Candy Dish Blog

I always knew the world revolved around candy. I just never thought of making a symbolic diagram of the world with it!

M&Ms Mandala by Vernhart.

Fairytale Brownies still has an after-Christmas sale going. Some products have free shipping, some huge discounts, others are buy one get one free. People rave about their brownies, so now is a great time to try them if you haven’t yet. And if you get some for free, don’t feel ashamed about sending them over my way!

What is your favorite type of brownie?

Brownies by 3liz4.

I don’t know the occasion for having a display of these chocolate animals, but I think I want to find out. They look expertly crafted and about as delicious as it gets. Usually when I think of chocolate turtles it brings to mind a different creation, but I am open-minded and can change my worldview a bit, I suppose.

Chocolate Animals by Lottery Monkey.

Here at the Candy Dish Ranch we have made our lists and settled on a handful of resolutions for the new year.

Carl:

• Cook more with cocoa. I love the rich flavor it gives. Seven months ago I had no idea.
• Exercise three times per week, at least. (I have to catch up to Tori!)
• Try to be a better person through patience and charity.
• Read more.
• Try to stop sounding like I copied Susan S.’s list.

Susan:

• Procratinate less (I’m not foolish enough to think I could stop altogether)
• Always remember to take the canvas bags into the grocery store (I often leave them in the car)
• Work on being less of a worrywart

Susan S.:

• Try as many kinds of dark milk chocolate as I can
• Work out at least 3 times per week
• Cook with chocolate and cocoa
• Don’t worry; be happy!

Tori:

• To buy a bike and use it whenever possible. That means to the grocery store, to the gym, to a friend’s house, maybe even to work depending on where I move in the spring.
• If #1 goes over well… I will sign up for a duathlon or triathlon. I’m not a strong swimmer, but I’m up for the challenge.
• To become an avid camper. I’ll buy a new sleeping bag, bring my dog, and eat S’mores all weekend. Maybe I’ll pack a different kind of chocolate each time….

Many thanks to my wonderful colleagues, who put up with me browbeating them into creating lists like this every few weeks.

Okay, so we have our lists of resolutions. One thing people struggle with is enacting their good intentions. Sometimes people will resolve to lose a certain amount of weight, for example, and have the intention but fail, simply because they do not have a plan of action. They have a desired outcome but no plan of attack. If you want to be successful with your resolutions, you really need a game plan.

For example, looking at my own resolutions above, I have exercise three times per week. I have focused on an action I can take, which will directly lead to the outcome I want - losing a little weight. Another resolution I have made is to read more. Hmm. I don’t have a plan of action for that yet. What I need to do is to quantify how much more I want to read and how I will make that happen. When will I set aside time to read? What needs to happen to make this a reality?

Please do not get discouraged. John Wooden, a former UCLA basketball coach, often frustrated his players by spending time doing basic things together, like lacing sneakers and dribbling. He did not get too concerned about outcomes like wins and losses. Wooden was like a Jedi master. He knew that certain things lead to success and doing those things sets you up for a greater likelihood of success. It’s simple but brilliant. If you have your sneakers laced right and can dribble and shoot really well, chances are you will do well in the game.

Be like John Wooden. Focus on the things that bring you success, not on the picture of success itself. Success is a journey, not a destination, and doing the right things will get you there.

This is pretty cool. 3 Musketeers is bringing the Wishing Wall to those who will be at Times Square for the New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight. We did not create this blog as a place to post press releases by manufacturers but I think this is a pretty special thing, focusing people on hope and the future.

From the 3 Musketeers press release:

For the first time ever, this New Year’s Eve the 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand is proud to present the Times Square New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall. Millions of people from around the world can share their hopes, dreams and resolutions for 2009 on over a ton of confetti that will rain down on New York City’s Times Square at the stroke of midnight this New Year’s Eve.

“Making a New Year’s resolution is as famous as the celebration itself, and for 2009 we want to start the New Year right,” said Michele Kessler, vice president of marketing, Mars Snackfood US. “This New Year’s Eve, 3 MUSKETEERS® Mint will take over Times Square to usher in New Year resolutions and celebrate a lighter way to enjoy chocolate.”

As the official presenting sponsor of the Confetti Wishing Wall, new 3 MUSKETEERS® Mint—light and fluffy mint nougat dipped in luscious dark chocolate—will be sampled throughout Times Square on the evening of the 31st. With 45 percent less fat than the average leading chocolate brands, 3 MUSKETEERS® Mint makes it easy to keep that New Year’s resolution and feel good about enjoying your favorite chocolate without regret in 2009.

Messages will be printed on multicolored confetti and can include serious or silly personal goals, dreams or hopes for a better world. Participants can submit their confetti wishes in person at the Times Square Information Center, located at 1560 Broadway, or at the M&M’S WORLD® Store at 1600 Broadway. Wishes can also be submitted online under “Wishing Wall Online.”

So go list your hope at the site and let it be among the falling confetti. Let’s have our own wishing wall right here. What are your hopes and dreams for 2009?

3 Musketeers Mint by iwantamonkey

Okay, so it’s not New Year’s Eve quite yet. However, you don’t want to be the last one to get everything together for the big party you are going to. Here is a quick and easy snack you can bring to any occasion, or even horde and eat by yourself. Yes, they are that good.

Jaden Hair of the Tampa Tribune tells us how to make Rollo pretzel turtles. Basically, you put Rolos on square pretzels, heat them until they are soft and then press a nut into the tops. Jaden tells it better and even includes and interesting story, so go check out her version.

I have spent the last several days in Toronto, where it is brutally cold for this Southern boy. While escaping the elements in a mall the other day, I saw a Laura Secord chocolate store I had seen elsewhere on other trips up here and asked my wife about it. “Looks like a big company,” I commented. “They must have good chocolate.”

“Yes,” my wife said. “It’s like our version of Russell Stover.”

“Who is Laura Secord? Was she the founder?”

“No. She was like our Betsy Ross.”

This sparked my curiosity and I started thinking about the comparisons she had made. The chocolate comparison was pretty accurate - high-quality chocolates and lots of gift boxes and assortments. The people at the store did not know who Secord was, except to say that she was a great patriot. Russell Stover was an actual person as well. I am not sure of his nation-saving activities during times of war, but he did invent the Eskimo Pie in 1921 and that is probably about as good, at least in my book.

When we got back to our hotel room, I did a bit of research. It turns out that Secord was a woman in the Niagara region who helped the British troops during the War of 1812 at great sacrifice to herself and her safety. No, Secord did not invent chocolate and there is no mention of her confectionery skills, if she had any at all. What I was really curious about was why the company was named after her. Unfortunately, I am still in the dark on that score. However, I highly recommend the chocolates, even if they are named after someone who helped the British halt the American advance into Canada.

According to Wikipedia:

Laura Secord Chocolates, founded in 1913, was named in her honour. “Laura Secord Chocolates” is now all around Canada, and is known for its ice-cream and dark chocolates, shaped in the pendant with Laura Secord’s face in white chocolate as its logo, as seen on the monument of Laura Secord in Lundy’s Lane (Niagara Falls, ON).

So they named the company after her about 40 years after her passing. It seems a little strange to me. Do you know the rest of the story? Why would they name the candy company after her? Regardless, I am hoping to find some good Boxing Day discounts at the store. You can never have too much yummy chocolate around!