Candy Blog

Sunday, October 14, 2007

This Week in Candy - Halloween Prep

Since Monday will be the Ides of October, I thought I’d better get in gear for Halloween. I’m declaring the week starting Monday, October 15th to be All Halloween Candy Week at Candy Blog! So far I don’t have many items to review, just the new Peeps Spooky Friends and some Frankford Marshmallow Pals and maybe some items that can be considered quasi-Halloween like Reese’s Pieces (I’ve never reviewed them!). I’m also going to have some new Peeps Monster Mash-Ups (see the Easter version) ... just in time for your next Halloween party.

Technically for me Candy Season does not start until November 1st, when all the Halloween candy goes on sale (which is what the countdown is set for over there on the right). I certainly don’t claim to have coined the phrase, but I hope I’ve popularized the idea that there is a Candy Season and it starts with Halloween and ends with Easter. The candy companies are trying to add other holidays to the candy season, like Independence Day in the United States, but red, white and blue foiled Kisses or colored M&Ms do not make a candy holiday make.

Patti at Candy YumYum has a great new feature ... your candy horoscope. First, before you click on that link, decide what your favorite candy bar is. (Well maybe top three, in case it’s not on her list of 12.) Then go see what the month ahead will be like. (The feature is on the right column.) November will bring us Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups:

Organization is the name of the game, Reese’s. Keep an eye on things and that project you’re working on will come out A-OK.

The problem is that I love just about all those candies and without an immutable assignment by my date of birth, any one of those could be speaking to me.

I saw this article which pretty much echoes my sentiments on the new 100 calorie/twice the price trend by candy makers. The smaller portion candy packs already exist, and if you’re trying to limit calories, by all means take advantage of them. But don’t fall for the pre-portion hype as a substitute for good judgment. Read the labels. Just because something has 0g of trans fat does not make it healthy (and fat isn’t bad, just higher in calories by weight than carbohydrates or protein). I don’t really believe that “fake food” like low-fat cheese are necessarily better for us, just eat less. You’ll feel better and have more money in your wallet. Learn to indulge in what you really want in moderation ... craving satisfied.

It looks like The Onion’s AV Club has started doing candy reviews. In this edition they cover the Razzberry M&Ms and Creme d’Orange M&Ms (I haven’t seen them yet, though I think commenters make reference to my review on the Cherry Almondine).

And last of all, Joanna posted her experience at Littlejohn’s Candies a few weeks ago when she was in Los Angeles and we grabbed some lunch (and some fantabulous Pecan Pralines ... which she liked, and I trust her because she’s a connoisseur of Penuche and Pecan Pralines). In her honor I will review Zachary Candy Corn, as she gave it the highest rating in her roundup last year.

The reviews in review:

Gimbal’s Lavaballs (8 out of 10)

Concord Candies (8 out of 10)

Dove Promises (Caramel & Almonds) (4 out of 10, 5 out of 10, 7 out of 10, 8 out of 10)

Daffin’s Candies Factory & World’s Largest Candy Store

Mori Ex Cacao Gift Set

Related Candies

POSTED BY Cybele AT 4:22 pm Fun Stuff • Candy • Featured News •

Comments

I am amazed at all I have learned about candy, chocolate in particular. Thanks to Pam Bottles for enlightening me.

Comment by Theresa DeFilippis on 10/29/07 at 1:16 am

Next entry: Frankford Marshmallow Pals

Previous entry: Mori Ex Cacao Gift Set

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