Perfect to put around the house when you’re having guests over, or to simply munch on, it’s sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.  It can work in any fall tablescape.  The caramel corn tastes like … caramel corn.  Honestly, nothing special.  The difference was that the kernels covered in orange chocolate - that’s pumpkin flavored, I think.  Whatever it is… yum! The crunch mix also includes chocolate covered peanuts.  The combination of the three, the caramel corn, pumpkiny chocolate covered kernels, and chocolate covered peanuts made my mouth water at each nibble. 

It is a very sweet mix.  If you’re not a sugar lover, you may get a bit of a sugar headache.  I could only eat a little at one time.  But, I loved every minute of it! 

A popcorn lover?  Check out the history of popcorn, candied and not, by clicking here.

Then, recent years have led me to try new foods, including more vegetarian and vegan ingredients.  While I still don’t enjoy Soy Milk, I admit to a double take when I strolled past Soy Dream Butter Pecan in the freezer aisle.  Hmmm…. could this Soy Dream Non-Dairy Frozen pint be the door back into ice cream bliss?

Since Butter Pecan was always a favorite of mine as a kid, I was only too happy to try. I knew after opening the pint, at first glance, I was in trouble.  I was looking at Butter Pecan, like the kind I purchased at Brigham’s as a kid. Did I really buy a Vegan dessert, or did I grab ice cream by accident?  The taste would tell me.

Soy Dream Butter Pecan’s taste and texture were amazingly like ice cream, smooth and creamy. I waited, and while I did get sleepy, I did not become sick. I am assuming that the sleepiness was from the sugar, since I become almost narcoleptic when I eat certain sugars and chocolate - weird, I know!  But I don’t care about that; I can always use a nap. I am excited that the soy creaminess didn’t have me doubled over, and because of that, I will buy this again.  Not too much, though. Would it might be too much to ask that this non-dairy frozen vegan dessert made from organic soybeans be low in calories, too? The Butter Pecan, per ½ cup serving, has 150 calories, 19 grams Carbs, 13g Sugars, and 9g fat (although it is trans fat free).  Nonetheless, it’s a great alternative to other sweet treats; an alternative that I will not shy away from in the future.

Wii

While I am not a big game person, I am sure I am missing out on something. Maybe I will get with the program someday soon.  And, when I do, I can have a Wii party at my house!  What’s my point? Why I am talking about Wii on a food website?  Nintendo Wii Controller Gum.  A must-buy and another I-got-sucked-in while-on-line” point of purchase at World Market, I am now the proud owner of 5. (Priced at $2.99.)

Yup… 5.  They’re entertaining and will make nice accolade trinkets for a couple of my teachers (although the peppermint gum is not allowed to be chewed while in school - shhhh!).  I am still tinkering around with my wording for the card, but first thoughts that come to mind are, “Wii are so lucky to have enthusiastic teachers that make learning fun. Thanks for all you do!”  What do you think?

Monkeys, bats, gorillas, tigers, elephants, tortoises, whatever your favorite animal, there is one coupled with a milk or dark chocolate and stares with eyes that draw you near. Check out the website, as it provides more information that I could ever include here. The company, the chocolate, conservation efforts and awareness, and a very interesting blog; make sure you have some time to sift through it all. Educational and tasty?  What a combo!

Check out the other posts that educated us about chocolates with a purpose - here, here, or here.

Appearing like Nerds on steroids, the sweet shell hardly matches the tangy candy, or any candy for that matter.  The nuggets were virtually flavorless and what little sensation that is produced dissipates in moments. Worried about your teeth after biting into these colorful pebbles? Don’t worry about the texture, worry about the color.  Mine had a green hue to them after trying out the gum. My dentist was thrilled.

If you are into this type of candy, you might want to check out the 3 fruity juice flavors it comes in - Strawberry Blast, Slammin’ Blue Raspberry, and Sour Green Apple Burst. Packed in clever resealable pouch.  As for me, I’m passing.

While these are alcohol free, it doesn’t taste like anything was omitted.  The tiny bites are just the right size to grab one, pop it in your mouth and allow your tastebuds to dance a jig. If you see these little bundles of joy, grab a bag and try them out!  They’re perfect to have laying around during small get togethers, movie nights, or cocktail parties.

As I prepared for a road trip and swung by Trader Joe’s to pick hard-to-find items for my friend, I got sucked into another point of sale purchase. It seemed like I moved in one fluid motion as one hand placed the basket on the counter, while the other grabbed the box of Trader Joe’s Concerto 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Batons.

I didn’t even unpack all my groceries before I opened the box at home.  These individually wrapped wands of smooth decadence may cause a stir. If eaten as is, or used in a recipe of some kind, this rich chocolate will last you awhile. A little goes a long way and the pre-marked 1-inch sections make it easy to separate into pieces. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, check out these Concerto Batons.  They’re six pieces of harmonious chocolate intensity!

What I have come to realize over recent years is the cheaper the chocolate, the more nauseous I get prior to my slumber. So, you can imagine my excitement when I did not have any sleepy reaction eating the bar of DAGOBA Organic Chocolate I picked up during the same Whole Foods trip I picked up Graffiti Zoo chocolate.  Great day in the morning, I am sold!

So what about this miracle chocolate?  Organic chocolate is known for its purity, wonderful flavors, multiplicity of blends, and its health benefits. I don’t know about that, and honestly I am not completely positive I care.  I just know it makes me happy.  I can eat DAGOBA Organic Chocolate! As I bit into the dark, slightly nutty bar, the smooth texture and taste, and the subtle sweetness brought a smile to my face. As I continued in my chocolate bliss, I read through the website…”The Art of Chocolate Alchemy: transforming exceptional cacao into edible gold.”  Edible gold is right!

But really…. DAGOBA Organic Chocolate, around since 2001, has moved forward with its mission to “create exceptional, innovative chocolate that would benefit people, planet, and industry.” “A Sanskrit word for temple,” Dagoba was founded by Frederick Schilling and has since been bought by Hershey’s.  Nonetheless, DAGOBA has seemed to move forward with conscientious principles as its focus continues to be on organic, ongoing cacao manufacturing.
 
A premium brand of chocolate, DAGOBA Organic Chocolate doesn’t only offer chocolate bars, but extends its brand to chocolate drinks, ingredients for the home baker, even cacao soap. Check out DAGOBA.  It can be found at a variety of grocers, or online.

When a friend and I opened the package after our shopping excursion, we didn’t have a clue about the joyful dance our taste buds were able to perform.  The soft buttery caramel, covered with smooth, thin layer of chocolate, coupled with a sprinkle of pure sea salt smoked over Welsh oak, sent chills down my spine and created a mouth watering grin.  My friend laughed as I blurted out, “This is the ultimate PMS food!” I don’t believe I have ever been so sad to have any candy be finished. 

While I am not a fan of receiving chocolates as a gift, Frans Chocolates are ones I would welcome with open arms.  Worth the slightly higher cost, these Smoked Salt Caramels are small pieces of heaven that will be talked about long after they’ve been devoured.

(Picture from the Frans Chocolates website)

Before I had time to hand over the bag, their dad and I took the kids to Piedmont Park one early evening.  Now, I knew of lightening bugs, but never saw any up close.  I guess that comes with always living in/near cities.  Happily, the walk in the park allowed me to experience the joy watching nature come to life, witnessing scores of lightening bugs while with the kids.

How apropos that I was able to open the Lightning Bug Gummy Candy.  The bug-shaped gummies come in two different colors/flavors: red (strawberry) and yellow (lemon) and with a set of tweezers. The flavor in not very apparent, but it doesn’t seem to matter.  When the tongs are squeezed together against the gummies, the bugs light up with the lightest touch and oohs and ahhs result.

Lightning Bug Gummy Candy not only offers opportunity to play with food, but opens the door to learning.  When adults interact with children while eating/playing with Lightning Bug Gummy Candy, the children can learn that flashing Lightning Bugs are actually trying to draw mates. And, so a flashing bug doesn’t charm a different species of firefly, each Lightning Bug genus has a unique flash pattern, varying from continuous glows, single flashes, or series of multi-pulsed flashes. What a fun game to play – creating mating flash patterns.

Eating candy, having family fun, and learning?  Can it get any better?