Welcome to the peanut patch big blend videos foodie podcast featuring Donna George owner of the peanut patch in Yuma, Arizona Hey everybody, we're excited because this is our second peanut patch podcast with Donna George and we're talking shopping We're talking food. We're talking fun, and it is July We are celebrating our country's birthday this month, and so we thought what about cool treats like ice cream and all that good stuff Cake, you know, what is happening at the peanut patch in regards to that and then we're thinking Christmas in July We should start planning what are we gonna do for the holiday season some things we want to do early depending, right? So Donna, how are you doing? I'm doing well. It's great to be on the show again Lisa I'm excited because when we talk about cool treats the first thing and I know I said this on the last episode was Frozen dates it's something I learned about and you can even freeze the peanut butter with them You can stuff them with peanut butter and put them in your freezer and they don't quite Freeze all the way. It's kind of like alcohol doesn't freeze right because of the sugar content right and it's good sugar It's not bad sugar, so They they kind of freeze but take them out for a few seconds and then just start kind of chewing on this Delicious gooey, but put the peanut butter in them. Have you done that? I have Yeah, and I like cream cheese and on a pecan in them, too That's what Nancy was saying this morning. She goes I want the cream cheese I said but the peanut butter is healthier She says I want the cream cheese and then I'll have peanut butter too, but I want the cream cheese I want that in there what about a little pickle or a pepper with the cream cheese just to You could put a lot of people will wrap them in bacon as well and put a little piece of jalapeno in there Oh, you know what it's it's I know we're talking cool treats You know cuz it's summer, but in Yuma you guys are all around the pool, right? I know it's pool season It's river Colorado River season. It's pool season. So barbecue means we're not cooking up We're not heating the house. That's not happening. We don't want to pay for that either, you know So go outside but dates that could be a really cool appetizer if you're having a pool party is the dates What do we use to call them like? Angel wings or something I can't remember what we used to call them But you have like the dates like you're saying you stuff them with jalapeno cream cheese or cheese and wrap them in Bacon and you could put them on the grill. Yes or like a nice snack for everybody. Oh Yeah, it makes a great order. Oh Because it's spice Sweet. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. This is a good barbecue thing that no you're making me hungry. I Know but you're the one with the store. You have to how do you by the way? How do you even handle going to your store when it's open and everyone it's open from October through April the peanut patch in Yuma? Arizona and you're open at that time in the cooler months and You do have an online store So everyone should know the peanut patch dot com is a place to go and it's Selective because of the heat and shipping and everything of what you can get, but you've got peanuts You got peanut butter. You got trail mix. You got all kinds of good stuff dates like we're talking about But how do you handle going into the store especially in the holiday season, right? Which we're in Christmas in July. How do you even not want it like? Like you have licorice all sorts have all these gift baskets and gift pins that you make and fudge You have ice cream during the season date shakes talk about a cool treat like really. Oh, yeah How do you do that? How do you not like eat the store? Like I would eat the store if I was there because you got salsas You've got pickles. You've got olives, which is my downfall. Oh my gosh. Oh Olives with a date. I wonder about that now. Hmm. I don't know. We'll have to try it I don't know but those would be a good side too, right the dates Yeah, and then olives like like a Mediterranean kind of Middle Eastern feast You know stuff dates stuffed olives A little salsa for the barbecue side, you know the appetite. Yeah. I think the appetizers are more fun than the actual meal Yes, and you know what else Lisa maybe if you're having a martini martini we have the Pickled green beans and the pickle disparities. I've heard those I don't drink martinis, but I've heard they go great and a martini Oh, I think I'm better order some because I love with the martini in years, but I I'll do it Yeah, you just gave me a good excuse. That sounds good. Okay. Oh, do you have like the olives? You have the stuffed olives too, and that's a whole thing too. That could change your martini. I bet I wonder how garlic and martini taste because we have garlic stuffed ones You know, I you know what here here that is you've got me at my weak point Like anything garlic. Yes. It's good. Oh, yeah You know that me and licorice it's the same thing with garlic. It's okay Yeah, I'm a garlic girl, and I'm just warding off people's spirits And that's why I don't date anymore. So maybe like the garlic thing has to do with it. I don't know But it's like I'm not getting a boyfriend anymore because I eat so much garlic. Okay, I'm just saying I'm just saying not to get personal I'm just saying but you know, it's funny, but I mean garlic and olives and a martini. Ooh I think that would be yeah, I think that I didn't know our cool treats. We're going to go into cocktails, but why not? Yeah, well, you don't drink martinis. That's funny. No, that's funny But uh, oh now what about would you do like a ice cream float like a root beer float or something like that? Um No, not at the store, but I would at home front with my scream Yeah, so the ice cream starts in october, right? And by the way everyone in yuma in that time of year. It's the suniest place on earth Ice cream goes year round, you know, you have a few cold days a few cold spells, but like You know, that's the agricultural season It's such an exciting time to be in yuma because everything's starting to grow all the you know, the greens are growing You know, and that's part of the history of the peanut patch too is the agriculture Yeah Big time so It's cool to see everything green up at that time, you know, I love this summer though. Honestly Um, I have so many friends from europe go through yuma and go through the southwest and They love it. They just they're like I did the southwest in the summer man. I did it You know, they love it and they they want to take something home or order it later, you know and get it back home Like they want that You know, when when people come over for dinner and they've been there they can say I got some salsa that you definitely don't have here You know That's exactly. Yep. Yeah, and it's different than if you just ordered online versus you've been there like You know, I mean if if someone's been to yuma from another country and they order from you And or you know, they get it and they ship it at your home or however And you've got a post office in the store when someone comes to you, right? So you can ship things and all of that but they or take it with them on the flight However, they do it much old dates. You name it It's like they have a dinner party or party And they're like I was there. It's different And just go in your grocery store. You know, I mean you've got bragging rights. I'm just saying I do I do and Lisa guess what we figured out The best of our knowledge. We are the oldest retail store in yuma Will be 45 this year. No Are you kidding? Wow That you started 97 and that's important that we talked about on the other show 90 year 97 You were 1997. That's when you and your husband took it over. That's when nanny and I started our magazine. So we have this yep, you know, You know, lineal History of entrepreneurship. Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. It's it's you know connected and But it was a country store and it was an actual peanut patch. It was actually a farm beforehand, right? Way back then. Yeah, but then it became a country store and wow Well, that's something to like really, you know that I call it that bragging rights on that aspect because You know, it takes a lot to keep a store keep a business going through ups and downs and The peanut patch has lasted so Oh, I love it. Yeah, I love it. I love it. That's That's amazing history. Donna. That's amazing. That's and you kept it going. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, I feel that way about bed and breakfast as we travel the country We stayed a lot of bed and breakfast and work with them and I always feel Nancy and I both a special attraction to what they do because it's such hard work and we want to Promote them because a lot of times that these are historic homes that would have just been demolished or left Yeah, I bet you guys have seen some beautiful stuff. You know one place Grand Rapids, Michigan is the the Logan and Leonard house Leonard at Logan house, excuse me And this is an old brownstone and I didn't know what a brownstone was until we went there I didn't know clue until you get on the road And the person who owned this house the beginning and built it Um, he made some money and why I mean you've got to think the midwest was big in The industrial revolution like if you think about Erie, Pennsylvania And then you start going south and west, you know east. Yes, excuse me so the midwest Yeah, both actually It's like this area was the industrial revolution This is where i cast iron was being made and all of this but Automotive Automobile Yeah cars all of it Detroit you name it and um They this bed and breakfast Had a refrigerator and the guy was in the refrigerator industry Which was new think about what refrigerators were and in the desert where you are That's some crazy stuff I you guys had ice boxes And they managed to keep things cool back in the day and like if you go to local museums in Yuma You'll learn about it. It's insane, but it worked um But they he was his wife kept complaining, you know how we all do really well at you know Telling husbands like the same working she was complaining about her refrigerator Like if somebody spilt something in other words him in the refrigerators She couldn't really clean it off because it would freeze and that he was the one who came up with us having um this slick inside way of being it's like poly whatever It whatever it is on the fridge. Don't ask me about it But the inside of our fridges are not metal anymore Right, because if it cold it was cold you couldn't really clean it up Now we have that nice plastic key kind of interior And that is all due to his wife and him and that they saved that house They saved that house And so when I think about small business I think it's about these stories and the peanut patch you guys have a legacy there You know, yes, you really do and you keep the legacy of the peanut going um That I think is important because it's part of the agricultural makeup of you might even though people are not farming peanuts anymore But it was part of the makeup and it shouldn't be forgotten. That's what I think too And George Washington Carver, right? I've done so much research on him We've done shows on him. I think he's one of the most he's an American hero George Washington Carver brilliant brilliant man Have you been to his national park? You know his monument in Missouri? I have no pen We both have to go we need to use we need to meet there Okay You're on the east arm on the west right now. We can meet in the middle get going We're going to Missouri in a few days. Oh, in fact, I think as this airs freaking Missouri So we better get our butts there. Yeah, he George Washington Carver You know, it's interesting because you talked about cars and Detroit. You know, he was friends with Henry Ford I do he's the one that got the paint. He's the one that invented the paint that would stick to the cars Oh my gosh. Look at this. It's just like the refrigerator. This is crazy. Yeah, we went a rabbit hole in down I know we're kind of way off, but that's what it's exciting. But we're sharing on stuff. Yeah, that's a american history You know and ford in him and people got like a little bit like you know, it was controversial at the time, right about their unification as friends and business people and from different political parties and you know races like everybody had a little like But they broke barriers by being friends and doing things and I think that's important and George Washington Carver Made people realize you can have one thing in your hand and it's got a whole bunch of other ways you can use it Not just to pin it, but everything whatever you have in your hands. Don't just look at his one thing You know, that's why we're the blend. You know, we can't stick there on topic. See I can see that You know that right. I mean, we met you. We were a print magazine covering the desert southwest and now look what's happening We're podcasting together. You know, it's kind of crazy, isn't it? Think about it. Remember the first time I came to see you I got lost and I was trying to call you from a payphone somewhere because we didn't even have cell phones back then think about that We weren't we some of us had him, but it wasn't quite there yet. And I was calling you from a payphone Think about it before there would have been a payphone, but that's kind of cute. Yeah, I was Where was I I was off near a farmland thing. I went the wrong way. Oh, I thought you went down toward avenue B You know exactly what about it. You know, yeah, I did and I was like I because yeah, and Isn't that funny? Like, you know, we think about calling you from a payphone And I'm like, I'm coming. I'm coming. You're like, oh, I know whatever just get here And like I did and you told me where it's going and I was like, all right. I was so because I'm so like about I'm so like taught to be on time, you know, and so I was horrified to not be on time Especially at my age being very young in business like very young and going I have to be on time And I'm not and I'm lost. I don't know where I am I think it was one of our first times in Yuma And I had no clue what I was doing no clue in the area like where I was. I didn't understand the agricultural Landscape now I do. I knew Yuma. We've been there a couple times. It wasn't like I was dumb on it, but I was like very naive on the area and coming to you was one of those educational moments Of what really happened agriculturally in Yuma And so that's what you taught me immediately was like, no, this is what happened and this look at you look at the surroundings You know, so that was a good education Well, I'm glad I'm glad I got you out there because look at the friendships that's formed over all these years now Yeah, I love it. I love it. So I'm gonna go. I'm gonna get us back home to sweet and cool treats So we've got Peanut peanut butter and dates. We've got all of this but I want to tell people that we've got a awesome smoothie recipe It's a little naughty, but nice. I say it's got chocolate. It's got peanut butter And bananas in it like ooh Yeah, you know, but you know what else Lisa when we're open we make peanut butter shakes too So that made me think of that Do you really and what about date shakes? Do you do date shakes? We do date shakes and we do peanut butter shakes And we've done a date peanut butter shake. I don't know how it tastes, but we have done that for people okay, so Now any tips on anybody being able to do a date shake date shake at home because I always thought it was hard on the blades like you need to have a good industrial kind of blade for the dates to do it at home Oh, yes, definitely you um and you want to soak them for a little while in some water And then drain the water out before you put them in your good strong blender Um, we actually have a quiesin art type thing with this the flat blades Um that we use to grind our dates for our date shakes Okay, so that's what we need to do. Let's have the good have the tools Yes, or get outside with this ledge hammer on your days. Oh, you want to do that? I know No, nobody wants to do that. It's too hot. It's too hot. We want yeah I love the treats outside at the barbecue though, you know in a little ice cream But you could slice up some dates, you know With a little bit of ice cream and I think you know some peanuts crushed up peanuts Oh, yeah on ice cream on a sunday on a sunday. Oh There's nothing like peanuts There's just there. I think they're the magic food They are Every time we do anything about peanuts and peanut butter like everybody's like yes. Yes. Yes and dogs know if I even say peanut They know they know they want it like give it to me squirrels. No, everybody knows everybody wants them Because they're like you as you taught us, you know, yes. Yes. Yes. Not really a nut. They are illegal Uh, so everyone uh, you know what we've talked a little bit about christmas in july just in closing Gift baskets gift tins. Um as you know We christmas in july is for real because it's like about not going crazy at the end of the year We should be able to enjoy the holiday season and not being so um stressed out So, um, you want to plan if you can to go to the peanut patch between october and december right to get your all the days done um and enjoy it tour in in the new year, but um October through december you want to go out there, but people can order gift baskets Year-round. Um, it's a little bit different during the summer. Obviously because of shipping like our winery friends in Arizona They're like you may is the end date for shipping. Um, we're not going to send you hot wine So, um, you know, and I mean let's get real about stuff here You're in the sun. Exactly in the earth, but so what can people do? In the summer gift basket wise Well, they could look at our website and pick items that we do have in stock And then we can say could you form a basket for me for this and we would definitely do that for them And and peanuts are involved dates. Oh, yeah, definitely both You can even put a jar salsa in there or something. Oh, he's got all those good relishes and pickles and all that we were talking about martinis Oh and the breading butter pickles. Oh, they're so good. Are you kidding? Don't start me Listen, you know peanut butter and pickles are my favorite thing, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah No, no, um hamburgers. I'm like Elvis, but I don't do the bananas But um, he did he did that was his thing, but he does Elvis burgers have peanut butter and pickles and bananas on the burger So just saying try it, but I do it without the bananas. I'm just weird that way But I really love peanut butter is peanut butter and pickles like I'm in heaven and I think it's that electrolyte thing. We were talking about in the last last episode about A little bit of that sugar, but it's natural sugar Right and that little bit of salt. I mean at one point people, you know, athletes were drinking pickle juice for the electrolytes That's happened It has so yeah in the summer when we're sweating We always think sweet, you know water But sometimes pickles and things like that and by the way anything fermented is good for your gut Oh, did I say that? I did yeah Good for you. It's good for you Pickles and all of that good stuff, but a little bit of salt goes a long way You don't have to have a whole bunch just a little you know one or two olives and a martini You know as you said is good, but and that's talk about holidays Wow christmas in july martinis with olives or asparagus pickle the asparagus like you're saying Hmm I'm wondering about a date at the bottom of a martini now I have no clue. I don't know All right. Well, there's only one way to find out I guess so we'll have to all right. I'll let you know. I'll let you know When we come through yuma, you know, we're gonna come see you and and we'll try it out But yeah, so holiday season when when should people start calling you for holiday gifts Um as you mentioned earlier and I oh the sooner the better we get in order even in october We aren't going to start it until probably mid to end of november But then we can plan for it and make sure that we have all the products that you want in your package Um, we do want it to be fresh Because that's what we um strive for is fresh products, but yeah, they can start as early as You know october getting old of us and saying hey, I want this And I want it shipped out like in december, but you know because we hand build every single one of our baskets Our boxes our gift ends everything right on site Awesome. Awesome. Well everyone the peanut patch.com is the website to check out and so enjoy and um Happy summer everybody enjoy those barbecues by the pool and with friends picnics all that good stuff And we will be back next first friday because it's foodie friday and we're going to start the month off with that And uh, you know, july is ice cream month So you know put those peanuts on your ice cream just saying maybe add some swirly peanut butter in your ice cream just saying Hmm I think we need to ice cream swirly with peanut butter. That's what I want. I think that's good. Do you agree? Are you are you for that? All right. I love it I love it and next time we chat with donna We're gonna get a catch up with her for her summer road trips because I know she's having a good summer So talk to you soon donna Okay, lisa. Take care Thank you for joining us here on the peanut patch on big blend radio You can visit the store between october and april in yuma, arizona Or shop online at the peanut patch dot com and keep up with new episodes that air every first friday at 12 p.m arizona time at big blend radio dot com (upbeat music)
