To Have and To Hold

One of my bestest friends is getting married in Mexico this coming April. I have been gifted the honor of creating her wedding suite. Just finished up the save-the-dates and look forward to shipping off the little guys in the mail tomorrow morning. She wanted to do something unique and involving candy. A match made in sugarpants heaven as far as I'm concerned.46 tiny suitcases filled with "champagne bubbles" candy will be headed toward guests' mailboxes starting tomorrow!

Fun, fun, fun in the sun

Today is such a pretty day. It makes me want to eat piles of tiny pancakes in my backyard while Furter runs in the sprinkler followed by a party with aqua macaroons (I will taste one some day. I will!) and candy neatly organized into glass containers. I would need very tiny tongs.

For Peeps Fans- 2010 edition

Last year I posted some pics from the 3rd annual Washington Post Peeps Diorama competition. Windsor sent me the link to this year's winning entries (Thanks Windsor!) and all I can say is WOW!

This is my fave:

You can check out the rest HERE.

#5 in my list of all time favorite candy is...

CADBURY CREME EGGS!

While some people find them utterly disgusting, they are always something I look forward to when Easter candy hits the stores. My favorite thing to do with them is suck the yolk out. The technique is pretty similar to how you blow out a regular egg. I have also tried making a tiny hole in the egg and then inserting a straw to try to get the insides out but the "yolk" is too thick. As as kid I could down 3 of these in one sitting but now 1 at a time is enough.

I soooooo wish this giant egg would come drop a trunk-load of creme eggs in my driveway.

Here are a few fun/weird/gross things to do with Cadbury Creme Eggs:

How to Make a Giant Cadbury Creme Egg

How to Make Cadbury Creme Egg Muffins

#6 in my list of all time favorite candy is...

CHICK-O-STICKS!

Shake that chick o stick ohh that chick o stick ohh shake that chick o stick ohh that chick o stick boy shake that chick o stick yea that chick o stick yea that chick o stick yea.

Usually when I am eating a Chick-O-Stick, I have someone ask, "What IS that?" It shocks me how many people out there have never tasted one! The only thing I can ever think to compare the taste to is the center of a Butterfinger. The outside is covered with toasted coconut. Mmmm. When they were originally introduced back in the day, they were called "Chicken Bones". The name changed to Chick-o-Sticks in 1955 because another company already owned the name. Good thing because I can't say I ever would have fathomed trying candy by that name.

Here is a delightful little quote I found on the Atkinson's candy website when researching for this post:

"Your candy takes me back to one of the happiest times in my life. Chick-O-Sticks remind me of thunder storms, black walnut trees, a cozy porch swing, Mom beautiful as a movie star in her poodle skirt and sweater, WoolWorth's chocolate sodas, KHOG radio station, chicken after Sunday church, making mud pies. Life was beautiful back then. Life was simple and a joy to live."

Thanks for that "Peggy from Illinois."

If I had a nickel for every memory I have of my mom as a movie star in her poodle skirt I'd be rich!

#7 in my list of all time favorite candy is...

Vanilla Charleston Chews!

They are delicious! And yes, you should try them frozen. Here's the back story on these delectable little slices of heaven:

-consists of flavored nougat covered in chocolate

-created in 1922 by the Fox-Cross Candy Company

-named for the Charleston, a popular dance at that time.

-available in vanilla, chocolate, blueberry, and strawberry flavors. At one time there was a fifth flavor, banana. **I have never tried any of the other flavors and can only vouch for the vanilla.**

-Mini Charleston Chews are a bite-sized, similarly-shaped version of the candy bar, introduced in 1998.

-Squirrels love them  

#8 in my list of all time favorite candy is...

Buttered Popcorn Flavored Jelly Belly Jelly Beans!

They are so delicious. Mmm. I am amazed at how much popcorn flavor they fit into those little suckers! Having recently discovered my body has developed a weird allergy to real popcorn, I guess popcorn jelly beans will have to substitute. Buckets and buckets of popcorn jelly beans. Extra butter please!

Despite my love of them, there are quite a few people out there that hate popcorn flavored Jelly Bellies. I mean HATE them! Check it out:

-"Honestly, if I had to choose between buttered popcorn and rotten egg I'm not sure which I'd pick. I HATE buttered popcorn jelly beans."

-"Buttered Popcorn Jelly Beans are the grossest, sickest excuse for a candy I know."

-"I've tried [Jelly Belly] buttered popcorn jelly bean. I still get sick just thinking about it.

There is even an official Facebook Page of "I hate the Buttered Popcorn Jelly Belly."

Whoa. Calm down people. 

#9 in my list of all time favorite candy is...

NECCO Sweetheart Conversation Hearts!

 I love them. I like to eat them until my mouth rebels and refuses to let me taste them. They are especially good after the bag has been open for a day or so and they are a little softer and not as crunchy. The smell of them has been described as, "a blend of Love’s Baby Soft and strawberry candles." Mmmmmm.

While doing research for this report, however, I am now thinking they won't be one of my favorites for much longer. You see, my favorite ones in the whole bag are the yellow ones. Previously they were banana flavored but starting this year they will be lemon flavored. Boo. 

Bye banana! I'll miss you. 

Other changes starting this year are as follows:

-Updated packaging

-Candy will be brighter colors- including sparkly ones which sounds fun!

-New flavors such as strawberry, green apple and blue raspberry

-Tech-savvy terms of endearment like "text me" and Tweet Me"

-There are plans to release the hearts year round with red, white and blue on Memorial Day.

-The white ones are gone completely.

I heart Sweethearts.

Check out the video I found from searching "Necco Sweethearts" on YouTube. Apparently not everyone is a fan.

Gotta love those adorable college kids.

It's National Candy Month! Hooooo-ray!

According to American Food Holidays, January is National Candy Month! So, in honor of this special month, I will spend the next 10 days making a top ten list of my favorite candy. If any one else would like to submit a list of their own, please do so in the comments section. 

#10 in my list of all time favorite candy is...

Brach's Candy Corn. It is America's #1 brand of candy corn and my favorite. Some brands taste just simply taste too waxy. Yuck. As I was writing this, I sat here wondering exactly how candy corn is made. I have had my theories for a while now on how they makes the bands of color and after watching this video, I feel like a genius because I was correct! Stayed tuned for #9 tomorrow.

Even The Onion agrees that Brach's is the best. They even have "research" to prove it.

For Peeps Fans

A friend of mine (thanks Nina) sent me a link so some pretty creative uses of Peeps from the 2nd Annual Sunday Source Peeps Diorama Contest sponsored by the Washington Post. My ultimate favorite, though, is above- the Filipino Prison Thriller video remake Peeps style. I also like black and white still from "The Birds" Peeps style and the Sesame Street crew Peeps style. Check out the rest of the amazingness here. Happy Easter!

Random Peeps Excitement

It's almost Easter which means shelves are lined with rainbows of Peeps! I can't help but be happy when I'm shopping and I come upon a wall of happy little Peeps bunnies and chicks smiling at me. One of my favorite recent memories involving Peeps was when my sister came to visit me here in KC. We stopped at a grocery store on the way home and were stopped dead in our tracks upon seeing their enormous aisle of Easter candy. The Peeps section was like a view of heaven. There were Peeps for miles! Just remembering this experience gets me salivating.

There is a newbie to the mix this year- an 8 pk of chocolate mousse flavored marshmallow bunnies. I'm slightly grossed out by the thought of the chocolate mousse ones but chances are I'll give them a shot anyway. Perhaps at the half price post-Easter sale?

p.s. Behold, the face of Jesus.

p.p.s. This is my nephew. Ok it's not but he sure as hell will be sporting one of these puppies if I can get my mitts on one!