Kevin Lee Jacobs

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Unboxing My Beachy’s Baking Supplies Order

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | May 2, 2020 57 Comments

Unboxing My Beachy’s Baking Supplies Order. This is a follow-up to my post How to Find Flour and Yeast During the Pandemic. I took reader Laura’s advice, and ordered some much-needed baking supplies from Beachy’s Bulk Foods in Arthur, Illinois. The shipment arrived the other day, and boy was I excited to receive it! Would you like to watch me (breathlessly) unbox the order? Here goes — just click the “play” arrow to watch:

Well. That was fun!

Having trouble finding baking goods from local sources? Maybe Beachy’s can stock your pantry. The store doesn’t have a website, but they do have a phone number, and some VERY nice employees! Give them a call at (217) 543-3447.

Update: Some viewers were simply APPALLED by my reaction to the name on the flour I received. The name, I discovered, is a 1983 trademark that belongs to General Mills Marketing Inc. The flour — and the name –has been around for 37 years. It is beloved by bakers, some of whom claim it makes the best pizza dough!

xKevin (who wants you to know that he is not affiliated with Beachy’s in any way, shape, or form. He just likes to share information that he believes his readers and viewers might find useful.)

Wanna validate my existence? Post a comment below.

Hungry for more? Get my email updates!

Now excuse me. I have some baking to do!

May 2020 Kitchen and Garden Chores
Lemon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Comments

  1. 1

    Becca says

    May 2, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    Hi Kevin,

    What amazing prices for those items!!! How much was the shipping from beachy’s?

    Happy baking!

  2. 2

    Sheila says

    May 2, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    Hi Kevin! Thank you and your reader for the great idea. I live in Nebraska, and today made a trip to a wonderful store in Milford, NE named Main Street Market. I believe it’s Mennonite or Amish, and I was able to get 1 pound of yeast for under $6. I also got brown sugar, powdered sugar, flour, cocoa powder, and they have a great deli! I have only made bread once in my life. It was probably 25 years ago… at least. It was a whole wheat loaf, and a brick, but it still tasted pretty good to me-haha. I have been inspired by you, as always, so I will try again with your wonderful bread recipes (now I have a little time to do it). Thank you!

  3. 3

    Lisa says

    May 2, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    Fun video! One thing, wet one of those peanuts. If it melts it’s corn starch. I lick them, but I don’t advise that right now! Many companies have left Styrofoam and use corn starch peanuts. You can just dump them outside in the rain, or melt them in a sink, or have fun wetting the ends and gluing them to your nose like a rhino! My kids loved them when they were little! In fact, the adults at my last workplace loved them too once I showed them!

    We have plenty of flour etc. so far, but my son (who does my shopping) had to buy the strangest yeast. It’s like solid block. I guess it won’t be when I unseal it.

    I vote for cookies!

  4. 4

    anne says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:16 am

    I just don’t know how you stay so slim with all this baking going on!! I enjoy your information and look forward to your newsletters!

  5. 5

    Susan Iseman says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:17 am

    Kevin: Thanks for sharing this great idea. I ordered from Lantz’s in upstate Warsaw, NY- wheat flour, yeast, Black Cherry juice concentrate and dried garbanzos. Dirt cheap. To my surprise, they also included a CD of Mennonite Choir Hymns called Amazing Grace, and their receipt had a psalm quote on it. Normally, I cringe at this type of stuff, but they were so sweet. Some of my friends said “oh those are puppy mills” and I have no way of knowing which ones are, everyone has an opinion….I was pleased with the service, prices and how polite they were.

  6. 6

    Judy Tolbert says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:21 am

    Thank you so much for this great advice about ordering. I cannot find yeast anywhere near me, so I am going to check out your suggestions about the Amish stores.

  7. 7

    Mariayn says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:30 am

    Thanks for the info about the bulk stores. My daughter was baking goo-goobs over the winter and we are super stocked. She makes a mean english muffin bread and decided to try muffins. Silly girl tried a different recipe -wasn’t that good. I offered her your wonderful recipe—she loves it and my goodness they are so good. She works weekends at Riley Childrens Hospital on stem cell unit and all the nurses are also so happy with your recipe. I expect to need stretchy pants now as she has several other items of yours that she wants to try……thanks??

  8. 8

    DOREEN says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:37 am

    I wish I had known. I was lucky to get on King Arthur Flour back order list for SAF yeast. Just waiting, two more weeks to go…. If peanuts melt put in compost.
    Have never meet a homemade cookie that I didn’t like.

  9. 9

    Jean diemer says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:38 am

    Hi Kevin,

    So excited for you to get your “care package”. So lucky as we live about 45 minutes from Beachy’s in Arthur. Illinois and take a trip there to visit them. Always a fun place to go as you find all kinds of things you didn’t know you needed! LOL They also have that wonderful little paring knives and other baking items all in one place. Enjoy your new baking supplies and hopefully we will get some wonderful new recipes as you always share with us. Happy Baking!

  10. 10

    Daria Plummer says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:42 am

    Sharing my thanks also for the bulk store information. My order came within a week. I was unsure, but am sure now. Thank you. Made peanut butter cookies yesterday. Added chopped roasted peanuts, as directed, but also chocolate chips. Just saying: FANTASTIC. Again, thank you for brightening our days…always…in times of stress and not.

  11. 11

    Phyllis Bachinski says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:57 am

    Thank you for your suggestion on acquiring baking goods. I went online to aforementioned and it switched me over to OliveNation out of MA. I ordered a 1 lb bag of yeast ($11.99) and “Honey” gave me a 15% off coupon and with all inclusive (+s&h) my order was $19+. I received my package within the week. All-in-all, it was almost the same price if I was to acquire a 3pk at Aldi’s, which of course doesn’t have any.
    Happy Baking!!!

  12. 12

    Sandra Payette says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:00 am

    Oh my Kevin, what a haul. Yes to chocolate chip cookies. I love them.

    HAPPY BAKING!

  13. 13

    Sherry in Willow Grove says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:03 am

    This was a fun video. I’m going to share your suggestion to call Beachy’s with my non-Keto friends who cannot find yeast in our local stores. If the peanuts are not cornstarch, you can put them in the bottom of your planters to lighten them up (if they are deep) and use a bit less soil.

  14. 14

    Mary says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:10 am

    How about making English muffins?

  15. 15

    Ava says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:10 am

    Kevin, check to see if your packing peanuts are either styrofoam or corn based. The corn peanuts dissolve in water. Just run one under water or spit on one ….it might dissolve. And please….leave politics out of your blog. There is enough hate going on on both sides and I follow your blog for pure enjoyment….not political advise.

  16. 16

    Amen Kahwajy says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:17 am

    I enjoyed your un-boxing!
    Different take on the British Boxing Day.
    Great prices.
    Re the melting peanuts: ALWAYS soak first. A few years back my mail order plant supplier made a huge deal about how they switched to corn starch peanuts. Then, when that did not work out too well with the damp plant material they went back to Styrofoam WITHOUT notice. I unpacked a very large box and tossed across my front lawn and it was about to rain. No melting. Wind came later. Major irritation to retrieve hundreds of pieces, including from neighbors on either side. Yep. Always soak.

  17. 17

    Kathie Tinucci says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:33 am

    Will give Beachy’s a try for some yeast! My vote is for chocolate chip cookies!

  18. 18

    jonnie says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:33 am

    Susan I….I have been to Lantz hundreds of time….It is fabulous. Kind folks. Know nothing of Puppy Mills…that is odd. If you need sprinkles, they have hundreds, all different colors and shapes. It is such fun to shop at a bulk food store. They not only sell baking products, but bulk candy ( old fashioned kinds too), pie fixins,maple syrup (Lantz is in the heart of a Maple Syrup production area). Lantz has mennonite cookbooks. It is one of our favorite spots to visit when we go back to the old homestead.

    Kevin, I enjoy your posts. would you give us a look at your cookbook some time? I’d enjoy a video of you talking about it and why you decided to include the recipes you chose. I am sold on your Cranberry Sauce, I make it all year with frozen cranberries. Your cranberry sauce is also wonderful in a cranberry muffin I make. Yum…now I have to make some today!

    Somewhere recently, I saw a post to make yeast using dried fruit. There is no flour needed to keep this going. Have you heard of this method? They say it takes a bit longer for the rise, but it works great
    . Another bread making method you make a biga the night before mix in more flour and salt in the a.m. then cooki bread at high heat covered in a dutch over (it is fabulous) only uses 1/4tsp of yeast. A good way to have fresh bread with a chewy crust and not use a lot of ones precious yeast.

  19. 19

    Nina says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:40 am

    I just ordered flour and yeast from an organic mill in Illinois…more expensive than yours. Can I ask what the shipping cost was for that? Thanks. Happy Baking!

  20. 20

    Ellie says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:43 am

    That looks like an amazing haul. I was a bit distressed to see that the shipping box said “Taiwan Mixed Vegetable Chips” on the side of it. What do you think that is about?!

    I would love to see you make a lemon meringue pie some time but maybe that would be “after” the quarantine when (and if) we get back to what we call normal. Thanks for all you do. We are so appreciative!

  21. 21

    Kathy says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:15 am

    I used to live close to Arthur and made a few runs to Beachy’s. Glad to see they had your supplies. It’s a bad day when a baker can’t bake.

  22. 22

    Rosalie Romano says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:18 am

    Hi Kevin,
    Thank you for this most helpful information. How lovely of you to share it with us.

    When you asked for our suggestions on what you might bake with your new treasure trove of supplies, I thought of a demonstration/commentary on No-Knead bread. One of your commenters mentioned she’d not baked bread for many years, hence this No-Knead might help her and others.

    Love your videos and recipes and gardening hints.

  23. 23

    Georgette says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:19 am

    Kevin,
    I would love it if you made Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. My rhubarb is growing fast and I do not have a nice recipe for this pie. I usually cook up my rhubarb with blueberries and keep it frozen in pint jars.

    I ‘m sure whatever you decide to make it will be delicious!!

  24. 24

    Judith says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:39 am

    I loved the unboxing and the fun commentary. PLEASE do a video on making PIZZA. It looks so easy, but it is NOT! Chocolate chip cooks would be great too!

  25. 25

    Martey says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:40 am

    Hey Kevin! I went out to the Canaan General Store the other day, and it was awesome! Got flour and some other necessities. Thanks for the tip!

  26. 26

    Sarah says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:43 am

    What a delightful unpacking video, Kevin. I like feeling I am in your kitchen with you.
    I make a scenic trip to an Amish bulk grocer here in southwestern Ohio at least once a month. It’s down the road from an Amish bakery that makes the best doughnuts I’ve ever had. Haven’t been in a while, obviously.
    I would love to watch you make chocolate chip cookies with some information about other add ins to basic dough.
    Many thanks for your educational and day-brightening columns and videos.

  27. 27

    Judith says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:53 am

    I loved the unboxing and the fun commentary! PLEASE do a video on making PIZZA. It looks so easy, but it is NOT! Chocolate chip cooks would be great too!

  28. 28

    Kim says

    May 3, 2020 at 11:09 am

    Thanks Kevin, but you should really keep your political side to yourself. I enjoy your posts no matter how you feel about our President. Trump2020!

  29. 29

    Suzan says

    May 3, 2020 at 11:16 am

    Bought powdered milk and flour from them. Thank you so much for the shout out! I too had a wonderful experience and would order again in a heartbeat.

    Had already had an order for yeast and crystallized eggs with Pleasant Hill Grains, or would have ordered the yeast from Beachy’s.

  30. 30

    Julie says

    May 3, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Hope you’re feeling validated!
    Environmentally I hate styrofoam peanuts, too! However when filling new large planters they’re wonderful to reduce the weight and amount of soil required. I drop bags of unwanted peanuts at a nearby shipping store and they are thrilled.
    I broke down and baked chocolate chip cookies last Friday. I froze most of them as my husband and I are diabetics! These are times to indulge ourselves, however…Enjoy!
    Kneading bread is very therapeutic. A home Ec teacher of mine used to say that the more upset we were, the better the loaf. How about making a loaf of pumpernickel? I
    love it and have never baked a loaf..

  31. 31

    Judy Woods says

    May 3, 2020 at 11:22 am

    Lindley Mills (https://www.lindleymills.com) has organic flours, including sprouted flours, and mixes. Prices are good but, because flour is so heavy, the shipping is high.

  32. 32

    Pat says

    May 3, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Kevin, If the peanuts don’t melt you can take them to your local mailing place and they will recycle them in their shipping. At least you can where I live.

  33. 33

    Linda says

    May 3, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    Loved the video. How about salt rising bread? I’m leery of wasting my precious flour if it’s really that hard to get it right. I live in Baja California, receive mail in San Diego, but the border is iffy. I try not to cross unless necessary – this might qualify!

  34. 34

    T. Maeda says

    May 3, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    Kevin,
    What are you doing using a knife to open the box? Don’t ruin the knife; just get yourself a proper box cutter. Please.
    T.

  35. 35

    Susan says

    May 3, 2020 at 1:23 pm

    Hi Kevin. I enjoyed your post. I would like you to show us how to make maple pecan scones. Hope you stay safe and have a good week. I have to say, when you read “All Trump’s Flour” and said you might not want it, I burst out laughing, right at my kitchen table. I would feel the SAME WAY. Now WHY did they put that on the flour bag, I wonder. Dear oh dear. Take care. Susan

  36. 36

    TiaBee says

    May 3, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    I live in Central NY and we have quite a few Mennonite/ Amish communities around, with the # of bulk stores to match. I printed off your last post for the family that runs our local bulk food store, and they got a real kick out of it! Everyone’s glad you’re finally “in the know”.

    P.S. Careful with that Trump Flour. 😉

  37. 37

    Suzanne K says

    May 3, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    I was lucky enough to check King Arthur’s for yeast about 2 weeks ago. They still showed out of stock but were (newly) accepting orders, for 3-4 week out delivery. I ordered a 2# bag and prepared to wait. But, I got it in ONE week! It is now safely tucked in my freezer and I feel stocked up again. I managed to get more flour when I saw some in stock and am good there as well. Stay safe everyone!

  38. 38

    Honeybee says

    May 3, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    Please make chocolate chip cookies. My goal during this shutdown it to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Gotta have goals!

  39. 39

    Katherine says

    May 3, 2020 at 3:21 pm

    Kevin, make what brings you joy. You lit up talking about chocolate chip cookies. Just keep cooking!

  40. 40

    Ardelle F Tuxen says

    May 3, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    Can’t help enjoying this banter about baking supplies. I’m okay in the baking department supplies, however, I needed to replace my favorite gardening gloves which have been literally ‘limping’ along now longer than they should have. So my normal suppliers have not had them for more than 2 years and I went on ‘the hunt’. I had to buy a lot – 2 dozen – but it is so very worth having my FAVORITE GLOVES. Guess what my dear friends and family will be getting for gifts? You guessed it – GARDENING GLOVES. We are having wonderful weather in Wisconsin today/lately so the housework can wait for a rainy day… No need to go anywhere now that we have gardening to keep up happy and occupied.

  41. 41

    Penny says

    May 3, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    Loved watching you unwrap all your “bargains!”
    Chewy chocolate chip cookies would be great. Also, can you do something with the yeast please? Maybe a babka, or some other kind of coffee cake?
    That way you can use all of your new items. Lol.
    Thanks Kevin. I always look forward to you Sunday emails.

  42. 42

    Karen R says

    May 3, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Kevin, I enjoyed your unpacking video. Locally (California) we have been able to find baking ingredients at local restaurants who have been selling groceries to support the local community. I agree with other commenters, please keep Trump comments and all other political comments out of your posts. In addition to breeding/spreading hatred I think all of us are sick of all the political comments and could really use positive and joy-filled comments at this time.

    Baking idea: savory scones

  43. 43

    Mary Lucius says

    May 3, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    Our daughter who is a food scientist and 1st job was working for a commercial bakery said instead of having two types of sugar, just add 1 tablespoon of molasses to 1 cup white sugar for light brown sugar and 2 tablespoons molasses for dark brown sugar. Brown sugar is just white sugar with some molasses left. For the lady who wanted a STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PIE.
    1 quart fresh strawberries, each cut in half 3 cups rhubarb, cut in 1/2 inch pieces, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca , 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt TOSS all ingredients above together in a large bowl and let sit for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (this helps fruit to release some juice and soften the tapioca). LINE a 9 1/2 inch deep dish pie pan or a 10-inch pie pan with pie crust pastry. Spoon fruit into crust, dot with 1 tablespoon margarine. Cover with top crust. Bake 50 minutes at 425 degrees.

  44. 44

    Willa Nemetz says

    May 3, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    Hi Kevin – I so enjoyed watching you unpack your supplies! I’m a die-hard King Arthur user but I’m very tempted to try Beachy’s. By the way, if the peanuts are cornstarch-based, DON’T put them in the sink, as one writer suggested. They can do a number on your plumbing. I speak from experience!

  45. 45

    Linda A says

    May 3, 2020 at 9:51 pm

    Kim, If you’re going to give advice about political views, you ought to follow it yourself.
    This is a free country, meaning, not just for you.

    Thank you, Kevin, for your always generous and inclusive suggestions … even for us
    gluten-free folks. (I’m experimenting with sourdough gluten-free bread. So far, so good.
    But not great. I’m not a baker so this is a huge learning curve for me. I’d just like some bread
    I can tolerate that tastes better than the expensive and yucky-tasting gluten-free stuff in the stores.
    And “nursing” my sourdough starter has been fun … it really is like a “pet” – have to get
    to know its moods. ha!

  46. 46

    Chris says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    It was fun opening up the box as if it were a Christmas present, but I almost had a heart attack when I saw you open the box with that knife, pulling the blade directly toward your heart !!! Please Kevin, when you open a box with a knife, push the knife AWAY from you. From a former nurse who had to fill out all of the accident reports at work “How could this accident have been prevented ?

  47. 47

    Arlene Sperk says

    May 3, 2020 at 10:31 pm

    Kevin, I enjoyed your box opening. We live in Ohio with a large Amish/Mennonite community about 2 counties south of us. We go to several bulk stores but one you may be interested in is The Ashery. They have a website; https://www.asherycountrystore.com/ and they will also mail to you. Their prices are incrediable and we go quite often. They have fresh peanut butter(s) more than 1 variety, honey, spices and deli meats too. Check them out when you have time.

  48. 48

    Julie says

    May 4, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    Honeybee..My family thinks the way I have been doing chocolate chip cookies for 60 years is perfect! Use the recipe on the 12 oz bag of Nestles chips and add 1 c. oatmeal..whichever kind you have, quick or old fashioned, and 1 c. shredded coconut, and 3/4-1 c. chopped walnuts The batter is firm so do by hand. Enjoy!

  49. 49

    Vickie Cook says

    May 4, 2020 at 3:16 pm

    Kevin-
    I just want to say I love your sense of humor!
    Be well and keep on baking!

  50. 50

    Linda Wendeborn says

    May 5, 2020 at 1:45 am

    Thank you for sharing Beachy’s number. I called them and had all my baking items sent to me. It got here in 3 days! And I live in Alaska, and everything takes a long time to get here. Thanks again! No more Amazon for me! Stay safe, and happy baking!!

  51. 51

    Meghan Girroir says

    May 5, 2020 at 12:46 pm

    Hi Kevin,
    I would also love a pizza demonstration as well as a pie crust demonstration. I chuckled at the flour comment.
    Stay safe and healthy,
    Meg

  52. 52

    Barbara says

    May 6, 2020 at 7:12 am

    What kind of people have Americans become when we can’t let a gentle, innocuous remark go without getting in somebody’s face?

  53. 53

    Amy says

    May 7, 2020 at 8:13 am

    I love how you triggered so many people. People are too sensitive these days!

  54. 54

    Margie says

    May 10, 2020 at 6:36 pm

    You made me laugh out loud at the flour remark! Glad I wasn’t drinking my coffee at the time. I would love to have you make cinnamon rolls. The gooey rich kind with lots of cinnamon and topping. I bet yours would be great. Second vote would be pizza!

  55. 55

    Olivia says

    May 10, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    Kevin, I am another happy baker thanks to the information you provided in your last flour/yeast post. I made a field trip to Canaan this weekend and stocked up on various flours, yeast, and sugar (not to mention popcorn, gingersnaps and bulk candy). The General Store is as well-stocked as you described and the owners were so nice. And it was a pleasant scenic drive from my home in the Catskills. Thank you for being such a great resource for your readers!

  56. 56

    Irene Goldsmith says

    May 13, 2020 at 6:49 am

    Kevin:

    I’ve been enjoying your videos for some time and greatly appreciate many of the tips you share with viewers. In gratitude, as a fellow New Yorker, I have one for you. Rather than buying bread flour, which I too used until it was not available during this pandemic, try using all-purpose flour (apf) and adding to it gluten (a bob’s redmill product). I discovered that bread flour is nothing more than apf supplemented with gluten. It’s cheaper to buy the two products than bread flour and this way you can control the gluten in your bread mixture. As an avid challah baker, particularly on Fridays, I consider the insight the silver lining in an otherwise dark pandemic cloud. Happy cooking, baking and gardening.

  57. 57

    Jeanette says

    March 29, 2021 at 8:00 am

    I love your blog. We just bought your cookbook and love it. We make many of your recipes. We get weekly orders of vegetables from our small scale farm distributors so have now used many vegetables that were new to us.
    We live in southern Ontario and thankfully have no problem finding baking supplies in our local stores. We totally agree with your political comment!!

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