Indiana Specialty Food Creator Offers Outrageously Delicious Vegan and Gluten Free Specialty Confections and Products

 

To many of many of her friends and family members, Cara Matheis led an ultra glamorous life-- jetting about the country opening up new stores for the luxury clothing brand Burberry. But four years ago she made the move to South Bend, Indiana after marrying her longtime love and traded her high powered career for a more settled personal life.

"Relocating to South Bend forced me to recreate myself." she explained." While I enjoyed the work at Burberry, there were times when it just felt like a job. Towards the end of that part of my life there were many times when I didn't feel connected or enthusiastic about what I was doing. I knew it was time for a change. The problem was, I didn't know what the change was going to be."

After making the move to South Bend, the life-long vegetarian and recent vegan spent time in her home kitchen making healthy treats and shared them with her friends and family. She also took a job at the Carriage House Dining Room and Gardens in South Bend where she was employed as a temporary administrative staff member filling in for a woman on leave. When the woman returned to work, Cara stayed on at the restaurant which offers high style international fare in a breathtakingly beautiful atmosphere. "My job at the Carriage House helped me explore options in the culinary field. I discovered my passion. It was then that I decided to develop and sell my own line of healthy foods and specialty confections. "

Operating under the name Scarlet O'Cara, Cara has created an impressive product line. " All my items are vegan and gluten free. The best sellers are my raw bars. I've created 20 different ones including Mulberry and Cashew, Pure Protein, Chocolate Chia, Super Cranberry, Berry Medley, and Almond Crisp.  All ingredients are raw and all nuts are soaked and sprouted adhering to specific raw food practices.

I also offer chocolate chip and date granola bars, brownies, granola including Mango and Macadamia, Pomegranate and Pecan, Blueberry and Flax; raw truffles including Tropical Truffles, Cranberry and Pecan; cookies and mini-Bundt cakes (Hummingbird, Coconut and Chocolate). And I have herb infused salts, gluten free pancake mix and tea breads.

The pancake mix is a favorite of mine because it makes such light and fluffy pancakes--something that is fairly difficult to accomplish with a gluten free mix. I love to create new products and always have something new every week for my customers to try."

 

Cara's products can be found at the Purple Porch Co-Op, New Buffalo Farmers' Market, and the South Bend Farmer's Market. For more information contact her at scarletocara@excite.com  

Photos courtesy of Cara Matheis.
Photo One: Cara Matheis
Photo Two: Cara's Booth "A Dedicated Life" at the South Bend Farmers' Market

Comments

[Selina]

Cara is so super sweet & her goodies are delicious!