Patty, for the introduction to a great elixir. www.FireflyVodka.com
__________________________ Khaya
Cookie Company
T stands for Training—job skills training for the men and
women in this impoverished region.
The Khaya Cookie Company promises to use only the freshest, finest, all natural ingredients and no preservatives. Each cookie is carefully crafted by hand. They hire previously unemployed women from the townships of Khayelitsha, South Africa and through education and training, turn them into highly skilled bakers. “All Khaya employees also are provided with a Skills Training Program where they are cross trained in each aspect of our business; from baking to packaging to customer service,” says Alicia Polak, founder of Khaya Cookie Company. The company also strives to improve the life of their bakers. The bakers of the Khaya Cookie Company come from the townships surrounding Cape Town, primarily from the township of Khayelitsha, South Africa where people live in poverty, children suffer from malnutrition, and unemployment is high. The Khaya Cookie Company is committed to help their local residents and employees rise above the hardship and heartache. Khaya cookies are made the time-honored way—from scratch and in small batches. They come in five delicious varieties. Three are shortbread cookies, orange rooibos, cranberry rooibos and grapeseed. The others are Krunchis, a granola-type snack treat.
Grapeseed Shortbreads: Made with grapeseed, known for their incredible nutritional properties including a potent dose of Vitamin C and antioxidants, these shortbreads also have tangy, tiny currents. You’ll find it has a delectable depth of flavor—not too sweet and just buttery enough. Granola Fruit Krunchi: Perfect for a 3pm snack attack, the Krunchis satisfy a craving for something sweet. You’ll savor the morsels of moist dates and organic apricots mixed with the satisfyingly chewy grains. The dates add 14 essential vitamins and minerals give you 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving. Orange & Chocolate Krunchi: A timeless combination of pure orange zest and pure dark Belgium chocolate. Enjoy its heavenly flavor along with the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids in the flaxseed and essential fiber and nutrients in oats and sunflower seeds. A total of 13,5g of heart healthy Omega 3, 6 & 9 fatty acids per box. It is not often that one comes across a company that so gently and so deliberately inspires others while at the same time delivers a superior product. The cookies themselves are petit in size and big on taste. They are delicious, satisfying, and good for you too. All received high marks in the Coffee And Tea Newsletter “test kitchen”. The shortbreads and krunchis would be a great afternoon snack or just perfect with a cup of tea after a crazy day. It is no wonder that Alicia Polak, owner of the Khaya Cookie Company, was the winner of the Food Network Edible Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007. For more information about the Khaya Cookie Company or to place and order, visit www.KhayaCookies.com __________________________ A Quick “Course” in Organic Coffee Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, avoid the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, avoid the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. The Organic Trade Association’s mission is to promote The Organic Coffee Collaboration - a project of the Organic Trade Association, the business association for the North American organic industry, includes the companies listed below. These participants represent some of the newest companies in the market as well as well known firms that source, decaffeinate, or roast for the largest coffee companies in the United States.
Click here for further information about the Organic Coffee Collaboration. __________________________
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5th Annual Coffee & Tea Festival:
To request exhibitor information, contact LyndaC@StarfishJunction.com
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Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. Marsha taught cooking classes in Los Angeles after college, but eventually moved to Chicago to start her own business.
raspberry, mocha, and caramel just to name a few.
ohan Marley, son of the late Bob Marley, announced the launch of Marley Coffee, a certified organic coffee brand cultivated from the Marley family farm in Jamaica.
perfect morning kick. 12 oz. $11.99. 
ense, abundant taste leaves a long, savory finish with flavors of cocoa, candied fruit and buttery caramel notes. Enjoy as espresso, drip or press. 12oz. $11.99. 
can café de olla thanks to the creators of Café
La Paz, the instant café deolla. 
é de olla called Café La Paz.
Easy to prepare and a delight to the senses, if you can boil water
you will find delight in this decadent instant beverage. Café
de Olla La Paz Chiapas received the highest praise when it was recognized
by “Alimentaria Mexico” and selected as Innovative Product
of the Year in 2006. 
f tea.”
recommend a new product she discovered—boy, were we glad she did!
means “home” in Xhosa, the Bantu language of southeast
South Africa. It is in this region, deep in the winelands of South
Africa, that the Khaya Cookie Company makes their home. The Khaya
Cookie Company produces a variety of delicious cookies and delivers
some much-needed “TLC” to a region where poverty is
rampant.
Orange
rooibos shortbreads: The allure of aromatic citrus peel
transforms this dense, buttery shortbread, taking it out of the
ordinary and into the realm of extraordinary. 
and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. OTA's members include farmers, processors, importers, distributors, retailers, certifiers, and more.
ts Café de Chiapas coffee is from an organic/fair trade cooperative in the Chiapas, Mexico, highlands. The coffee has a nutty and buttery taste with a smooth, slightly sweet finish. The product is offered in dark and medium roast, and is available online at 
-ELAN ORGANIC COFFEES (San Diego, CA) Elan Organic Coffees is a coffee developer and importer offering certified organic socially responsible and Bird Friendly® coffees it has developed through partnerships with village co-ops in coffee-producing countries. Elan pioneered the supply of the world’s finest certified organic coffees, while supporting farmers and protecting the environment. Visit 
ntain Coffee is recognized as a leader in the specialty coffee industry for its award-winning coffees and socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Green Mountain Coffee offers a broad selection of double-certified organic and Fair Trade coffees under the Green Mountain Coffee® and Newman's Own® Organics brands. Web site: 
United States supplying both conventional and organic coffees. The company feels strongly about fostering sustainable agriculture and promoting a healthy planet. Quality Assurance International (QAI) certifies S&D’s six organic coffees sold under the Buffalo & Spring label. 
-TRUE ORIGIN ORGANICS (Weston, FL, and Bogotá, Colombia) -True Origin Organics (
