Molly Olsen and Sandi Lengthy shortly found their shared ardour for meals and cooking after assembly round eight years in the past.
Olsen stated she and Lengthy had mentioned desires of working a small enterprise at farmers markets for some time. Not too long ago, although, the pair developed an curiosity in what would develop into their major product.
“(Our households) like freeze-dried fruit, and it goes actually shortly,” Olsen stated. “So, I received a freeze dryer for Christmas, and we simply sort of determined, ‘All proper, let’s begin a enterprise.’”
Lengthy and Olsen launched Little Hen Nest LLC this yr — with plans to promote freeze-dried meals and different home made merchandise at farmers markets and vendor occasions all through the summer time.
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What’s freeze-dried meals? Freeze-drying is a technique of preserving meals. Whereas the method removes water like dehydrating, Olsen stated freeze-dried vegetables and fruit are a bit completely different.
“The way in which I clarify it is sort of a dehydrated grape is a raisin, however a freeze-dried grape can be crunchy and would not have misplaced any of its form,” Olsen stated.
Freeze-dried merchandise: Prospects can discover freeze-dried vegetables and fruit at Little Hen Nest, however Olsen stated freeze-dried sweet is likely one of the enterprise’s major objects.
A few of Little Hen Nest’s candies embrace:
- Saltwater taffy: Olsen enjoys the freeze-dried taffy, which she stated expands in measurement, loses the sticky texture and “melts in your mouth.”
- “Style the rainbow”: Olsen stated the fruity sweet’s inside expands and bursts open previous the coloured shell throughout freeze-drying.
- Charlies: Lengthy described the freeze-dried chocolate-covered marshmallow as tasting “such as you’re consuming scorching chocolate.”
- Caramels and gummies: The candies develop and tackle a crunchy texture.
The method of freeze-drying sweet takes much less time than fruits or greens — although Olsen stated it may well nonetheless take as much as 12 hours — and affords a novel merchandise for the group to strive.
“The method has been round for a very long time, however the entire freeze-drying of sweet is sort of a brand new factor,” she stated.
Shifting into the long run, Olsen stated she and Lengthy want to develop their very own merchandise and recipes to place within the freeze drier, as properly. She stated the following step can be to get right into a industrial kitchen.
Different merchandise: Olsen and Lengthy additionally promote jams, canned items and home made honey and syrups.
“We faucet the timber and we elevate the bees,” she stated.
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The place can I discover Little Hen Nest?
Vendor occasions and pop-ups: The enterprise has attended occasions just like the Makers Market, and Olsen and Lengthy stated they are going to proceed going to craft gala’s, occasions and pop-ups.
“We’re simply attempting to get on the market wherever,” Olsen stated. “We simply assume it is actually enjoyable. We each love speaking to individuals and seeing their response, like Sandi stated, and it is simply a variety of enjoyable for us.”
Farmers markets: Little Hen Nest will promote on the Peoria Heights Farmers Market, which begins on Might 24. The market runs from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Lengthy and Olsen additionally hope to promote on the Peoria RiverFront Market however stated they’re ready to listen to about their utility.
On-line orders: Olsen stated individuals can attain out about preorders for markets or deliveries by way of e-mail or via Fb.
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Electronic mail: [email protected]Fb: https://www.fb.com/individuals/Little-Hen-Nest-LLC/100089615832957/
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