Sad Goodbyes

I just left my job after 4+ years, while it is sad to say goodbye to so many good friends, I am excited to start the next chapter in my career at a new company.  It should come as no surprise that many people gave me candy as going-away gifts.  I am smiling just thinking about it, my friends know me so well and know that nothing makes me happier than something sweet!

As I sit here on a snowy Sunday afternoon in April (yes, snowy, we have had over a foot of snow this weekend) I started thinking about candy that we have said goodbye to over the years. So, just like during all award shows the following is my “In Memoriam” list of discontinued favorites (in no particular order)  – cue music…. 

Feel free to add your favorites as well!

• Snaps
• Red Hot Dollars (accept no substitutes)
• Chuckles (not quite extinct, but hard to find)
• Snirkles
• Brach’s Kentucky Mints
• Candy lipstick (accept no substitutes)
• SevenUp Candy Bar (though apparently re-released as a Sky Bar)
• Neccos (see my post from August 16, 2011)
• Beemans chewing gum

The Healing Power of Sweets

I woke up this morning feeling a little down, I had good news to share and was sad my mom wasn’t here for me to share it with her.  I am always surprised when the loss of a parent hits as hard as it does.  Admittedly, not a most positive way to start my day (though a nice hug from Steve helped!).  Then at work a co-worker brought in some candy to share from her trip to the UK.  I thought that was nice, but gummy bears – yawn – not overly excited.  Then she gave me the bag to open, inside was a delight of gummy candy from Haribo – miniature cola bottles, little bears, red hearts with a foamy underbelly, diamond rings, and most delightfully foamy fried eggs!  Immediately my mood changed and I felt giddy with excitement, the first thing I thought was “oh I wish I had a dollhouse” these miniature candies were just too cute! 

It got better!  I bite into the egg, tasted the foamy goodness of the “egg white” then encountered the lemony “yolk” and immediately sounded like Duff Goldman from the Food Network describing what I was tasting.  Yes, my co-worker did give me a strange look, but I didn’t care.  When I told her I was feeling kind of blue about my mom this morning she gently pushed the bag of gummies toward me and said take all you want.  For the record, I did show some restraint, but it was just what I needed to turn my day around.  Never underestimate the healing powers of candy – no matter how old you are!

Sweet Jules Caramels

Wow, is all I can say!  You absolutely have to try these caramels.  

Check out their website at: http://www.sweetjulesgifts.com/

I happened to stumble upon these mouthwatering caramels by accident.  A friend of mine who knows I love anything sweet brought me a sample.  At first I thought, that was nice of her, but caramels?  I can take or leave them.  That was until I tried my first one!  One bite and I am completely hooked.  Seriously, hooked. 

These are my favorites – dark chocolate & salted pecan.  Think of it – bite into buttery caramel pecans, if that wasn’t heaven enough, the caramel is topped with dark chocolate.  The perfect trio of delightfulness!  My other top favorite is Fleur de Sel.  This is a caramel with hand-harvested French sea salt.  The combination of sweet and salty is out of this world, simply out of this world!  Other noteworthy ones:   Beer & Pretzel (yes, that is right), Sicilian Orange (you absolutely need to try this one), or Bananas Foster (doesn’t the name just make you smile)?  The best part – is that each caramel is color-coded so you always know which one you are biting into. 

I have a secret stash, just for me.  I had to hide them from my husband because he doesn’t appreciate the subtle flavors and gooey goodness like I do (that is my excuse and I am sticking to it)!!

Friends!

The power of friendship is something very strong.  I have few friends, mostly because I am an introvert and enjoy time alone and tend to spend time only with those who matter most to me – my family.  Because of that I don't expect a lot from people, but when someone is nice to me I am always surprised, definitely pleased and a little sad that I don’t make more effort to expand my circle of friends.

Lately the power of sharing my love for candy has widened my circle of friends which is delightful, but also a little scary because I still suck at being a friend.  Laura, a co-worker of mine, was spending the Christmas holidays in Ireland and promised to bring me back some candy.  I was hopeful, but didn’t know what to expect.  Well, I was completely gobsmacked (yes, note the nod to the use of the British word, but not to be confused with Willy Wonka’s Everlasting Gobstoppers) when Laura brought me this massive bag of candy from Ireland – many of which I have never seen before, and many Cadbury brands (the real Cadbury, not the new fake version).  I don’t think she even had an inkling of how much that meant to me (again, not comfortable when people are overly nice to me), and how much I enjoyed savoring each individual piece, delighting in their newness!  I felt quite special!

Then just a few weeks ago, another co-worker Elena, this wonderful woman who is originally from Russia, promised me some Russian candy if I helped her with a project.  Yes, bribery works when candy is involved (though I would have helped her regardless!).  She followed through on her promise and brought me this box of Russian chocolates – one of her childhood favorites!  By the way, the candy is semi-sweet chocolate with a marshmallow center – different than Brach’s marshmallow eggs, more exotic in taste! Again, I was a little uncomfortable with the attention, but secretly pleased that she went out of her way to do this for me. 

What I realized that from these two experiences is that friendship can be a very simple undertaking.  It doesn’t need to involve grand gestures or long term commitments or promises, but can be easy and without structure. It is about finding things that connect you to the other person – even something as simple as chocolate – and without much effort that bond is formed and you will be forever linked. 

Yes, it is true – there is candy I have never had before

I have been in a candy rut for a while now.  I have become complacent, sticking to the familiar: jelly bellys, tootsie rolls (chocolate and vanilla), my usual seasonal favorites (salt water taffy, candy corn) and so on.  Then I received a package from my sweet sister-in-law Pam, that was full of candy from a store in Salt Lake City – some that I am familiar with (e.g., Necco’s, salt water taffy) and some I have never heard of or seen before (e.g., Cherry Cocktail, Idaho Spud, Chick-o-Stick).  In fact, this photo contains those wonderful specimens, including additional ones that I received as gifts.  Also, notice the Candy jigsaw puzzle from Colleen!!!  I started working on it today and the whole time I kept thinking  - oh, I love that; oh, I haven’t had that for years, and even oh, I have never had that before!  So, I decided 2015 will be all about trying candy I have never had before.  First I will start with the goodies Pam sent me – starting with Idaho Spud (that one is just too interesting not to be the first one!) and then I am officially on a quest to try candy I have never had before (of course along with my staples, I mean, come on!). 

Food Network magazine had an article in their December issue on Sweets From Every State. Check it out: http://goo.gl/M16t0i.  I am going to use that as my inspiration to get started and we will see where this takes me.  I will report back with the hits and misses.  I just love an excuse to not only try new things, but also to keep my sweet tooth satisfied! 

Sisters!

Over the years the bonds of family seem to come together and grow apart.  Certainly, as kids all under one roof, the relationship with your siblings takes on a special meaning.  The old adage “too much togetherness is not always a good thing” definitely holds true – especially when nine people are living under one roof.  Then we all grow up, go our separate ways, have kids of our own, etc.  But as you get older one thing becomes incredibly clear – no one knows you better than your sisters!  For example, during our “sisters” book club (comprised of sisters, daughters, nieces and cousins) my sister Kathy knew, without any hesitation, that my favorite childhood book is Flicka Ricka and Dicka and the New Dotted Dresses.  I am still blown away by that – not only is that such an obscure book, there are so many childhood books to choose from!  Sisters also always have your back – both Anne and Kathy know I get stressed over cooking so they always assign the simplest tasks for me at holidays.  And, even more importantly as we care for our elderly mother, it is comforting knowing we have each other to laugh, cry and complain with as we go through this experience together.

 

Okay, by now you are wondering what does that have to do with candy?  Well, let me tell you!  For my birthday Kathy and Anne gave me a gift certificate to Candyland (can’t you just hear the trumpets playing and angels signing when you see the word “Candyland”, I certainly do)!   And to put the candy in – a beautiful, modern and sleek candy dish!  We always get together for our birthday lunches and it is funny, but after I opened my gift, I immediately drifted off thinking of what I was going to buy with my gift certificate!  While everyone was talking I was thinking Chicago Mix popcorn, burnt peanuts, taffy, will the holiday candy be out yet.  Pretty pathetic!

 

But this adventure doesn’t end here – Anne told me today about this place called Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store and how we need to go check it out.  Naturally, I immediately Googled it - http://www.yelp.com/biz/jims-apple-farm-jordan-2 .  It is only open from July through November, so the visit may need to wait until next year, but my sisters and I are definitely going.  My “sister from another mother” – Pam, definitely needs to come to town for this too.  Who else is in?

A blog about sisters, especially my sisters, wouldn't be complete without the following image: 

To Everything There Is A Season And A Time To Every Purpose Under Heaven.

You may think that quote sounds like a passage from Ecclesiastes or maybe even a song made famous by the Byrds in the ‘60’s and you would be correct on both fronts, but for me it also describes my “seasons” of candy and how each one is anticipated, savored, then a little sad as the seasons change. 

Winter – Winter can be a long, solemn period of time.  There are moments of fun like Christmas when all excuses to behave are thrown out the window and one can indulge themselves in all the best the season has to offer: fudge, ribbon candy, candy canes, cookies, peanut brittle, etc.  January quickly follows, but I usually have enough leftovers from Christmas to get me through to February (plus, yes, like everyone else in the world I tend to cut back on the calories come the new year, for a while at least!).  Winter mellows to welcome in Valentines Day, I smile as I type remembering the lovely box of chocolates I experienced last month with its multitude of flavors.

Spring – call me fickle, but literally within a day after Valentines Day I scope out the stores waiting patiently for Easter candy to arrive.  To me Spring and Easter Candy are synonymous with bright, happy colors, flavors, and simply, Joy.  There are certain jelly beans that are available only during this short season so I take full advantage and celebrate every day.  Plus, Cadbury mini eggs come out – need I say more (well, I could since they seem to be at Christmas now too, but I shun them in Winter and enjoy them only in Spring).

Summer – what is it about summer and candy?  There is no special holiday to stock the shelves with fanciful candies.  One would think it is slim pickings for sure.  But for me it will always be about salt water taffy, circus peanuts, peanut logs and candy buttons.  These are the things I enjoyed as a kid and, well as an adult I still do (though it has been several years since I had candy buttons.)

Fall – oh don’t you just love Fall.  Cool, crisp air, excitement of returning to school, and of course Fall candy.  Overlook the obvious Halloween candy, and think of maple sugar candy – biting through the sugar coated maple leaf into soft and oh so sweet maple candy is perfection!   But even I can only have a few, they are very, very sweet!  Fall also brings candy corn, a seasonal favorite of mine (as you know), but here again there are rules, never buy candy corn until mid-September at the earliest, it is a law.

So yes, like the song/bible quote says there is a time to weep (as the candy season fades), and a time to laugh (the first bit of a favorite piece of chocolate); a time to mourn (my pectin jelly beans are gone), and a time to dance – there is always a time to dance (how else does one burn off all those calories!)

Posh Candy

When it comes to sweets, I am definitely a meat and potato kind of a girl – give me a Butterfinger over fancy chocolate any day of the week!  There are certain kinds of candy that are just too posh for me.  For example, Jordan Almonds (you know those almonds that tend to show up at weddings), while very pretty in their hard coated candy shells, are simply difficult to eat and for very little reward.  Give me peanut M&Ms and I am happy.  What about those little silver imperial type candies that make their way onto cakes and cookies?  Sure they are pretty, but have you ever tried eating them?  Totally impossible and not worth the effort. 

Then the ultimate posh candy – chocolate painstakingly painted with gold leaf designs, with very grownup fillings inside.  Sure they are beautiful, almost works of art.  But worth it?  I’m not convinced.  A simple box of Russell Stover chocolate and I am happy as can be!

Fancy candies aside, I should be making my New Year’s resolutions right about now – should I cut back on my sweet intake (no), show some restraint (possibly), try sugar-free candy (hell, no), but instead I am sitting here thinking about the next holiday in front of us – Valentines Day!  I’m looking forward to the first box of candy hearts (you know, when they are still slightly soft – they are the best that way!), along with cherry hearts.  And as for chocolate, you don’t have to bother with an expensive box of chocolates for me.  Keep it simple and I will love you all the more for it!

Happy New Year everyone!

Sugar Babies!!

I don’t know, but I think Sugar Babies are an esoteric type candy – they aren’t well known, or are they?  I don’t really care, because you know what?  I really like them.  (This picture is from my desk, enjoying a bag of Sugar Babies at work).   They are the offspring (hah!  Pun intended) of Sugar Daddy, a caramel lollipop.  I am not a big fan of Sugar Daddy, I don’t get the point of a caramel lollipop, but the little Sugar Babies are different!  Yes, they still are a caramel of sorts, but they have a nice sugary coating over the caramel.  I find them to be the best when they are fresh, so stay away from the ones in a box and instead look for the ones in a bag (they stay fresher in a bag, I swear!).  If you have never tried them, you should!  They are definitely a refreshing change from chocolate or jelly beans.

I think in my very first post I talked about taking out my candy jar and filling it with candy for my grandchildren  someday - well guess what?  Since writing that very first post I am a grandmother to two beautiful babies – Lucy and Ed.  My very own Sugar Babies (as they are so sweet!!).  While they may be babies today, I can’t wait to spoil them with sugary treats in the not to distant future!  I believe it is my duty as a grandmother to spoil my grandbabies as much as possible and give them treats they may not otherwise get at home!  I am so looking forward to the day when Lucy and Ed come over, go directly to the hidden drawer of candy (shh, their parent’s won’t know about it) and delve into something sugary, soft and sweet.  Could anything be more simple or sweet?

(Don’t worry kids, I promise not to introduce them to Coke (duh, the beverage) until they are at least 6 or 7.)

All in a Name

As humans we tend to indulge ourselves from time to time.  Be it alcohol, ice cream, comfort food or candy.  Whether it is to drown our sorrows, cope with whatever is going on in our lives or a way to relieve negative energy and increase positive feelings.  When we feel sad we turn to what gives us comfort and likewise when we are feeling happy we may celebrate with a drink, birthday cake, etc. 

When I am feeling blue or not quite on my game I often turn to candy to make me feel better.  It is a way to cope and to cheer myself up.  I still practice moderation, but it usually lifts my spirits and life seems a bit brighter. 


I don’t think it is a coincidence that one of my favorite “feeling blue” pick me ups are Chuckles – you know – the sugar coated jelly candies in five different flavors.  The name itself makes you smile.  And that by itself truly is a step in the right direction!  My research didn’t reveal why they are called Chuckles, except I learned the inventor’s wife came up with the name.  Okay, whatever! 


Each package contains five pieces of candy always in the following order: cherry, lemon, licorice, orange and lime.  But just because they come in that order doesn’t mean you must enjoy them that way.  I think anyone who has eaten Chuckles before has their favorite flavor.  And as everyone knows, you always save the best for last, right?

I’m staring at a pack of Chuckles right now trying to decide which flavor I always save for last.  It comes down between cherry and licorice.  The cherry is sweet and happy whereas the licorice is a bit richer and darker.  So now I just realized the order I eat Chuckles is in direct correlation to my mood!!  Wow, who would have figured that?  I am going to have a chuckle over that right now (literally and figuratively!).  And today, I suspect cherry will be the last one standing.

Candy Update and Tootsie Rolls!!

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Wow, I haven’t updated my blog for a long time!!  Don’t for a minute think that I haven’t been indulging in my favorite past time, of course I have, but with one exception!  Shortly after jelly bean season I decided to try to give up sugar to see how it would make me feel.  Everyone swears they feel better after cutting out sugar.  So I did it!  I did surprisingly well at first, but after 5 days I really started to feel funny, I wasn’t feeling better like everyone swear would happen, in fact I felt progressively worse each day.  By day 7 I decided enough was enough and realized that my body is so used to sugar that it started to shut down without it!  So from here on out, I will always have something sweet near by (my sweet husband notwithstanding), my life depends on it!

But part of the reason I haven’t updated my blog is because I am rather consistent in my arsenal of candy.  I enjoyed Easter candy season as always (I made sure to stock up on those jelly beans you can only get once a year), and now it is salt water taffy season and am delighted to see that my source now sells bulk vanilla and banana salt water taffy (my two favorite flavors) so I have been enjoying that.  In fact, Candyland has a maple bacon flavor – oh is it good, you should try it!!  And as always, I have jelly bellys in hand, mints and occasionally circus peanuts.  I wouldn’t call this a rut, but rather my version of comfort food!

I recently added tootsie rolls to my candy stash.  You may balk at this and think it is a poor man’s version of chocolate, but I assure you it is not.  It is the best of both worlds – it has a chocolate flavor, it is chewy and best of all it is very low in calories (about 23 calories each) so you can get your sugar fix without guilt (that is if you feel guilty about consuming candy, which as you know I don’t).  Plus, there is something so nostalgic about Tootsie Rolls, isn’t there? I think as we age there is a natural pull to remember our youth and for me in the pile of sweets I have enjoyed throughout my life there is a brown, red and white wrapper with a chocolate log inside of it.  And quite simply, it puts a smile on my face!

Holiday Cheer!!

Wow, I can’t believe the holidays are already upon us.  What a great time of year – time spent with family and friends, good will among all, presents, blah, blah, blah!! Who am I kidding – for me near top of the list (I can’t say THE top of the list without wreaking havoc from my family) is Christmas candy and holiday goodies!  If you know me at all, you know I have already bought one (or two) bags of my favorite peppermint Christmas nougats, a box of ribbon candy (oh, if only it was available year round), holiday spice drops, as well as the perennial chocolate – anything!! Go to Candyland – they have a great assortment of holiday candy, including holiday salt water taffy! Best time of the year for certain!

In addition, I usually make one or two batches of “Mrs. Budge’s Fudge” to share with family and friends.  But this year my two biggest fans of my fudge (my dad who passed away earlier this year and my brother Tim who is not coming home for Christmas - again!) aren’t going to be with us, so I don’t know if I am actually up for it.  Instead I’m thinking of making popcorn balls!  I love popcorn.  In fact, when I make popcorn it is like an art form – each batch must have just the right amount of burnt pieces (yes, burnt pieces, I love burnt popcorn). But popcorn balls are actually tough to get just right – if you heat syrup too long the popcorn balls become rock hard and basically inedible!  So, this year I am going to dig out my old Betty Crocker cookbook (the one in inherited from my grandmother), find the recipe we used as kids and make a batch or two. No highfalutin high-end, gourmet popcorn balls for me, just the good old fashioned ones! So this year, if you find a bowl full of popcorn balls, I promise they will be edible and made with love (with no burnt pieces – I’ll keep those for myself)!  Happy Holidays Everyone!!

My New Obsession

 Yes, I have many.  But every now and then something new jumps out at you, smacks you in the face and says I am wonderful – try me!!!  My latest favorite indulgence -  chocolate covered caramels with sea salt!  There is something special about the sweet creamy chocolate with the chewy caramel combined with just a hint of sea salt.  The kind that makes your insides melt just thinking about it.

But with every true obsession comes with finding the best source.  I first came across these wonderful caramels at a small candy shop in Minneapolis.  Then I found a brand (see photo) at Kowalski’s which contains both milk chocolate and dark chocolate.  My kids will tell you I hate Kowalski’s – I dislike their uppity attitude, their high prices, and lack of sales.  But, I admit I do love their mini-cinnamon morning rolls (you HAVE to try them).  So I started shopping there more regularly (I bring along my crabby attitude toward them on each trip however).  Then I discovered they have this fabulous selection of chocolate.  (Yes, slightly less crabby now as a result).  Nevertheless, I am seeking alternative sources for my new addiction.  I hear Trader Joe’s has them, but come on when is the last time you have been able to easily park at any Trader Joe’s?  So, if you happen to come across them elsewhere, please be sure to let me know.  And, if you haven’t stumbled across these yet, you absolutely have to try them! They are to die for!!

Circus Peanuts!!!!

People either love them or hate them.  I for one love them!   Not sure why.  They taste kind of funny (my research indicated that they are banana flavored – go figure!), the texture is downright strange, but all the same, just the name conjures up great memories and happy feelings!

The name alone sparks excitement – who doesn’t love a circus? But for me it is pure and simple a summer time candy.  Summer tends to bring big families together.  As kid growing up in the suburbs when school let out for the summer you lost touch with your school friends, and were forced to hang with your siblings.  As one of seven kids we were never without a playmate.  This was especially true when we would go to the lake.  Suddenly we were all best friends.  We would spend hours together, whether swimming, playing cards in the boat house, playing hide and seek at night, ganging up on our parents to take us somewhere or another, and of course going to the candy store.  As best friends, it was also a time of sharing with each other – and for my sister, Kathy, and I it was sharing a bag of Circus Peanuts together.  I’m not even sure I remember why we chose Circus Peanuts as one of staple candies, perhaps it was because of our Grandfather Curry or because the Candy Store had them, it doesn’t really matter.  They simply are one of those nostalgic candies from my past and as such makes me incredibly happy! So I love Circus Peanuts for the memory of my childhood, for spending time with my brothers and sisters and enjoying our time together.

Fast forward to the present day – our dad passed away a month ago. Something so sad was made quite special as I watched the seven of us band together to help our mom through the funeral planning, the mass, and picking up all the pieces after someone dies.  We may not see each other every day, and several of us live out of state, but you know, we are still a family, we have a history together that we share with no one but us, memories that don’t fade because when we are together they bubble up and explode in joyful abandon around us! 

Back to Circus Peanuts for a bit – did you know that in 1963, General Mill’s vice president John Holahan stumbled upon a discovery that putting Circus Peanuts shavings in his breakfast cereal made for a tasty combination, thus invented the breakfast cereal Lucky Charms?  Did you know my Dad worked at General Mill’s?  Also, did you know that back in the 1800’s when Circus Peanuts were first on the market they were only a summertime candy (due to a lack of packaging to preserve the candy)?   Didn’t I say they were a summertime candy for me?  Coincidence?  I think not!!  No matter, they are still quite simply one of my favorite candies (I bought two bags as research in writing this post – the first bag I ended up sharing with others, but the second bag, well let’s just say I kept it well hidden so no sharing was involved!).

Go buy yourself a bag today.  I challenge you not to love these sweet, silly, orange colored, banana-flavored, peanut-shaped treats!!

Simple Pleasures!

Life is full of simple pleasures; simple things that make you smile or warms your heart.  I would rather have a million simple pleasures than a million dollars any day because that is what forms who we are, how we feel and keeps us alive. 

I stocked up on Jelly Belly’s yesterday.  I haven’t bought them for a while (obviously) because the stores were stocked full of the once-a-year jelly beans.  I needed to have a supply in my purse for when I am on the road (going to Texas for a week).  The best thing about Jelly Belly’s is that you never know what flavor you will be biting into.  As I was driving home from the store I opened the bag and pulled out a small handful  - the first flavor: tangerine!  I immediately smiled and just felt so good inside.  Who would have thought that something so simple would make me feel so happy!

Likewise, and I know this is so obvious, but chocolate and red wine is a fabulous combination.  I was enjoying a nice glass of cabernet sauvignon and pulled out my favorite Lindt milk chocolate truffles.  I bit into the truffle then took a sip of wine and BAM!!! it was a flavor explosion in my mouth.  Suddenly I could taste the fruity undertones of the wine  - wow, I was in heaven!  Strangely enough without the chocolate the wine wasn’t nearly as good.  From now on wine will always be consumed with chocolate!!  Again, this was something so simple, yet so delightful that just thinking about it makes me I smile over the thought of it!

Simple pleasures aren’t just sweets they are those everyday little things that make you feel good about the world.  For me they include listening to Colleen sing (all is right in the world when my baby sings – it is a fact); hearing the birds sing outside my window; a dog’s thumping tail when they see you walk in the room (Otto, my boy I miss you); when Steve says or does something that makes me laugh – one of those giggles that start way deep in your belly and explodes out of your mouth; that feeling you get when you get under the covers at night, all snuggly and warm; the sun on my face; that first swig of Coke as it burns down your throat; dancing (even if at times only the remembrance of it); helping my clients succeed; reading a good book….I could go on and on. 

I highly recommend looking for, acknowledging, reveling in, and enjoying simple pleasures every day.  What are your favorite simple pleasures?

By Gum!!

I woke up the other morning and uttered “By Gum, I’m going to do it!”  After the words came out of my mouth I shook my head, laughed and said “by gum” where on earth did that come from!!  (Yes, I find myself very entertaining).  “By gum” for those that don’t know is a phrase from northern England, mostly archaic outside that area, and means something like “By God.” 


But it got me thinking about gum, naturally.  It is funny, I’m not a big gum fan.  I was taught by my Grandmother Kennedy that chewing gum was not lady-like, thus it was frowned upon.  Also, it is stereotypical (at least in the movies) that women who chew gum aren’t very smart, so more the reason not to, right?  But sometimes, just sometimes, it feels damn good to chew up a storm, and if you are lucky, open a piece of Bazooka bubble gum, read the invariably stupid joke that appears inside the wrapper and see who can blow the biggest bubble!

Actually starting tomorrow I am going to try to cut down on my sugar intake. It is true!  Easter season is behind us, and although I still have several bags of jelly beans and chocolate eggs stashed away, I need to get back on track and temper this habit of mine a bit.  But here is the problem, I love something sweet after a meal, it is going to take a lot willpower not to tear open something, anything.  I thought a way to control this would be to try sugarless gum as a way to get through that sweet craving.  So, if you see me and I am chewing on a piece of gum (you may need to look closely, I am a very demur gum chewer - old habits die hard), don’t think less of me, in fact, you should applaud my efforts for cutting back on my sugar!!  By Gum, I am going to do it!!

Let the Season Begin...

Let it begin – the best candy season of all!  The minute the box of Valentine chocolates are taken off the shelves, I start stalking the drug stores, Target, grocery stores, etc., waiting and watching for the season to begin!  You know it – I am talking about all the wonderful Easter candy.  I get quite giddy with excitement when I see the first bags of jelly beans nestled in the shelves waiting just for me! I admit it, I am an Easter candy junkie.   

The season is short so I permit this one little form of indulgence once a year, come on, I deserve it right?  I start with a bag of Brach’s spice jelly beans, then load up on the classic flavor, turn to Russell Stover’s pectin jelly beans, then back to the spice ones. And that is just the jelly beans, don’t forget about Cadbury’s mini-eggs, the marshmallow eggs, vanilla cream eggs, the list goes on and on.   

Nothing is off limits, and yes, I even will buy some Peeps. I tell myself they are an Easter tradition, every kid should have them in their Easter basket (that is correct, of course my children still get Easter baskets – well, some form of something stocked full of candy, I need at least an appearance that I am buying all this candy for someone other than myself, don’t I?). Back to Peeps, I but they every year, but my kids have completely eschewed them, refuse to tear back the cellophane, pull apart a Peep and lick the sugar off their fingers (hard to believe, but it is true).  But this year, this year, I am hoping the boys in their lives will exclaim with happiness “oh Mary, I love Peeps.”  Even if they don’t it is okay, I’ll let the Peeps rest in the back of a cupboard for a couple of months, then I’ll stumble across them, smile and tear them open. There is nothing quite as heavenly as a stale yellow sugared Peep!

Dear reader, I am sorry this post is so boring, nothing poetic, thought provoking or memorable – it is just a rambling about my obsession over Easter candy.  But you need to cut me some slack here, like I said the season is short, I need to enjoy it while it lasts! 

P.S.,  it isn’t quite as obsessive as it sounds, truly.  I have my limits. For example, when I open a bag of spice jelly beans I toss (or leave for Steve to eat, he isn’t fussy) all the gross colors (black, orange, and purple) and keep only the good ones.  I do have some self control!!