Peanut Butter and Faith
By: Stephanie Harris
Updated: January 15, 2009
If you want to make 500 pounds of peanut brittle, its better to think like a contractor than a confectioner. Thats why a whole team of workers show up at Alvas First Methodist Church to mix raw peanuts, sugar and corn syrup.
Cook it up to almost 300 degrees, stir in vanilla and real butter and spread it out to cool.
Fred Newman started this tradition in the church basement more than half a century ago.
He had a boys choir back then, and a good recipe for peanut brittle.
Fred thought it might make a good fundraiser, and a tradition was born.
Fred retired from directing his choir, but the church took over, and Fred stayed to direct this sticky ensemble.
Among his recruits are former boys choir members, church folk and even dentists.
The brittle cools overnight.
The next day, customers in Alva start ordering.
The batches hardly ever last more than a week.
Fred Newman was on to something when he started this candy making tradition.
Something about it stuck and so did Fred.
