Five products to make you proud to be a Hoosier
By Kelly Patrick Slone
Bee Coffee Roasters in Indianapolis aims to elevate every cup of joe into culinary art. The company roasts and crafts coffee in small batches using beans sourced from El Salvador, Guatemala, Brazil and more. Among many offerings, Bee sells unique barrel-roasted coffees made from beans that have rested in a barrel that previously held an adult beverage. All orders are roasted to order. For the indecisive shopper, Bee offers the Roasters choice — a sample pack of sorts that comes with four half-pound bags. Learn more at beecoffeeroasters.com.
After exploring how commercial flour is processed, Hoosier Leigh Rowan set out to try something different. Since purchasing her first electric mill in 2004, Rowan’s Fort Wayne-based company Big Brick House Bakery & Pasta has steadily grown. In addition to the expected bakery offerings — breads, cakes and pies — Big Brick House offers an extensive selection of whole-grain pastas in some unexpected varieties: spinach, red pepper, garlic, chipotle, carrot and even chocolate. All Big Brick House offerings are made from scratch using real vegetables (as opposed to powdered varieties) and small batches of grain ground daily on a stone mill. Find Big Brick House items in stores across the state, at Ft. Wayne’s Farmers Market or at bigbrickhousebakery.com.
When Kim Harvey wanted the ability to make right-sized, equally browned and moist hamburgers in her microwave oven, she set to work experimenting. Today, the patented, dishwasher-safe Burger Blaster — which is manufactured in Indianapolis — is the star of the lineup at Microwave Magic. Other offerings include the Hot Dogger, Hot Potato, Bun Warmer and Bacon Blaster. Each order of the seven-piece set includes a cookbook with recipes for a complete meal. Find out more at microwavemagicinc.com.
For custom gifts to express your most heartfelt sentiments, look no further than Stellar Creations on Main in Frankfort, Indiana. Let the ladies of Stellar Creations turn your cherished memories into quilts, scrapbooks, pillows, kitchen towels and more. Other offerings include upcycled items, lamps, furniture and candles in more than 150 different scents. Visit facebook.com/stellarcreationsonmain to see more of the store’s special wares.
Bloomington-based Vigilant Eats makes healthy food options for health-conscious, busy people. The company’s line of vegan, gluten-free and organic Superfood Cereals combines a variety of flavors with family farm-grown oats into portable, wholesome snacks. Even the spoon is included; just add water or milk. Cacao Banana Crunch, Coconut Chai and other recent additions join the Vigilant Eats menu alongside Espresso Maca Mulberry, Sweet Potato Pie, Coconut Maple Vanilla and many other hearty flavors. Learn more at vigilant-eats.com. I
