Happy Hallo--- oh wait, I mean, Valentine's Day!

As I've written in the past, Valentine's Day is the new Halloween. The Sugar Baby came home from school loaded down with with all sorts of sweets from his friends. Note the tube of Skittles arranged like a rainbow. I wouldn't have the patience to make one of those, let alone 20. 

Happy Valentine's Day Yumsters!

It's the night before Valentine's Day. I've just tucked the Sugar Baby in and he says to me, "Did you buy me a heart?" Despite the fact that I've just spent the past 15 minutes tearing my hair out trying to convince him that he does not need his shell collection, presidential dollars, Easter Island statues and ukulele all on his night stand, and all I want to do is sit down and watch Lady Gaga emerge from her egg on the Grammy's and drink a glass of wine, I say "you'll find out tomorrow." Then I turn out the light and bolt out the front door to the grocery store.
Somehow, I managed to a) not only forget to buy the Sugar Baby a candy-filled heart but I also b) have absolutely no candy in the house that could possibly serve as a Valentine's Day present. I think I've lost all credibility as a candy blogger.
To make things even worse, I wrote an article about Valentine's chocolates this week. I mean, hello! I was at a bunch of different chocolate shops. I could've picked something up at any time. This is serious, people.
Fortunately, I scored a really cool balloon and a box of chocolates. Whew.
In the meantime (just so you don't think I'm a complete failure), I saw these Jelly Belly Jelly Bean Chocolate Dips. I love the combination of orange and chocolate, so this is probably the only jelly bean flavor I'd ever want to try with chocolate. At first, I was unsure. The jelly bean lacked the usual punch of a Jelly Belly ... it didn't scream ORANGE! But then I ate a few more and decided I liked them. They're similar to chocolate-covered orange peel.

Convo Me!

This has been the strangest Valentine's season. I just realized the other day that there's usually a lot of hoopla around what the year's new mottoes will be on Necco Conversation Hearts. You know, it was a big deal when they switched from "Fax Me" to "Text Me," showing they know how to keep up with the times. But this year? Not a peep. Nary a word. What's up with that? I'm off to investigate today. I'll report back!

Oreo Bark! (Need I say more?)

What do you do when you receive a package containing a piece of chocolate Oreo bark? You devour it, of course, and then realize you didn't take a picture for your blog. A company called 2 Chicks with Chocolate makes not only Oreo bark, but also milk chocolate pretzel bark and coconut lime bark. They also make adorable chocolate frogs for Valentine's Day, and you can make your own custom bar or Valentine box. I'm loving this company. You can check them out at www.chocolate.com, where you'll find a plethora of other Valentine's ideas, too!

Valentine's Day is on its way!

This morning the Sugar Baby decided to play "grocery store" and he unloaded everything from my pantry onto the bookshelves in my living room. Stacked in the front window are boxes of Rice Krispies, Apple Jacks and taco shells. There's condensed milk and applesauce in front of the home repair books, and frosting, red beans and Sleepytime Tea in the fiction section. The only candy present is a bag of leftover Halloween candy, mostly lollipops and Smarties. The stash of Christmas goodies has diminished to the point that I'm ready to take on the next holiday: Valentine's Day. Yes indeed, it's right around the corner. Are you ready? Have you thought about what you're going to give your sweetie?
This year, Lindt has come out with some Valentine's-themed packaging. It used to be that you could only get a few basic brands of chocolate in heart-shaped boxes at regular old supermarkets and drug stores. Thankfully that's all changed now because, really, who doesn't love a heart-shaped box?

Valentine's Day is the New Halloween

It's official. I've had more than a few moms say to me, "What's with all the Valentine's candy?"
It used to be that, on Valentine's Day, you'd go to school and the teacher would collect everyone's cards and have the class pet pass them out. Some kids got a huge pile of cards, while other kids, sadly, got fewer. (These were the days before class lists and social equality.) You'd take your pile of little cards home, stuff them in a drawer and call it a day.
But that was so yesterday. Today's kids have taken Valentine's Day to new heights. Anything that can be glued, taped or stuffed into a cello bag is fair game. We're talking pencils, stickers, snack bags of chips, lollipops, chocolates, tickets to Broadway.
The Sugar Baby's haul included four pencils, three cards that did some crazy 3-D stuff, a bag of Goldfish, a tattoo, sunglasses that made him look disturbingly like Elton John and-- the Holy Grail-- a rootbeer-flavored Dum Dum from a little girl he's never even said boo to but now considers his one true love.
My sister-in-law said the post-Valentine's crash in their house was so bad that they've given up sugar for Lent. (I'm sure this is an unwilling sacrifice on the part of my nephews.)
In the house of Yum, I finally had to tell the Sugar Baby that we were going to play the "Quiet Game." He said, "You play the Quiet Game, I'll play the Talking Game."
Thank goodness it's all over with. And now there's just 39 days 'til the Easter Bunny comes.

Last Minute Valentines!

Gah! Have you looked at the calendar recently? The Big Day is coming! Yes folks, only four days until Valentine's Day! Have you gotten anything for your sweetie yet? Don't wait 'til the last minute, because you know you'll end up with either a teeny box of mockolates with the Tazmanian Devil on it or a giant box of overpriced, overly sweet junky candy in a creepy lacy heart-shaped box that looks more funereal than lovey-dovey.
But it's not too late! Here are some of my last-minute picks for the day when you'd better say "I love you."

Membership in the Chocolate Seduction Club: Each month, your cuddle bunny can receive a mystery package of confections from an artisan chocolatier. www.chocolateseductionclub.com

Chocolate-covered wine or champagne: Yep, a real bottle of booze dipped in chocolate! Fun!
www.blissinabottle.com

Training Treats: Gotta love these: boxes of hard butter toffee candies in a specially-designed box. Check out the different types:

Training Treats For Husbands® - For the guy with just one or two flaws.
Training Treats® For New Husbands™ - A trained husband = a happy husband!
Training Treats® For Retired Husbands™ - A whole new phase of training.
Training Treats® For Golfers™ - What took us so long!
Husband Treats® - The perfect treat for the perfect guy!
Training Treats® For Boyfriends™ - Turn your frog into a prince!
Training Treats® For New Dads™ - For the brand new dad, in his grand new role!

www.trainingtreats.com

Hershey's Kiss jewelry: For the relationship that is serious enough for jewelry, but no where near engagement territory.

www.hersheyskissjewelry.com

Sweet Treat of the Week: Oliver Kita!

This week's Sweet Treat of the Week is Oliver Kita, a chocolatier based in Rhinebeck, N.Y. (Why, oh why couldn't he have been around when I was little and we went to Rhinebeck every summer with my dad's model airplane club to the Aerodrome?)

Mr. Kita has serious credentials, and clearly he's passionate about chocolate. So let's have a chat with him, shall we?


You have a dream job. How did you get there?
I have always been a pastry chef and worked with chocolate. I have been creating pastry for a long time and this step just seemed like the next thing I wanted to do with my career. I feel excited about chocolate whenever I am working with it. Still do-- even today!

What are some of your favorites that you’ve created?
Palet d’Opium (blood orange, lapsang and spice) was inspired by Pearl S. Buck and her book "Imperial Woman," the story of the last empress of China before the Boxer Rebellion. I have always been influenced by Asian culture.

What do you think people are looking for in chocolate? Have tastes changed over the years?

People are looking for the most dark, dramatic, intense experience imaginable. They equate the percentage with the quality and we know that it’s not always true-- it’s just the amount of cacao content and sugar-- not the quality. One must rely upon the manufacturer of the chocolate. The American palate is improving – I see this as I tour with the chocolate to different festivals in Colorado, Miami and New York. We sample only dark Valrhona chocolate 70% from Venezuela at the shows. I used to be just beside myself with wondering, “Why is everyone asking is there milk in this chocolate- it’s dark French chocolate!” Turns out the American palate is used to Pennsylvania created chocolate that was inspired by Hershey's or Nestle and that always contains milk solids even in the dark chocolate. I finally figured it out after reading the Hershey label.

What’s your comfort chocolate? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Usually a praline or a marzipan enrobed. Sometimes, I love pistachio marzipan.

I like dark milks when I don’t feel well or am fatigued.

Are there any flavors that don’t go well with chocolate?

Well, what do you have in mind? These days they are trying everything possible.

I haven’t seen tofu or seaweed yet-- but just wait-- someone from Japan will try it out for the thrill.

They were dipping pickles at a festival I was attending last month. They sold OUT!

However, I haven’t tried beef jerky dipped in chocolate-- and probably won’t go there either.

I love your chocolate Buddhas. Why Buddha?

Mind Body Chocolate everyday. I try to help my clients learn to meditate with chocolate by staying present with the taste.

Do you have a favorite candy-related memory?

Bubble gum cards with trading images, Sour Heads, jaw breakers, and I loved “Spree” when I was in the 5th grade.

What advice do you have for chocolate-lovers?

Follow your dream and stay connected to the passion and it will take you where you need to be in this lifetime.

Where else can one say that they have to go to Paris to taste chocolate at the next salon festival and it’s considered work!

Indeed! I'd love to be able to say that!

Check out Oliver Kita's Valentine chocolates, tasting kits, Buddhas and more at www.oliverkita.com.

Candy Obsessed? I Prefer to Think I'm Focused

When the Ice Cube Queen was in town a few weeks ago, she was excited to view the Candy Yum Yum headquarters. She wanted to see the stockpiles of candy, the desk where I craft my entries and, of course, the chocolate river. She caught me at one of those times, though, when my candy larder was empty and my desk was buried under various Hello Kitty notepads, books to donate and birthday cards that I should've sent out months ago. (And as for the chocolate river, well, that remains a secret).

In contrast, my friend Kate (you might remember her from this post, where I divulged her love of 3 Musketeers) was here this weekend for her 20th high school reunion. I haven't seen her in 12 years, and it was her first time meeting the Sugar Baby. For some reason, she caught us on a sugar high. Not only was I stockpiled with tons of candy (lots of reviews and giveaways coming up!), but the Sugar Baby also decided it was going to be a candy-themed weekend.
I present to you the evidence: The books he was reading over and over and over again: "A Baker's Field Guide to Holiday Candy & Confections," (which has since been tossed since he accidentally peed on it while reading in the bathroom) and "10 Trick-or-Treaters," a very cute book about counting backwards. (You might remember the Field Guide from this post; now the Sugar Baby loves shouting "World's Easiest Fudge!")

Of course, we played Candyland (he is always the red gingerbread man)And he re-discovered his awesome plastic chocolates from Valentine's Day. Are we a little obsessed here? Nah, I don't think so!

Hands Off My Candy!

I figured that the last thing the Sugar Baby needed for Valentine's Day was chocolate, so I found this totally cute "Hide and Peek" Valentine's chocolate set. It's a heart filled with plastic chocolates that you open up to reveal their different colors. It's one of these things that's supposed to teach colors, matching, fine motor skills, counting, etc.

In reality, I think it's taught him that chocolates are "beautiful" and it's not fun to share.

(Bear with me as I get the camera situation sorted out. So far, Kodak, I am not impressed.)

Share the Love-- Free M&Ms!

Remember in junior high-- you'd be eating a bag of M&Ms and some derfwad would come along and say, "You just ate a green one. You must be horny! Huh, huh!" Where on earth did that legend come from? In any case, the smarty pantses over at M&Ms have embraced the urban myth and are releasing all-green M&Ms for Valentine's Day. And guess what Yumsters? I have some to give away! So here's what you do: post a comment saying who you'd love to share your green M&Ms with. I'll pick three winners at random on February 5. (U.S. residents only, please!)

(And just to be fair, I'll let you know who I'd pick: I'd have a green M&M party with Spike, Angel, Richard Gere, Jim from The Office and Michael from Arrested Development. Or is that a little too weird?)

And in the meantime, you can enter a contest to win a trip to Paris at www.mms.com/green. (I have nothing to do with that contest; don't write me looking for a trip to France 'cuz I don't have one to give.)

My First Valentine!

Awww, look what the Ice Cube Queen sent me! I thought it was really cute, but then I took a closer look and saw that she had written "Yum Yum" on some of them! Hee hee! Doubley cute!

Here It Is!

Dear NECCO people (or just the cute girl in the white apron),
I would totally, TOTALLY be your BFF if you sent me that Yum Yum heart. I know you'll probably have to use it through Valentine's Day and everything, but when you're done with it, oooh, could you send it my way? I'll even pick it up!
Yours (hopefully), Madame Yum Yum

Breaking News! Caveat Emptor!

The news world is abuzz this morning with reports that the Valentine's candy you just purchased may actually be from last year! Hmmm. This would certainly explain why the after-holiday candy sales have meager at best lately. When I worked at the chocolate store, we'd have to take everything off the shelves the day after whatever holiday it was and send it back to the factory. People would come in all p.o.'ed because they were expecting some good bargains, but there were none to be had.
"What did you do with the 75 pound bunny?" people would ask.
"It gets melted down at the factory," was the reply we were told to give. Somehow, though, I always suspected that the same bunny came out of hibernation every year.

Love Letter From the Baron, Part II

So this appeared in my mailbox today. It's one of those cards that, when you open it, is so loud that it wakes the Sugar Baby up from his peaceful slumber.
Anyhow, here's the transcript:

(Remember, Valentine's Day is all about the love ...)

"... the love of chocolate!
Marshmallow!
Caramel!
Marshmallow!
Peanut butter!
Little sprinkly things!
So delicious!
Bring on the nougat!
So delicious!
I love you, Valentine's candy!
I love you candy!"

It's quite funny, actually, and it kept the Sugar Baby mezmerized for quite a long time. The best part, however, is how he signed it. First, "From your Secret Admirer," and then, because I never would've guessed it was from him despite the return address and the stamp featuring a photo of the Sugar Baby, he gave the mystery away: "aka, The Baron."

Old Fashioned Conversation

It's that time of year again! NECCO has just announced what this year's special sayings will be on their Conversation Hearts. Going with a weather theme (because love and weather are a natural pair), here they are: “Melt My Heart,” “In A Fog,” “Chill Out,” “Cloud Nine,” “Heat Wave,” “Sun Shine,” “Get My Drift,” “Wild Life,” “Nature Lover,” and “Do Good.”

Who gets to write these? Is there one person who's the official slogan writer? Or is it a group effort, where everyone puts their ideas in a suggestion box?

What would you pick if you had to write them? Maybe a pharmaceutical theme? "You're my Prozac!" "You Make Me Feel Better Than Oxycontin" "You Make My Heart Burn."

Or maybe an election theme? "I Heart Huckabee," "OH! Obama!" "McCain? McLovin!"

What would you write?

A big chocolate kiss to you!

It's almost here ... the day when we celebrate all things chocolate and sugary and lovey dovey. I hope everyone has a fabulous Valentine's Day tomorrow and may you get a big heart full of chocolate yumminess from your sweetie. If you need some last minute ideas, check out the National Confectioners Association website. They have recipes, ideas and trivia, such as: Did you know that conversation hearts once came in different shapes like horseshoes, baseballs and watches? Pretty cool.

And speaking of trivia, here's today's Sister Secret: Betsy has always had an amazing sense of willpower. When we were little, I would scarf down any candy I got right away, whereas she would save her candy for the appropriate time. One night we were all having alphabet soup for dinner and my mom said that whoever spelled their name first would win a candy bar. Betsy won and she put her candy bar next to her plate to eat after dinner. It sat there taunting me the whole time. Who would want alphabet soup when there's a Milky Way waiting to devoured?!