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10 Weird Ways to Celebrate National Candy Month

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:00:10 -0700

It's hard to believe it's been a year since our I Heart Candy challenge, but it's true: National Candy Month is here again! Throughout the month of June, we'll be celebrating all that the candy world has to offer, so I thought I'd kick things off with 10 of the weirdest candy offerings I could find. Have you tried any of these? Start the slideshow and tell me what you think.

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I Heart Candy! Submissions Due June 19th!

YumSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:57:44 -0700

June is National Candy Month, and in celebration, I thought it would be fun if we all came up with recipes or stories that involve candy! Do you have a favorite dessert that uses candy? How about a drink that tastes like candy? I once saw a recipe that used melted candy red hots on chicken, maybe you've got something like that up your sleeve? Or maybe you've just got a great candy story you need to share!

No matter what it is, get your submissions in (use the contact form on top, leave a comment here, private message me, or send an email to: yumsugar@gmail.com) by June 19th, and I'll do a full roundup on June 22nd.

Here are all the details:

On TeamSugar, or your on your own blog elsewhere, write about your favorite candy, a recipe using candy, or just a great candy story (be sure to include a link to this post).
Notify me by June 19 with the following information:
- Your name & location
- Your blog name or TeamSugar name
- Permalink for your post
- What candy you used and why
- A 100x100 pixel image of your creation or favorite candy (optional)

I can't wait to see what you guys end up sharing - Happy Candy Month!

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YumSugar's Favorite Vegetarian Recipes

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:50:40 -0700

The month of October isn't just about candy, pumpkins, and captivating costumes; it also happens to be National Vegetarian Month. With more awareness than ever about the health, economic, and environmental benefits of vegetarianism, the number of people going veggie is on the rise.
Regardless of whether you've been a longtime vegetarian, a recession flexitarian, or plan to stay put as an omnivore, there's an abundance of vegetarian dishes so satisfying that you won't feel the need to make separate menus. See our favorites when you read on.

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San Francisco's New Candy Store

YumSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:23:18 -0700

June is almost over, but I couldn't let National Candy Month pass by without telling you guys about one of my favorite new places. In the Russian Hill district of San Francisco, Diane Campbell and her hubby Brian have opened a new shop simply called, "The Candy Store." Based on the name you'd assume that the store sells candy - which it does - but it's not like the kind of Sweet World type stores you see in the mall. If that's what you're envisioning, just stop right there: This place is better than that. It's a bright white space sprinkled with walls of clear candy jars, mountains of delicious chocolates, bins of crystal fruit slices and more.

Although it was a dreary gray day when I visited, the inside of The Candy Store was as bright and beautiful as a lovely spring morning - a lovely spring morning in candyland! To find out more about The Candy Store, including lots of pictures, read more

As a kid, owner Diane Campbell wasn't allowed candy and would sneak it from her mom. However like most vices, candy's something you end up craving the more you can't have it. So naturally, as an adult, Diane is now the proud owner of a beautiful store. The store is filled with handpicked items that really cover the candy gamut. From inexpensive candy lipsticks (50¢ each) to pricey imported chocolates, there is something for everyone. She even carries hard to find candy bars like Valomilk, Idaho Spuds, and Sky Bars, as well as the intriguingly flavored Zotter bars (plum bacon anyone?!). My personal favorite is the wide array of of by the pound (around $10-12 per pound) candies including mango chile gumballs, assorted gummi candies (including one that looks like an egg), peanut butter malt balls, green & black "olives" (which are candies that happen to look like olives), black licorice (which apparently sells like mad) and many, many more.

When I asked Diane what she liked best about being the neighborhood candy pusher, she earnestly gushed that it was the customers smiles.

"I'm going to be that candy store in people's memories. That's so freaking cool to me. To be part of that memory is thrilling."

Personally I think the thrilling part is to have this candy store in your memory. So if you're ever in San Francisco, be sure to stop by and tell Diane we said hello! If you're nice she might even hook you up with a sample.

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Taste Test: "New" Candy

partysugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:08 -0700

Updating an image or spinning off of a product is nothing new, but lately it seems like this concept has taken over the candy industry. I recently received a box full of new products that were featured at the National Candy Expo a month ago in Chicago. The majority of items weren't exactly new, but rather re-creations of old products. I selected four - Pop Rocks Chocolate bars, Nerds Giant Chews, Chocolate Pez, and Baskin Robbins Soft Candy - and decided to perform a taste test. Sadly none of the new variations lived up to their established counterparts. To see what I thought of each product, read more.

Pop Rocks Chocolate bars: This oversized bar is described as "real milk chocolate with a kick." At first the chocolate bar tastes like any normal krispy-style chocolate bar. However, the krispies explode in your mouth like pop rocks. The chocolate is mediocore and the sensation interesting, but I wasn't hungry for more.

Nerds Giant Chews: These giant nerds (they're the size of peanut M&Ms) have a bumpy, crunchy shell and soft chewy center. They taste exactly like the miniature version. Eating one is the equivalent of tossing an entire handful of Nerds into your mouth.

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Chocolate Pez: Why Pez felt they needed to expand into artificial chocolate-flavored candies is beyond me. These are chalky and leave a sour aftertaste in the mouth.

Baskin Robbins Soft Candy: With their sweet-minty scent, I was certain these chewy candies were going to be the best of the bunch. However they were disappointing and tasted fake. The best thing about them was the smell.

So has anyone else tasted any of these new candy formulas? What did you think of them?

I Heart Candy Submissions Due Next Week!

YumSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:01:18 -0700

I hope you've been celebrating National Candy Month as much as we have - we've been eating our candy, baking with it and more! If you're looking for another way to celebrate, don't forget our I Heart Candy challenge. All you have to do is write a blog post about candy. In your blog you can talk about your favorite candy, come up with a recipe using your fave candy, make a drink that tastes like candy, whatever strikes your fancy! Here's an example of candy purses made by TeamSugar member crispet1. Isn't it delectably adorable? If you've got a great candy idea up your sleeve then join us. I'll post the rest during the roundup on June 22. To participate, check out all the submission details. Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

I Heart Candy Submissions Due Tomorrow!

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:01:31 -0700

I hope you've been enjoying National Candy Month as much as we have - in addition to eating our candy, we've been baking with it and drooling over it too! If you need an excuse to celebrate, don't forget our I Heart Candy challenge. All you have to do is write a blog post about candy (and let us know about it)! In your post you can talk about your favorite candy, come up with a recipe using your fave candy, make a drink that tastes like candy, whatever strikes your fancy! We've received some great submissions, but if you haven't turned yours in yet, there's still time! Be sure to check out all the submission details and come back this Friday, June 22, for a full candy roundup!

What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

partysugar — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:30:04 -0700

Take a behind the scenes look at our Sex and the City Screening after party.
Enjoy the weekend with a batch of mango mojitos.
Prefer to make desserts rather than cocktails? How about creme brulee, ice cream sandwiches, or red, white, and blue cupcakes?
Speaking of dessert, it's National Candy Month! Celebrate with 10 weird flavored candies.
Learn the proper technique for cutting pineapple.
If you are planning a wedding, consider hosting an afterparty.
Finally, we want to know: What are your recipe deal breakers?

What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 07:57:31 -0700

Don't miss this interesting gallery of families surrounded by a week's worth of food. The difference between countries is astonishing.
This week we started things off with National Cheese Day. We showed you some great cheese tools, how to store cheese and we wanted to know your fave cheese. If you've got any leftover, you can always make cheese chips.

June is national candy month, so I'm challenging you to come up with great candy recipes and stories.
The summer of cooking reality shows has begun. Be sure to check out our recaps for Top Chef, The Next Food Network Star, and Hell's Kitchen. While you're at it, let us know which one you plan on watching.
Could you eat 59 1/2 hot dogs in 12 minutes?
If you're looking for some delectable sweet treats, try chocolate mint bars or chocolate-malt brownies. Not into chocolate? How about strawberry cheesecake (easy and expert recipes!) instead?
These drop dead gorgeous photos really blow my mind. Death by gummi bears, nutella, cotton candy and more.
Know someone graduating this year? Plan them a great graduation party.
Are you buddies with your barista?
If you're getting married soon, don't forget to eat on your wedding day! Also, here are some ideas for a great rehearsal dinner.
And finally, we find out if Mexican (real sugar) Coke tastes better than regular Coke.

What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 09:18:30 -0700

This week we're getting ready for the 4th of July - we're hosting a party, whipping up popsicles and slushies and building a beautiful tablescape.

Classic chocolate cookies with vanilla ice cream is our second entry in the summer of ice cream sandwiches.
This week's cooking reality tv shows left me wanting more. Top Chef was a snorefest, Hell's Kitchen was its usually screaming self, and I don't think I'd actually watch anyone who wins The Next Food Network Star.
Would you eat a guinea pig???
Learn how to easily peel peaches. It'll make the simple peach puzzle an even simpler recipe.

National Candy Month ends today, and the reader favorite is the PB Buckeyes from TeamSugar member sweetheart_450. Speaking of candy, if you're ever in San Francisco, be sure to check out my new favorite candy store.
If you're going on a honeymoon (or even just a trip!) here are a few tips to help you eat well and choose the right restaurant.
Summer means light wines and cool drinks. Here's a few summer sipping tips.

Ratatouille opens this weekend. If you're a food fanatic, you have got to see this film.
Finally this week we want to know:
- Which appliance would you splurge on?
- Do you pay attention to expiration dates?
- How often do you barbeque?
- Do you use coupons when grocery shopping?