You might have heard about a man finding some lamp on the beach. When he rubs a genie comes out and allows him one wish. The man says that he wishes to be irresistible to women. So the genie turns him into a box of chocolates.
You could almost say that chocolate is addictive - some would leave out the 'almost'. In fact you won't be surprised to learn that, chocolate is probably the most popular flavor on the planet. Hershey alone makes over 34 products based on chocolate like Hershey's Milk Chocolate and Cadbury Royal Dark Chocolate Bar and Almond Joy and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Chocolate Créme Snack Barz and Hershey's Cookies Almond Joy - a literal chocolate fest. Let's face it, it's a chocolate world.
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Augustus: I'm Augustus Gloop. I love your chocolate. Willy Wonka: I can see that. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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When you are looking for chocolate, you can look in every country of the world. Companies like Amano Artisan Chocolate in the U.S. and Hershey's in the U.S. and Theo Chocolate in the U.S. make us a chocolate world. And you can find lots of chocolate for sale on the internet at places like these: Alethea's Chocolates - Assorted handmade chocolates, online and phone orders.
Hoffman's Chocolate Shoppes - 75 varieties of handmade chocolates, including sugar-free varieties. Also offers a confection-of-the-month club.
Mary Chocolatier - Belgian chocolates, hand-made pralines without any preservatives, for the chocolate lovers.
Kron Chocolatier - Gourmet chocolate gift baskets, custom corporate chocolate molds and gifts. Nationwide shipping from Great Neck, NY.
Shari's Berries - Chocolate, hand-dipped fresh strawberries, packaged in a gold gift box or treasure chest. Also, chocolate-dipped Champagne or wine bottles.
Ultimate Confections - Hand dipped homemade specialty chocolates. Gift boxes, baskets and bags for any occasion. Located in Burbank, California..
And if you are wanting chocolate in any unusual shape, you can try chocolate sun. And check out the chocolate warehouse for chocolate quiche, chocolate skittles and chocolate velvet.
You are not alone in your addiction. People have been loving chocolate for at least 3000 years. And now, you have more choices than ever to enjoy your cravings.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Candy Candy Candy - You Can't Get Enough Candy
Do you remember C. Howard Violet Mints and Reeds Cinnamon Candies and Red Licorice Pipes - the candy from the past? It sure takes you back. Candy is so memorable that even my neighbor, Candy Flores is named after it. And, you may have heard of Candy Peterson.
Today there are many choices at the candy stand. It is literally a big rock candy mountain. These are just a few examples: 100 Grand Bar and Mountain Bar and Tootsie Roll Migees and Honeycombed Peanuts and Bonomo's Turkish Taffy.
Although cocoa was grown as early as 1112 BC, candy almost certainly was discovered much earlier as a simple coating of honey on fruits and nuts as well as flowers and seeds. The honey not only gave them an extra sweetness, but it helped to preserve them.
In New England, candy made from molasses and maple syrup as well as marzipan (almond paste) were known in the 1600's and 1700's. Some early medicines eventually took the form of candy - marshmallows, licorice, peppermint and hard candies for example. Early American cookbooks actually include recipes for candies and other sweets like Red crisp almonds and Currant paste and candied Melon citron candied and Cream candy.
Here is a sample recipe of one:
"Apricot Leather Wash 1 package dried apricots and put them in water to soak overnight. Next morning, bring apricots and water to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain thoroughly. (Be sure all the water has drained off.) mash the apricots through a sieve, or belnd in a blender until smooth. Measure pulp: return it to the saucepan and add 1 part sugar to every 3 parts pulp. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly (at thsis tage the mixture may burn easily, so stir carefully.) Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes; then spread almost paper thin on a large piece of glass, marble slab, or aluminum cookie sheet. Form a rectangular shape. Place in a warm dry room (an attic is excellent) to dry for 1 to 2 days (it should be pliable enough to roll). Cut the leather into 3-inch squares, sprinkle with granulated sugar, and roll tightly into rolls about the size of a small pencil. Roll in granulated sugar and stroe in a tightly closed box." ---The Thirteen Colonies Cookbook, Mary Donovan et al (p. 251) [Georgia]
Try it, you will probably be surprised at how good it is.
If you are marketing candy and other sweets, you just have to check out http://endlessfreeplr.com for a free unique version of this article to use as you wish.
Today there are many choices at the candy stand. It is literally a big rock candy mountain. These are just a few examples: 100 Grand Bar and Mountain Bar and Tootsie Roll Migees and Honeycombed Peanuts and Bonomo's Turkish Taffy.
Although cocoa was grown as early as 1112 BC, candy almost certainly was discovered much earlier as a simple coating of honey on fruits and nuts as well as flowers and seeds. The honey not only gave them an extra sweetness, but it helped to preserve them.
In New England, candy made from molasses and maple syrup as well as marzipan (almond paste) were known in the 1600's and 1700's. Some early medicines eventually took the form of candy - marshmallows, licorice, peppermint and hard candies for example. Early American cookbooks actually include recipes for candies and other sweets like Red crisp almonds and Currant paste and candied Melon citron candied and Cream candy.
Here is a sample recipe of one:
"Apricot Leather Wash 1 package dried apricots and put them in water to soak overnight. Next morning, bring apricots and water to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain thoroughly. (Be sure all the water has drained off.) mash the apricots through a sieve, or belnd in a blender until smooth. Measure pulp: return it to the saucepan and add 1 part sugar to every 3 parts pulp. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly (at thsis tage the mixture may burn easily, so stir carefully.) Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes; then spread almost paper thin on a large piece of glass, marble slab, or aluminum cookie sheet. Form a rectangular shape. Place in a warm dry room (an attic is excellent) to dry for 1 to 2 days (it should be pliable enough to roll). Cut the leather into 3-inch squares, sprinkle with granulated sugar, and roll tightly into rolls about the size of a small pencil. Roll in granulated sugar and stroe in a tightly closed box." ---The Thirteen Colonies Cookbook, Mary Donovan et al (p. 251) [Georgia]
Try it, you will probably be surprised at how good it is.
If you are marketing candy and other sweets, you just have to check out http://endlessfreeplr.com for a free unique version of this article to use as you wish.
Classic Candy - Candy Recipes
The very best candy in the world can be made in your own kitchen. And, your kids will never forget you making candy for them - or letting them help you.
One of my favorite memories as a child is of an old fashioned taffy pull. My mom, Lauren Cunningham, would make a big kettle of taffee. All the friends we could think of were there. We would each get a buttered plate with a cup full of the taffee in the middle. After smearing butter on our hands, we would take the taffee onto the front porch and start pulling it.
Grabbing the taffee with our finger tips, we would pull it out as far as we could and then double it over. The taffee was hot, so mom would always do this when there was snow outside. So, as soon as our hands got too hot, we would put down our plates and put our hands in the snow.
The taffee started out a dark brown, but when it had turned a blonde color, we know it was done. Then we put our plates out in the snow - where the dogs couldn't get it. And we would go play games until it was cool. Then we got to try our creations. If we had done it right, we could break off small bites of taffee that would be chewy but soft enough so you wouldn't break a tooth.
You can make the same kind of memories in your home with some of these recipes:
Cream Candy (Panocha)
One cup of coarsely chopped walnuts, 2 cups of light-brown sugar, 1 cup of pulverized sugar, 1 cup of sweet milk, 1 tablespoonful butter. Cook until it will form a little ball by testing it in a shallow dish of water, then remove from fire, and add the walnuts, and flavor with teaspoonful of vanilla; beat until it is creamy and turn out in buttered platter; cut in squares. This is a delicious cream candy.
Pull Toffee
Combine 3 cups corn syrup; or 2 cups corn syrup and 1 cup molasses; or 2 cups corn syrup and 1 cup honey. Place either syrup combination in a saucepan with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Butter the inside upper edge of the pan to prevent boiling over. Cook until the mixture forms a hard ball, when dropped in cold water. Pour candy mixture into a buttered, shallow pan. Let it stand to cool until it can be handled. When cool, butter the hands and pull. Cut into sticks when done and wrap in waxed paper.
For Vanilla Candies, use white corn syrup, and add 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla before pouring candy in the pan.
For Peppermint, add a few drops of oil of peppermint while pulling.
For Chocolate, add 3 squares chocolate to syrup.
For Nut Candy, add 3/4 cup chopped nuts to either vanilla or chocolate as it is cooling, fold in toward center as it cools and pull.
Chocolate Walnut Fudge Two cups of white sugar, butter size of an egg, 1 cup of milk, 1 square of chocolate; boil this until it thickens in cold water; then take it off the stove and stir until it becomes thickened, stir in a cupful of chopped walnuts and pour out on greased tin. Flavor with vanilla.
And you might want to try this old historic recipe as well:
"Hickory Nut Creams 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup cream or evaporated milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon butter 2 cups hickory nuts Stir sugar and cream together until sugar dissolves. Boil to 234 degrees F. or until a little of the mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. Cool to lukewarm. Add vanilla, butter, and nuts, and beat until creamy. Drop from spoon on waxed paper. makes 3 dozen creams." ---Foods from the Founding Fathers, Helen Newbury Burke [Exposition Press:Hicksville NY] 1978 (p. 316) [Philadelphia]
Plan a candy making party sometime soon!
Some really sweet unique article content is yours for the asking with a free membership at http://endlessfreeplr.com
One of my favorite memories as a child is of an old fashioned taffy pull. My mom, Lauren Cunningham, would make a big kettle of taffee. All the friends we could think of were there. We would each get a buttered plate with a cup full of the taffee in the middle. After smearing butter on our hands, we would take the taffee onto the front porch and start pulling it.
Grabbing the taffee with our finger tips, we would pull it out as far as we could and then double it over. The taffee was hot, so mom would always do this when there was snow outside. So, as soon as our hands got too hot, we would put down our plates and put our hands in the snow.
The taffee started out a dark brown, but when it had turned a blonde color, we know it was done. Then we put our plates out in the snow - where the dogs couldn't get it. And we would go play games until it was cool. Then we got to try our creations. If we had done it right, we could break off small bites of taffee that would be chewy but soft enough so you wouldn't break a tooth.
You can make the same kind of memories in your home with some of these recipes:
Cream Candy (Panocha)
One cup of coarsely chopped walnuts, 2 cups of light-brown sugar, 1 cup of pulverized sugar, 1 cup of sweet milk, 1 tablespoonful butter. Cook until it will form a little ball by testing it in a shallow dish of water, then remove from fire, and add the walnuts, and flavor with teaspoonful of vanilla; beat until it is creamy and turn out in buttered platter; cut in squares. This is a delicious cream candy.
Pull Toffee
Combine 3 cups corn syrup; or 2 cups corn syrup and 1 cup molasses; or 2 cups corn syrup and 1 cup honey. Place either syrup combination in a saucepan with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Butter the inside upper edge of the pan to prevent boiling over. Cook until the mixture forms a hard ball, when dropped in cold water. Pour candy mixture into a buttered, shallow pan. Let it stand to cool until it can be handled. When cool, butter the hands and pull. Cut into sticks when done and wrap in waxed paper.
For Vanilla Candies, use white corn syrup, and add 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla before pouring candy in the pan.
For Peppermint, add a few drops of oil of peppermint while pulling.
For Chocolate, add 3 squares chocolate to syrup.
For Nut Candy, add 3/4 cup chopped nuts to either vanilla or chocolate as it is cooling, fold in toward center as it cools and pull.
Chocolate Walnut Fudge Two cups of white sugar, butter size of an egg, 1 cup of milk, 1 square of chocolate; boil this until it thickens in cold water; then take it off the stove and stir until it becomes thickened, stir in a cupful of chopped walnuts and pour out on greased tin. Flavor with vanilla.
And you might want to try this old historic recipe as well:
"Hickory Nut Creams 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup cream or evaporated milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon butter 2 cups hickory nuts Stir sugar and cream together until sugar dissolves. Boil to 234 degrees F. or until a little of the mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. Cool to lukewarm. Add vanilla, butter, and nuts, and beat until creamy. Drop from spoon on waxed paper. makes 3 dozen creams." ---Foods from the Founding Fathers, Helen Newbury Burke [Exposition Press:Hicksville NY] 1978 (p. 316) [Philadelphia]
Plan a candy making party sometime soon!
Some really sweet unique article content is yours for the asking with a free membership at http://endlessfreeplr.com
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