Bella's Releases New Cookie Lineup

Milton, DE - May 23, 2011 - Bella's Cookies begins its 6th year at the Historic Lewes Farmer's Market, Saturday May 28th. This year Bella's will be introducing several new products on opening day, and several other new items throughout the course of the summer. The first of these new products is a cookie made with white beans. Additional new offerings from the company's gluten-free category were also developed to meet growing demand.

"Our newest cookie is made with a twist on baking with beans... white beans; they took a lot of experimentation" said Kelly Leishear (President of Bella's Cookies) "the finished product is both delicious and healthy". Several months of research and development went into perfecting a cookie made with puréed white beans. Leishear wanted to build a cookie that was essentially fat-free, filled with protein, fiber, and still packed the taste of a Bella's cookie. The new cookie is called "Leguma Beach" and is made with puréed white beans, organic oats, chopped walnuts, and dark chocolate chunks. It is also made completely free of eggs and butter. Leishear is excited about this cookie, as being a former personal trainer to corporations such as General Electric, Bristol Myers-Squibb and AT&T in New York, she says, "it's something that both athletes and health minded people will enjoy, and it's just a great tasting snack". Along with the health benefits of the white beans, oats, walnuts, and dark chocolate each of their flavors mix perfectly to create a moist, classic cookie. They look to incorporate other varieties of beans into future cookies.

Bella's has seen a yearly increase in the number of people purchasing allergen-specific baking. Families and individuals are modifying the way they hold birthday parties, dinner parties, weddings, and events by having gluten-free, vegan, or egg-free options either available or exclusive. In keeping with that demand, Bella's gluten-free product line has several new additions this summer. The first is a new gluten free mixed berry breakfast cookie. Originally created as meal replacers for the Leishear's children on their drive to preschool, breakfast cookies were quickly embraced by hospitals, schools and people simply wanting a healthy snack any time of day. Traditionally made with organic whole-wheat flour, a gluten-free breakfast cookie had to be designed devoid of this main ingredient and was made with a combination of gluten-free flours and gluten-free oats. As with their entire line of Breakfast Cookies, these are also made with no eggs or dairy. A second new product is a gluten-free oatmeal Whoopie Pie. Two gluten-free organic oatmeal cookies are sandwiched between a sweet confectioner cream filling. "The traditional Whoopie pie we sell at the farmers market is always a big hit," said Leishear "this gives those that need to follow a gluten-free diet an opportunity to taste something only others had available to them before". Additionally a new dessert item is a gluten-free, agave-sweetened cheesecake. This item is also available in area restaurants and eateries this summer - a listing of establishments is on their website.

Bella's Cookies, Inc. is a natural & organic bakery in Milton, DE. Ordering, including custom baked goods and desserts for those with food allergies, can be done online at www.bellascookies.com, or by calling 302-684-8152.

Bella's Cookies Family Shares Recipes In Southern Living

Milton, DE. - January 9th 2007 - You won't find a mention of Bella's Cookies in Southern Living magazine this month... but you will find owner Kelly Leishear and her family (Mark, Bella & Liam) sharing 3 healthy recipes for families to try in the New Year.

Planning over a year in advance, then arriving in May of this past year, Southern Living magazine visited the Leishear family home in Milton, DE. Their purpose: to spotlight healthy vegetarian fare (a first for the magazine's annual January "Healthy Living" section) and test some quick & easy power meals for families. During their 4 day visit, a crew consisting of a writer, photographer, chef & stylist re-arranged the Leishear household into "a place that we had to clean up and re-arrange every night after they left" (said Mark Leishear, laughing). "They focused on exercise & how our family exercises, what we eat, how our children eat" (said Mark) "a lot of material didn't make the magazine, but it's fantastic." There are 3 recipes profiled in the magazine; a Vegetarian Chili, Tomato-Spinach Penne, and a Peanut-Broccoli Stir Fry. "The Tomato-Spinach Penne is my personal favorite" said Leishear "in fact, we just recently made this dish for a Holiday dinner party." The recipes are available at Southern Living magazine's website to print and review.

Southern Living's January 2008 issue is currently on newsstands in area supermarkets & bookstores.

Southern Living is a national, monthly publication from the Southern Progress Corporation, a subsidiary of Time, Inc.

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Holiday Offerings Released By Bella's Cookies

Milton, DE - Bakers of Bella's Cookies are announcing a new line of Holiday offerings available now through December 31st at both their online store and through select natural food store retailers. Several new types of cookies, candies and desserts are making the list this year, with a special focus on varieties to suit those with certain food allergies or intolerances.

"Holidays treats, especially those baked during December, always hold a special appeal to just about everyone" says Mark Leishear (Director of Sales & Marketing for Bella's Cookies) "as Bella's has become a staple for those looking for cleaner ingredients in their baked goods, our growth has also increased by those with food intolerances or allergies." Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Vegan, and Nut-Free are some of the leading food allergies found among people of all ages and Bella's is making a large selection of this year's holiday offerings available to cater to those needs. Gluten-Free and Vegan pies such as pumpkin & sweet potato are available this year as well as a selection of cakes from their dessert collection. Candy from their Verdi Good line is naturally gluten-free, with some of the most popular selections being English Toffee (Dinosaur Crunch), Fudge (Peanut Butter, Chocolate & Coconut Crème), and Chocolate Peanut Brittle. In addition to these offerings, customers can find new sweet breads, muffins, tortes, and cookies.

Cookies are the mainstay product for Bella's and varieties include their Signature Collection (natural & organic), Vegan, Gluten-Free, Agave Sweetened (suitable for Diabetics), and a new line of Gluten-Free/Casein Free cookies. Holiday cookies return in the form of their Silver Lake shortbread (a chocolate caramel creation), Jam shortbread (made with locally produced jam), Snowballs (Russian tea cakes), and many others. "The Holiday Tin is one of our most popular items during the season" says Leishear "it's filled with an assortment of cookies, candy and other treats". Customers across the country seek out Bella's during the Holiday season specifically for this item and ship tins to places as far away as the Middle East, Europe and Canada.

Bella's has also partnered with Good News Natural Foods in Dover and Milford to make ordering and picking up these selections easier for those living north of the Delaware Beaches. "We will have order forms, from which customers can choose a variety of selections, and then have them delivered fresh to our store" said Sharon Fields (co-owner of Good News Natural Foods). Holiday offerings vary in price by the type of product ordered; most items range from $4 - $40. Bella's online store is open 24 hours a day, and the bakery 6 days a week during the month of December.

Questions about products or ordering can be answered by calling 302-684-8152 or through the website at www.bellascookies.com.

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Cookies & Fudge Celebrate National Peanut Month

Cookies and Fudge celebrate National Peanut Month

Milton, DE - March 10 2008 - In celebration of National Peanut Month (March), Bella's Cookies & Verdi Good (natural/organic cookie and candy companies) are releasing two, new peanut themed creations; "Peanut Butter Power" & "Python Peanut Butter Fudge." March is coincidentally National Nutrition month, with the peanut known for its many health benefits.

"Peanut Butter Power" is new cookie creation promoting the powerful health benefits of peanut butter, with Bella Leishear resembling Super Girl on the cookie's tag. "Creating a great peanut butter cookie recipe takes as much effort as creating a great chocolate chunk," said Mark Leishear (Director of Sales & Marketing) "there are many different types and tastes of peanut butter cookies; you have to experiment with each." Throughout last summer, test recipes of peanut butter cookies would be brought to various farmer's markets and data collected on each cookie variety. In the end, the winner was a crunchy peanut butter cookie with a sugary top, named "Peanut Butter Power" and is available in Bella's traditional double pack (2 - 3.25 oz cookies) for $3.99 and Baby Bella's (dozen .5 oz bite-size cookies) for $5.99.

Liam Leishear's candy company, Verdi Good, gives exotic animal names to each of their available products. Crocodile Chews, Great White Fudge, and Dinosaur Crunch are a current few. On the Bella's website, visitors can follow links to educational sites such as the National Geographic Society and learn in-depth facts about each of these animals. "Python Peanut Butter Fudge" is their newest named creation, and features a Burmese Python (among the largest snakes on earth, with adults capable of reaching 23 ft). Thick with organic peanut butter, this python fudge retails for $10.99 a pound.

Peanuts and peanut butter are smart options for consumers because they contribute more than 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients (like protein, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese) and have zero cholesterol and no transfats. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) an ounce of peanuts provides more than 10% of the Daily Reference Value (DV) for protein and Niacin, while peanut butter is an excellent source of Niacin, containing 20% DV. Peanuts are also included on a list of recommended nuts that are lower in saturated fat & cholesterol, which may lower your chance of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, the best way to accomplish this is to eat less saturated fat, trans fats and cholesterol, control your weight, and participate in physical activity for at least 30 minutes each day.

More information about Verdi Good or Bella's Cookies can be found by calling 302-684-8152 or visiting www.BellasCookies.com.

 

Bella's Cookies Expands Green Halloween - 3 Cape Elementary Schools Participating

Milton DE. - October 13, 2008 - Bella's Cookies is bringing Green Halloween back to Milton Elementary School this year, and expanding the program to HO Brittingham Elementary School in Milton and Richard A Shields Elementary School in Lewes. Monday, November 3rd, students will exchange their traditional Halloween candy for a greener and cleaner bag of treats. Bella's continues to organize this annual event in Delaware in effort to raise awareness of the health & nutritional dangers lurking in traditional treats and candy that are given to children during the Halloween celebration.

"Green Halloween" puts an eco-friendly spin on the traditional celebration of Halloween through a variety of easy to follow green practices. The celebration advocates recycling, earth friendly practices, gardening, green costume ideas, fun contests/scavenger hunts, and of course new ideas for candy & treats. "The fundamentals of the celebration encourage you to think creatively and earth-friendly, said Kelly Leishear (President of Bella's Cookies) "children get just as excited about treasures and trinkets as they do candy or treats." For those either giving or receiving Halloween treats, look for ones without toxic and/or harmful ingredients; this is a key concept of Green Halloween - to raise the awareness on the dangers lurking in mainstream, commercially made treats and candy. For years, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors/flavors, and preservatives have been given without hesitation to children dressed in costume, however with medical conditions such as juvenile diabetes and childhood obesity on the rise, and more children being diagnosed with allergic reactions to certain ingredients, alternatives to the norm are being more sought after by conscientious consumers.

Green Halloween is held the first school day after Halloween (this year Monday, November 3rd), and students will hold candy weigh-ins then exchange their conventional treats and candy for a "Green Halloween" bag. Each bag is assembled in a recyclable paper bag and filled with contributions from some businesses such as East Coast Garden Center, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, TS Smith & Son, Good 4 U Natural Market, Rita's Ice, The Dental Group, Tidewater Utilities, and Bella's Cookies. "The bags offer children something different, little things that children can use, enjoy and treats made without unhealthy ingredients," said Kelly Leishear (President of Bella's Cookies). Last year, Milton Elementary School piloted the Green Halloween program with 89 students participating and turning in 215 lbs of candy. The rules of the exchange are simple: students must turn in approximately 2 pounds of candy in order to receive a bag. A letter will go home in student's folders the week of October 13th, explaining the importance of the event and asking for their child's participation.

Bella's has also posted a special section on their website for Green Halloween. This section includes information on the dangers of ingredients such as food dyes, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup, green ideas for Halloween from GreenHalloween.org, and a listing of events that Bella's Cookies will be in attendance this October where consumers can interact and learn more about the program & how they can participate. "Expanding this program is important to us," said Kelly Leishear "a child's body undergoes rapid growth development, and what they're putting into their bodies now, is extremely important."

As the 2008 participation for businesses is passed, businesses wishing to participate or learn more about next year's Green Halloween celebration may contact Bella's Cookies at the information below.

Bella's Cookies is an organic and vegan bakery specializing in natural & organic, vegan, and gluten free cookies. More information about Bella's Cookies or Green Halloween can be found online at www.BellasCookies.com or by calling 302-684-8152.

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Bella’s Cookies is a vegan and gluten-free bakery located at 18572 Cool Spring Rd in Milton, Delaware, serving families and businesses across Coastal Delaware and Delmarva.