YUM! Gourmet Products from Southwest Michigan

Heilman’s Nuts and Confections: Nuts to you from Kalamazoo

Overheard in Heilman’s showroom: “Your redskins are the best we have ever tasted! Where do you buy them?” Answer from salesclerk: “We roast them right here, and here’s the guy who does it.”

Tom Miller has been roasting the nuts at Heilman’s Nuts and Confections, 1804 Westnedge, Kalamazoo, for the past 15 years. Nuts are shipped raw and are roasted in corn oil using a 90-year-old recipe.

Rose and Dan Herder just recently purchased Heilman’s upon the retirement of founder, Al Heilman. Rose had worked with Heilman for several years. Tom Miller and Mary Brown, another longtime employee, continue to work with the Herders to provide the same delicious nuts, candies, caramel corn, and caramel apples the Kalamazoo community has come to expect at Heilman’s. The Herder’s daughters are often in the store waiting on customers, filling candy boxes, and creating gift baskets.

A constant stream of customers buy custom wrapped gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other occasions. Heilman’s special blends of coffees are available for tasting as well as for sale. In the back room, online and telephone orders are packaged and shipped all over the country. If you are lucky, you can arrive at a time when wonderful aromas emanate from the roasting and candy-making rooms.

The Herders invite you to a Kalamazoo tradition –nuts and confections from Heilman’s. “Nuts to You from Kalamazoo.” 269-383-1188/www.nuts2you.com

Kalamazoo Kettlecorn, Kalamazoo

Pete and Maureen Kearns, owners of Kalamazoo Kettlecorn & Gift Company, located at 3415 Ravine Road, believe in using only the freshest ingredients in their popcorn. Taking almost a full year to develop their caramel corn flavors, they tested and re-tested several recipes until they were satisfied with the results. Today, Kalamazoo Kettlecorn has four distinct flavors of their famous kettlecorn and many flavors of caramel corn. Some of their best sellers are the Buttery Caramel Corn, made with Madagascar vanilla, real butter and cane sugars, and their Kzoo Krunch, a blend of Buttery Caramel Corn and Cheddar Cheese. At the top of their list is Chocolate Gold Rush, a delicious caramel corn drizzled with white and dark chocolate.

Not only a popcorn store, Kalamazoo Kettlecorn also has a gift shop that features Michigan made products and other items. Beautiful gift baskets adorn the shop and are sold all year long to corporate clientele and individuals alike. The owners take special pride in their customer service and the result shows in their repeat business.

Tips for a longer shelf life on their products: you can freeze the kettlecorn or keep it in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks. The caramel corns should be kept out of the sun and in a cool, dry location and will last up to two months.

Visit Kalamazoo Kettlecorn at the store 3415 Ravine Road, online, or at numerous festivals, parades, and craft shows. Just follow the delicious smells.

Kalamazoo Kettlecorn
269-382-1767
www.kalamazookettlecorn.com

Granola Hut: Twice the Ingredients, Twice the Taste from St. Joseph

Maria Neville-Smith and her husband Greg Smith are massage therapists as well as fitness and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Several years ago, a co-worker brought in some homemade granola and its recipe which Maria began to modify to give to friends and clients for holiday gifts. When people began clamoring for more of the stuff, Maria and Greg knew that they were on to something big, and started making it in larger batches.
The result of Maria’s experimenting is a healthy, nutritious, and delicious granola which provides a significant supplemental source of protein and fiber to any diet. Granola Hut granola is made from natural ingredients and is preservative-free. Their motto is “Twice the Ingredients, Twice the Taste.” Here is what you will find in a package of Granola Hut granola: organic rolled oats, organic flaxseed, coconut, raisins, cherries, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans, cashews, butter, corn oil, honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. What a lineup – 19 ingredients in all!
The Smiths have recently begun a marketing campaign in the St. Joseph area. Granola can be purchased at their massage studio which is located at 1515 Niles Ave. in St. Joseph, or on their website. The granola is available in 8 oz. packages or in snack packs. Visit the website for a look at this amazing healthy product and make Granola Hut granola a part of your healthy day.

Granola Hut
269-983-0819
www.granolahut.com

Peterson and Sons Winery: Wine made the old-fashioned way

The word is out; Peterson and Sons Winery make wine that is preservative and chemical free. Using Michigan grapes, which are hand picked, washed, and sorted before they are processed, the result is a pure wine with a true fruit taste and aroma and no allergic reactions. This is wine made the old fashioned way.

Duane Peterson and his sons began their winery in 1983. The tasting room is in the basement of the house; the winery is housed next door. Grapes are purchased from local growers, and most other fruit comes from SW Michigan as well.

Peterson and Sons have won many awards for their wines, the most popular being the Cranberry and Blueberry wines. Other popular wines are the Bonamego Red and the Concord Red. The Bonamego Red is made from grapes unique to the Bonamego Farm in Lawrence. Those who have traveled extensively say that the wine tastes just like Northern Italy.

Easy to follow signs from I94 guide you to the winery, located at 9375 E. P Ave, south and east of Kalamazoo. Duane is very knowledgeable, enjoys chatting with customers, and loves to tell the story of his winery. He is also very proud of his son, Tony Peterson, who recently opened Contessa Winery in Coloma,

Wines can be purchased at the tasting room, which is open Fri., Sat., and Mon. from 10 am to 6 pm and Sun. from noon to 6 pm. The winery also has a large mail-order business. More information can be found by calling 269-626-9755 or on the website: www.naturalwines.net

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