Spreading Easter cheer with organic jelly beans and beer
According to those folks who track such things, the average person will spend $17.29 on Easter candy this year. That's a 4 percent increase over last year, according to research by the National Retail Federation.
That amount of dough can fill a few baskets full with jelly beans.
My new favorite jelly bean comes right from a suburb just down the road. Surf Sweets in Prospect Heights makes jelly beans with organic fruit juice and natural sweeteners. You won't find artificial flavors or color or gluten, dairy, egg, soy or other food allergens in these brightly flavored candies, but you will find an extra burst of vitamin C.
Not many products that I offer to co-workers get a unanimous thumbs-up like these did during a recent tasting. The real fruit taste and lack of the waxy shell were cited as the biggest pluses.
Surf Sweets Jelly Beans come in individual .9-ounce packages (just 90 calories a bag) that cost 79 cents. You can find them and other candies in the Surf Sweets line (gummy bears, sour worms ...) at Whole Foods Markets.
Hoppy Easter: Those same folks who spend $17.29 on Easter candy will spend about $37.45 on food for holiday feasting. My guess is that doesn't include wine to pair with the baked ham or roast lamb or eggy strata.
While Riesling is a favorite Easter wine, don't discount beer on the table this holiday.
Het Anker, one of the oldest breweries in Belgium, claims to have made the perfect beer to enjoy with Easter ham, Gouden Carolus Easter Ale. The experts at Beer Advocate (as well as this discriminating palate) agree that the rich, dark ale hits the mark.
The brewery produces only 2,000 cases once a year and some of those are headed to our area thanks to Lincolnwood-based distributor, Louis Glunz Beer, Inc.
Share a 25.4-ounce corked bottled ($10.99) with guests this holiday, or put it in the back of your pantry and pull it out a year or two from now for more complex notes.
Look for it at select Binny's Beverage Depots, Armanetti Wine Shoppes and Beverage Marts. The best way to track down a bottle near you is to plug your ZIP code into the nifty beer finder at glunzbeers.com.
Going gluten free: Get a bushel full of information about gluten-free products and cooking and learn about why a gluten-free diet might be right for you and your family during the Gluten Free Cooking Expo April 17 and 18 in Lisle.
Gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye, has been linked with a variety of health concerns including celiac disease and autism.
Culinary experts, authors, nutritionists and vendors will share their expertise and some samples in an effort to show that gluten-free does not mean flavor-free.
The event, in its third year, runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and features a children's activity area and a vendor fair with 60 companies showcasing their goods at the Wyndham Hotel, 3000 Warrenville Road.
Advance registration is required for the cooking sessions. Tickets cost $315 for two days; $170 for one day (lunch and vendor fair admission included). Register at gfreelife.com or call (847) 217-1317.
The vendor fair runs 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and does not require advance registration. Tickets are available at the door. $15 for adults; children under 12 get in free.
• Contact Food Editor Deborah Pankey at food@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4524. Listen to her discuss food and restaurant trends on Restaurant Radio Chicago, 5 to 6 p.m. Saturdays on WIND 560 AM.