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!!