If you know Dee super well, you're probably not surprised to know that President Carter was Dee's favorite U.S. President. His life of service and advocacy for the poor and the oppressed, his peacemaking work, his choice to live humbly and not use his position as a means to riches, and his faith all stand out as shining examples of what we should desire from our cultural icons. And, sadly, what we see from almost none of them.
Around these parts, we think of President Carter's life as one worth both celebrating and emulating. So, with his death coming so close to MLK Day and his life so closely modeling the principles that Rev. Dr. King taught, we thought it not robbery to honor his legacy on a holiday that happens to coincide with Inauguration Day this year.
Though President Carter was from Plains, Georgia, and the crop that he farmed is one we think of as humble, there is nothing humble about the delight we've created in his honor. The Presidential Peanut Farmer is more akin to a brittle, sans the bubbles typically created by baking soda. We opted to create this beauty via oven instead of via stovetop. The choice allowed us to create a product that came together slowly and beautifully, much like the country's understanding of and favor toward the man. The hot honey that grants the bar its color and heat was a gift from our friends at Columbus Food Rescue. We are honored to wink at their work for food justice through this delicious treat. We chose both peanuts from Virginia peanuts from Columbus Food Rescue and Georgia peanuts Koinonia Farm, which shares its hometown and origin story with the Carters beloved Habitat for Humanity. It feels fitting that the rear side of the bar is gorgeous at an extreme that makes one look with favor on the whole thing. Not a thing plain about it.