Blood Pops Revisited

A post on candy.com's Facebook page today prompted me to dig out these photos of Dish taste testers. I know there are gums and such which promise lots of bloody good fun, but my favorite is the Harry Potter Blood Pop.

Guest blogger Lisa took some great Blood Pop photos last year.
I'll be looking over Halloween candy soon and the grosser the better.
If you're a linkaphobe like me, these are some of the more interesting items the links below turned up:
Googly Eyes, Bubble Gum Camel Balls, Gummy Maggots, Lick Your Wounds (almost got those last year), Zit Poppers, Gummy Flesh Fries, Spermies, Scab-a-roni, Crime Scene Candy Kit, Larvets, Garlic Mints (Vampire Repelling), Candy Blood Bags, Organ Harvest, Werewolf Hair, Spider Sacks, Barf Bags (gag candy, get it?), and Eyes of Terror Bubble Gum.

Good Gross Candy Links
Blair Candy
Holy Taco
Houston Press
Off Beat Treats 
Oriental Trading Company
Suite101.com Article

Penny Candy That Costs A Dime

Here's where exhaustion and hunger can lead: Ten for a dollar Caramel Apple Pops at the Kelly's Market on Highway M. There's a new kid behind the counter who gave me a well delivered "Candy blog, you say?" as we danced together in the neon glow of the Mobil gas station delighting in Tootsie's price points.

They might look (and open) like profalactics on a stick, but they taste a lot better. Of course I bought ten—I almost dragged the cardboard display to the counter and dumped out the lot of them. I hadn't eaten and both the Middleton Copps and Gyro place were closed, which is why I was shopping for dinner at the gas station. I might still buy them all and get the kid's name and photo.


They come in the classic Green Apple flavor along with Red Macintosh and Golden Delicious. Watch out, they stick to everything, not just thoughtlessly placed napkins, but Corelle plates even before you've gotten them wet, uh, started to eat them, um, sucked on them—can't win here, giving up.

You can't taste the various apples until you've worked off the outer candy a bit, at which point setting it down anywhere acts like an adhesive tantamount to super glue.

Kiss This

Not one to do a lot of toadying, I like the idea of chocolate hanging off my body instead of permanently glued to my arse, so I'm going to post a little something about Hershey's Kiss Jewelry.

I like the looks of it and think it would make a good gift for someone's Sweet Sixteen. See the Hershey's website linked above for more info.

We used to draw up posters and cover them with candy for a girl's sixteenth birthday in high school. Then we'd put them (the posters, not our friends) on their locker for people to sign. There wasn't much more than a Smarties or two left at the end of the day. I'm not sure what the guys did besides eat our candy. There's no subtext in that. I'm sure it involved Old Milwaukee and Mad Dog 20/20.


Thanks to the Now and Zen Group for the pendant image

Like Butter

I tend to buzz around sugar more often than something fried and phallic dipped in butter, but being one of the many questionable "Irish" food offerings at this year's Irish Fest, take a look at this:

Fried Bread Steeped in Butter

The Twists (Brit slang for "girl" which I find ironic), were available in Cinnamon, Lemon, Plain and Salt by the time we got there. I'm willing to bet there were some stuffed with cheese that sold out.
Why not, the Big Kitchen Banger Platter was served with nine, yes nine sausages, the beef was glazed with Guinness, and there was ale in the pancakes.
All six of us had Koepsell's popcorn, my nephew Joey had a questionably Irish corned beef on marble rye, and I had a veggie egg roll.
Not only was Mader's boldly flying faded Irish colors in the Cultural Village, but the sign that screamed "Irish Egg Rolls" boasted that they were made with corned beef cabbage and, drum roll...cheese.
If you've ever been to or considered the idea of Irish Fest, you'll know it's not about the food, but the endless rhapsody of lovely Irish music. More about this and Milwaukee's Irish Fest on Behind The Cheddar Curtain this week.
Follow The Dish on Facebook for an early look.

Root Beer and Ice Cream Stands

I recently came back from Wausau, Wis., where curling is a PE elective. (I laugh, but I'd be out there sweeping the ice if I were more coordinated, plus the Wiscsonsin State Curling Association is here in Madison.)

What we don't have are the inordinate amount of soft serve ice cream shacks which dot the Wausau landscape. We don't even have an A&W here anymore, and considering it was our high school hangout in the seventies and our neighborhood hangout in the sixties—yes, I'm that old—it's a shame.

My wild eyed cousin put salt in my chocolate shake long before I developed a taste for sweet and sour at our neighborhood A&W. It had a Bookmobile parked on the corner and fittingly became the place for seniors before it retired and became a rib joint.

I was so inspired by the rash of ice cream shacks in Wausau and the charm of the A&W in Portage (taking the long way to Wausau), that I decided to have a last summer fling and seek out the best drive-in, drive-through, sit-down, take-out ice cream snack shack near or far. I'm hoping there's some lovely Guinness flavored ice cream at Irish Fest this weekend.

"There's an A&W in Port Orchard [Wash.] my kid wants to take me to because it's one of the originals. They make everything there, including their root beer. He says it's like drinking fizzy silk and the head is incredible." --Jodi

I'd long since given up on shout if from the rooftops soft serve (with the exception of the ice cream in the UW Hospital cafeteria - I leave no stone unturned) until I discovered a Wausau Briq's.

Young Bug here is holding a Hot Fudge Brownie Briq Mountain (3.45/3.39). The fudge was so hot it toasted our fingers through the cup.

Bug is holding a Banana Cream Pie Graham Cracker Pie Crust Sundae (3.45/3.95) in this photo. I got a small Zebra soft cone (1.60), a good size, delicious, and 96% fat free. Leave me alone, I'm trying to eat healthier. No feedback on the Brownie Sundae yet, but Bug swears by the Banana Cream. They also have a 1 lb. cone, a variety of Sundaes, Smoothies, Flurries, Slushes, Floats, Whips, Shakes, Malts, Banana Splits, and six packs of Cookie Coolers and Lattes.

"My vote is for CHESTER'S in Plymouth...Best hamburgers and grilled breast of chicken around! Not to mention deep fried cheese curds..." --Sandy

A few people have mentioned the A&W in Edgerton, which one of my cousins (the one who put salt in my milkshake when I was four) thinks is the first one in Wisconsin. I don't have proof either way, so it might be time to dust off some archives at the State Historical Society (or the State Hysterical Society if you've ever heard the pigeons—what an exciting life I lead).

One of the most interesting things about the A&W website is their timeline. It lets you arrow through the first A&W root beer stand in 1919 to 2002 when they were taken over by Yum! Brands, Inc. ("Root beer stand" as in "Why should I give you a nickel for the root beer stand when you throw away milkshakes?" What were we, made of salted chocolate milkshakes.)

"...edgerton still has the drive up stalls and the staff bring the food on trays that attach to your window. are there many of those left yet?" --Kandy

This is why you see the Yum! Brand A&W fast food pairings. Somehow the combination of tacos and root beer floats isn't the same as a Flinstone tray on your car window. But I'm always thrilled into taking snapshots like a tourist when I come across an old tyme root beer or ice cream stand. I don't think I've seen an ice cream hut outside of a beach or the Merimac Ferry and applaud Wausau for their many ice cream stands, and every town, medium, small or large for their classic drive-ins and root beer stands.

Time In

I'm so sick of Brent

What's Been Going On

• I've taken some computer classes to catch my stride in the PC world
• Got my first laptop
• Started a blog for my mother called Evelyn's Corner
• Am updating my website and adding dog photos
• Am not crazy about the new AP spelling of "Web site" (website)
• My favorite neighbor moved away and many new ones moved in

My Favorite Neighbor

• Speaking of cankles, I started eating better and working out the very day I finished summer school. I lost almost six pounds in the last six days, and believe me, the way I've been hunched over a computer, Mickey D's and Cheese Nips, it's progress
• The YMCA gave me an offer I couldn't refuse to help counter all the new products I'll be trying
• I got both my parents (85) and Unky Ray (87) to go to the Belleville Olson Fourth of July and Birthday Food, Fun, and Beer Fest this year

Unky Ray up to no good in Belleville

• I had my first snowball fight in July

Brian, Wanda, and a very pregnant Vicki

• It's Bart, Brent, Buck, I mean Brett déjà vu all over again. ESPN radio is saying "he transcends sports" as I type. Not being one to say "I told you so," I'll just show you this photo I took at my only visit to Lambeau

From my cousin's seats on the 50-yard line

• I got a new scanner yesterday so expect some new old photos

• And, there's a new candy store in town called "Lucy's" that I can't wait to try

Q.bel and SoCo

like to say, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in," but I won't.

Q.bel sent me two of every kind of their tasty chocolate rolls and wafers which never made it to Dish testers because, um, it's so very cold and I had to eat them before it dropped into the mouths of nearby canines.
You never know. The neighbor dog dropped by after becoming bored with laughing at playoff footage of Bart Ferve and has planted herself inches away from my desk chair and the empty box of wrappers.

It won't be a surprise to you who read this blog (and no surprise that no one reads this blog) that I'm not a fan of ze dark chocolat—the $7.50 in postage tipped the scale toward the (Something, Something, Something) Dark Side.
"Hello, is this thing on, 1 2 3?"
Coincidentally I'm also OCD now. (1 2 3).
My favorite Q.bell wafers were the milk chocolate Crispy Rice Wafer Bars and the Crunch Crispy Wafer Rolls. The tantalizing blend of milk chocolate and crispy rice was especially phenomenal in the wafer bar.
It's not often that—

Lost my train of thought when this one gave me the look. Wrong dog, that's my cousin Jackie's stuffed, I mean Teddy Bear Dog, Bob.
I meant SoCo, who has briefly stopped guarding the empty box of chocolate wrappers and is sending me guilt vibes from the couch. I did not put on that gentle leader and leash. Shudder.

Perhaps she's wondering how long it takes exposed flesh to freeze at 5°. I forgot, bitching about the weather is not allowed when above zero in January in Wisconsin.
Let's see, orgy of chocolate, diet failing miserably, karmic payback for laughing at fat people as a skinny child.
My two favorite Q.bels were the milk chocolate sans peanut butter which I prefer when baked in a cookie or right out the jar when baked.
And then there was the Dark Chocolate Mint. Lovely. I can smell the impudent mint from one of the wrappers as yet unmolested by the dog who's now busy chewing napkins and hiding plush chotskies around the apartment.

I can't say anything bad about Q.bel dark chocolate bars. If you like dark chocolate or think it's going to make you healthier, go for it.

What impressed me the most were the Crispy Rice Milk Chocolate Wafer Bars. OMG (yes, ran out of adjectives before I started and it's late and the dog wants to watch Fringe).
The Crispy Rice does taste "decadent but light" as advertised (11g of Fat kind of light). Each 1.1 oz two-bar pack has 180 calories (did you know there's 720 calories in a movie sized box of Jujy Fruits) and is worth every one.
The milk chocolate Crispy Rice has the smoothly sweet, subtle but rich chocolate that reminds me of Hachez or Scharffenberger with the deceptively light touch of crisp.
Bonus: There are no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup in Q.bel Chocolate Candy Bars.

Sweet Time Candy Canes With Gel Candy

is going to be a quick review because I didn't eat any of the 2 ounce Sweet Time candy canes, they're too large and decorative.
The thing I like best about these Candy Canes with Gel Candy is their usefulness. They work as a candy cane then hold their own as an ornament, not too heavy to pull down the branches of a small spruce.

They come three to a pack, two with Christmas gummis and one plain, and can be found among the other canes and decorations at Walgreen's.
The Snowman and Santa canes will end up on top of two kids presents along with some kind of RC rodent and Twihard gear.
Hang them, gift them, eat them. If you do the latter let me know what they taste like—I think it's time to call on some guest bloggers anyway.

Speaking of other people writing about candy, I stumbled across On Motivation and Chocolate, tagline: In a World Where There's Chocolate, We Should Never Feel Dispair. If you're looking for prolific holiday candy reviews, this is the blog for you (as opposed to this one). It's authored by a motivational speaker, which explains the enthusiasm.
Safety Tip: Do not hang your candy canes too close to the center of the fireplace.


The beaded glob part was burnt and sour (formerly a Sour Patch Kids Candy Cane). Now that I think of it, the wrapper was still intact—how did that glob get on the hearth rug, what did I just eat? The cane shaped part was hollowed out and crunchy-chewy. I recommend pre-melted, that way you know you're not eating ornaments.

Snow Day Candy Cane Review: Sour Patch Kids

year I'm on the look out for tree worthy candy canes and every year the mass market disappoints. I thought it was back to classic peppermint, Heshey's Chocolate Mint, or hand dipped canes (all fine choices), until I discovered that Sour Patch Kids had thrown their gummis into the ring.
The Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company could have easily produced another too sweet, generically bland cane vaguely reminiscent of it's original brand flavor, but no.

Sour Patch Kids Candy Canes are as close to the original flavor as you can get in a cane, just the right amount of sweet, tart, and chew. They're aromatic, have four distinct flavors—Redberry, Lime, Lemon, Orange—and sparkle with sour powder. I think the glistening substance helps make them chewy (if you masticate it like someone with good dental insurance).

I was surprised to see they're out of stock on some Web sites (don't worry, you can look here among other places), but Walgreens has them. Walgreens has everything, don't they?

Looking for a candy cane good enough to tie to a present or serve with a plate of cookies (if that sounds like overkill you're reading the wrong blog) has always been a challenge, especially when you love black licorice and eschew the artificial cherry flavoring imposed upon so many canes. That makes the Sour Patch Kids cane especially sweet.


Some Canes That Didn't Make The Cut: Dum Dum, Sour Punch (although I haven't tried all the Spangler brands and am intrigued by their Cinnabon cane) and Life Savers; anything cherry flavored.
The candy cane photo above is from last week, here's what it looks like today.
Annoyingly High Pitched Note: It's not that I'm ignoring you, or that you can prove that I am, but my other blog is less fattening and I've had to play catch up. So now that I'm caught up, relax, let it snow. Does anyone know if they make a McGillicuddy's candy cane?
Final Note: I don't recommend Sour Patch Kids Candy Canes and Dr. McGillicuddy's, although a classic hot cocoa and schnapps can still tolerate a peppermint cane.

I Guess That Wasn't The Final Note Note: Did anyone notice that Barbara Walters was welcomed into the White House with open and well toned arms, but couldn't get an interview with Brett Favre for her 10 Most Fascinating People?

Halls Refresh

Mrs. Hunter, do you want a Hall's Refresh?
There were Halls Refresh samples floating about last September, but no computer and no apartment make Homer something something and I got a sample pack last week.

I was lucky enough to have them on hand on a recent Christmas shopping spree, and made my cousin, sister, and her neighbor try them. (Winter Silks, btw, has some great deals and lovely shopping bags with purchase.)

The tantalizing scent of Juicy Strawberry filled the store when in moderate proximity of an open mouth. Did I mention I was with my sister and cousin? Enough said.

Halls Refresh are called "candy drops" and start out tasting like candy with a Mentho-Lyptus cough drop finish. They're cute, covered with a few dark speckles and come in three flavors: Tropical Wave, Juicy Strawberry, and Refreshing Mint.

I didn't see a Refreshing Mint, but all three of "the girls" (sue me Elizabeth Cady Stanton, oh, you can't) liked both the Tropical Wave (my preference) and Juicy Strawberry.

Here's what they look like.

The bottom line: If you want medicated candy drops, nothing beats Smith Brothers for taste, but Halls Refresh smell great, are sugar free, and nice for sharing.

Earth Worms and Gummy Bears

Yummy Earth sent me some nice snackin' candy—bears and worms of the gummy kind. The thing that stood out about their package (stop, James), was the welcome absence of promotional material. Don't get me wrong, I used to write the stuff and would again if someone (anyone) would pay me, but I like to get right to the candy without the guilt of not reading testimonials.

"I consume this here product every day and my teeths is still good."

A wife of one of the dads who co-founded Yummy Earth (got that) reminds us that their candy is made with fruit extracts and planet friendly ingredients (well, the neighborhood dogs contribute daily to the planet and it's all very friendly). But it is worth noting that no Red 40 was used in the making of this candy (Jodi, Red 40 Girl).

Forget the fact that I've put on four pounds since my new workout regimen, but blind as a bat, I'm still a label reader.


You get 96 Calories (21g Carbs, 12g Sugar), 0 Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium for your seven Worms or 11 Bears (28g).
For 12 more grams of candy represented by the pack of Strikin' Strawberry Sour Punch Straws I hold in my hand (the Blue Raspberry has ten fewer calories) you get, I don't know, it's math, but it doesn't look that unreasonable (except the 34g carbs—just way too much and of course corn syrup and Red 40) for the weightier and far more filling straws. They also have 1g of Fiber.
More boring stuff for those of you who just don't care:
The box of Chocolate Lucky Charms I got today has 110 Calories, 24g Carbs, 1g Fat, 0 Cholesterol and 160mg Sodium for every 28 grams (not as bad as you'd think).
And now for the "Hey-quit-looking-at-my big butt."
But both Yummy Earth products are without artificial dyes, corn syrup, gluten, soy, peanuts, tree-nuts, dairy, GMO (not to be confused with JMO), and MSG.

You'll see ingredients such as organic rice syrup, organic aronia juice, organic black currant juice, and organic sunflower oil in the Yummy Earth products. So they've got that going for them.


The Gummy Bears have the same Nutrition Facts, which includes 100% Vitamin C, and they taste pretty good. The Bear flavors are Pomegranate Pucker, Strawberry Smash, and Sour Apple Tart, the Worms replace the Strawberry with Tangy Tangerine and are more flavorful than the Bears. I like the fact that the worms look like slugs.
Both are a good size, competitive in the gummy flavor arena, and kids and adults could do a lot worse than Yummy Earth.

Top photo courtesy of Yummy Earth

Trident Layers

There's not a lot I can say about Trident Layers—nice package (ha), appealing idea gum-wise, but I don't chew a lot of gum and when I do I want to blow a bubble. You can't do that with Trident, generally.
There is Trident White Cool Bubble, better name, indicative of bubble type gum, haven't tried it. It's got to be better than either the Green Apple + Golden Pineapple or the Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus. Both mouthfuls, and not the fun, suggestive, or instantly gratifying kind.

I was going to say something about toothpaste and vomit, but I didn't. And it's not that bad, just unexpectedly bitter when you shove five pieces of shoot gum in your mouth (why does everything I type today sound like keywords for a porn site).

Let me try one piece at a time...much better, but still a little sour, then a little too sweet, then the unmistakable flavor of toothpaste. Why? That's nasty.
The Wild Strawberry etc. (too long to type when it's sixty bloody seven degrees outside) tastes like strawberry etc., then straight into I'llneverbuythisbrandoftoothpaste again.
The tridents of taste here are sour fruit, artificial sweetener, and toothpaste. I'll take that *Halls Refresh now.

*They sent me Trident Layers instead of Halls Refresh I was expecting

Tracking

What am I up to? The less you know the better.

But I will be putting up Halloween photos on my Web site and posting on Spark People today. I'll also be publishing some of those posts that have been stewing behind the Curtain later this week—yes, I do it all (except get paid).
But speaking of in lieu of payment, I met a slightly cranky UPS guy at the door this morning (understandably so because the door buzzer still doesn't work) bearing Trident Layers.

I was surprised because the product rep contacted me just yesterday and I was expecting Halls Refresh. Rolling with it, I'll be doing a quick review of Green Apple + Golden Pineapple and Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus in a few days.
I do have a scratchy throat, but also feel my jaws have atrophied, so go gum.

Evil, Evil Sugar

No. 1, Found Candy

The gluttonous bags of Snickers and Milk Duds you've been "saving" for trick-or-treaters don't count. I know, I buy gluttonous bags of candy throughout the month (and often way before), and I haven't had a trick-or-treater for years.
This year I took the matter into my own hands and started passing it out on State Street. I said passing it out, not passing out.
Been there, done that.


Homeless people, event security, college kids under all kinds of influences got candy from a black bucket decorated with skeleton parts.
My found candy was found while taking photos at the UFO Day parade in Belleville.


I was getting pelted with candy during the parade, and hours later I was getting pelted with cans of beer thrown at me by college kids on Lake Street. I'm still not sure if they were spoiled (can you imagine wasting a beer like that), destructive, obnoxious, or genuinely trying to toss me a beer.


They almost hit Cha Cha, and let me tell you, I'd be blogging from Tacheedah if they had. I think the guy on the right is throwing the beer in this shot.

Wishing someone would throw a beer their way

So, found candy.


There's always some unusual candy and toys in the batch, and my favorites this year were an alien sticker, Dubble Bubble gumballs, something called Tutti-Frutti Big Blow (sounds like the porch dude douchebags), an Extra Sour Cry Baby (like the PDD the morning after), a Benjamin Franklin Super Ball, and a no name sucker that was vaguely shaped like the bottom of a piece of candy corn.

Uh oh, DUCK.