I am super excited to have a birthday party this weekend. The agenda includes a dozen kids ranging in age from four to twelve. The menu is chocolate covered pretzels. This is my kind of party... where the kids get to do the creating and I get to let them! It would seem like the project is overly simplistic... but I have found that kids are seldom excited to watch me make stuff. I guess I am just not that interesting. Ha! Really though... there is nothing better than a project you actually get to touch and feel and experiment with. I am not a big fan of "watch me do it and then you do it the same." No. Ick. I am more a fan of "Here is a bunch of stuff I thought you might like. What do you want to do with it?" Yes... this will be my tactic.
Here is the shopping list of ingredients...
Chocolate... including some super cool colored candy melts. Blue, yellow, and pink! Fancy stuff!
Pretzels... I am thinking some long ones and some twisty ones. Why trap ourselves with just one choice?
Dazzling Decorations! This is the best way to finish it out! I have some pretty cool ideas to start. Chocolate chips, sprinkles, small candies... doo dads and gidgets and wizmos and whatsits!
This is going to be so fun...
I have this really bad habit of making up stuff and not writing the directions down. I found myself wishing to make caramel corn for my friend Steve's birthday party... but not knowing the recipe! My teen would say, "Why you so stupid Ma?" Of course... he would also say, "Why you so weird Ma?" Hahaha! Apparently the "other" parents are not weird... and this is embarrassing. I do like to fall somewhere within the first three tries on the learning curve though, so I decided to retain the recipe this time... and write it into a blog post... which I already did! Back in May. Oye... I suppose all the sugar is eating away at my brain! Since I am already here, I guess I will settle with sharing delicious pictures of the latest and greatest batch of caramel corn.
 Caramel Corn  Caramel Corn |  Caramel Corn  Caramel Corn |
Anyhow... Happy Birthday Mr. Steve! I hope you enjoyed your birthday treat. If you are looking for a top notch creative painter... look up Steve Huntley of Huntley Design & Painting. Huntley Design & Painting Website
Huntley Design & Painting on Facebook
I have been brushing up on my candy making skills for many years. Lately, I wonder... why do I make candy anyhow? What is the draw? I think the desire to create treats for the people around me has been carefully cultivated by the encouraging words I have received when making candy. You know... words like, "Yes, please!" and "I can't wait until Christmas" or "my birthday" or my personal favorite... "National Please Make Me Some Candy Day!"
I am an experimenter by nature... but over the years there have been some clear favorites... requested time and again. Here is my "Big Ten" list ordered by most requested.
1. Peanut Butter Balls
2. Caramel
3. Turtles
4. Toffee
5. Oreo Balls
6. Truffles
7. Peanut Brittle
8. Fudge
9. Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
10.Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Drop me a note and let me know what your favorite handmade treat is?
 Peanut Butter Balls  Truffles |  Caramel  Turtles |
Do you have an upcoming children's party to plan? The Candy Classroom would love to get involved! I would be happy to sit down at your convenience and discuss your vision for your next party. Whether you are in need of entertainment for the children through an interactive class, a fun make and take project, or a helping hand with kid friendly party food... The Candy Classroom is excited to help! I can assist you in making you party planning organized, fun, and best of all... less stressful! Call today to turn your thoughts into reality!
White Chocolate Truffles at The Candy Classroom.
My mission this week is to make truffles! I have made a test batch of white chocolate truffles... you know quality assurance! Most of those went home with my lovely friend Gretchen... as a birthday treat. Feel free to send me a message with your birthday information so I can acknowledge you in some way when your special day comes.
White Chocolate Truffles at The Candy Classroom.
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Thursday, July 12th was the big day!
Yes… it was the day that a batch of Peanut Butter Cups began their journey through “The Mail”.
The destination is Becky’s house… Becky is a Facebook star! Since I wanted to test out the mail delivery waters, I decided it was time to send this fabulously funny fan a taste tester. I packaged up the goods… in plastic… and then a container. I carried them off to the United States Post Office. Naturally, I used the one located in Festival Foods, because I love Festival Foods.
The wonderful customer care specialist Connie assisted me in placing my goodies in a box. We taped it secure… weighed it…and kissed it goodbye!
Now…the waiting begins…
July 12th, 2012
10:30am
Day two…
Still waiting. When will the delightful peanut butter cups arrive at Becky’s house? I wonder what time her mail comes? I think I already asked her twice today if they arrived. Ha!
Will they be a mushy mess? Will they be safe and sound? What if the US Mail Drug Sniffing Pooches eat them up???
July 13th, 2012
4:30pm
THEY ARE THERE!
I can’t believe I missed the message from Becky until now!!!
“Becky: They are here! They are here! good condition. The chocolate was a little soft, but its hot out there. I just stuck them in the fridge they are delish!!! Reminds me of a butterfinger thank you so much for the (HUGE) sample and the nice card”
Joy, joy, joy!!!!!
July 13th, 2012
10:20pm
That is right! I have completed my training…my orientation… and my licensing to become a Food Processor in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I am now able to ethically and legally cook and package confectionary and bakery items and sell them…here, there, or everywhere! This has been great fun.
If anyone is currently getting into some sort of cooking business and is looking for a way to get started without jumping into a storefront… check out The Brown County Culinary Kitchen.
I know cake doesn’t generally fall into the category of candy and confections, but I wanted to tell you what else you could get your hands on through The Candy Classroom.
|  The Brown County Culinary Kitchen http://bcculinarykitchen.org/ |
I know cake doesn’t generally fall into the category of candy and confections, but I wanted to tell you what else you could get your hands on through The Candy Classroom.
Did you notice I mentioned being licensed to do baked goods too? Cookies, breads, cakes, bars… there is no limit to the baked goods we could cook together at your house for your custom party. Imagine if somebody came straight to your home and prepared your next birthday cake?
Of course… we could make a candy topped cake. That would be fabulous! Take a look at my special carrot cake. This is my
“everything” in the cupboards variety.
Carrots, zucchini, raisins, coconut, pecans, pineapple, apple… did I mention cream cheese frosting?
Now, don’t jump down my throat right away.
I want to make it clear that my family eats plenty of healthy interesting foods with every meal.
I am a huge fan of whole foods… you know… foods you can name the ingredients to with just one word… “grapes, carrots, chicken…” You get the idea. In fact, I honestly believe that one of the biggest keys to good health is “eating healthy foods”! Duh... right?
I am certain everybody has met the food pyramid by now… and that we all know candy lives on the very tippy top of it!
But the fact remains that just about everything is good in moderation. There are a few items
on the“never okay” list such as heroin and those little berries you find in the wild that even the birds will not eat, but overall… all foods are fine as long as you are intentional about your eating habits.
Fats and sugars are at the pointy tip of the food pyramid because it is absolutely okay for you to eat them… occasionally. You will run into big issues if you consume high fat, high sugar foods in
a continuous manner… but I would like to dispel the myth that you must avoid them altogether. Trying to completely avoid any certain food… especially a beloved one…is a sure path to failure anyhow.
I recommend eating a small portion of your favorite foods each day. If chocolate is on your
favorites list… here are a few more reasons to keep it in your diet.
9 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
1. Eating chocolate lowers your risk of heart failure by a third.
2. A square of dark chocolate a day lowers blood pressure, reduces risk of heart attack and stroke by 39 percent.
3. Eating chocolate high in healthy antioxidants reduced the blood pressure-raising effects of
exercise on overweight individuals.
4. Dark chocolate lessens cravings for sweet, salty, and fatty foods by
filling you up.
5. Eating chocolate while pregnant makes you better able to deal with stress and your baby
smiles more. Think of that next time you see a smiling baby!
6. Dark chocolate can help prevent diabetes.
7. Chocolate has sun protecting powers. You get burnt less when you eat it!
8. Chocolate makes you smarter… along with wine! How cool is that? Those who eat it score
significantly higher on cognitive tests than those who don’t.
9. Chocolate calms a cough almost as well as codeine.
10. Last, but certainly not least…Chocolate can cure the diarrhea. Who knew?
Check out the full article at Women’sHealth.com.
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/benefits-of-chocolate
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