Saturday, November 5, 2011

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipe Contest!

Come 'like' us on Facebook and enter our contest! :)


http://www.facebook.com/notes/candy-crate/thanksgiving-dessert-recipe-contest/269835493061395

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Who doesn't love Candy Corn?

Candy Corn was originally manufactured by the Wunderlee Candy Company in the 1880's. Later in 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company (more commonly known now as Jelly Belly Candy Company) began production of this current holiday staple. More than 130 years later this item is consumed world wide.
Besides eating alone, blending into trail mix, or topping baked goods, candy corn has also inspired recipes, other candies and adult beverages.

Candy Corn Shooter

What you need:
1/3OZ Galliano
1/3OZ Orange Curacao
1/3OZ Heavy Whipping Cream

To Create:
Pour Galliano into bottom of shot glass, float Orange Curacao on top of that,
and finally float the Heavy Whipping Cream and enjoy :)


Candy Corn Taffy!


Candy Corn Dots

Candy Corn Twinkle Pops

Not to mention all the fun flavor variations shown here:


Friday, September 23, 2011

It's Friday, time to prop your feet up and have some bottle caps!

Bottle Cap

What you need:
Root beer Schnapps, Raspberry Liqueur, 7UP, Lime Margarita Mix
Shot Glass, Small Tumbler

Pour equal parts of the Raspberry Liqueur and Root beer Schnapps into the shot glass.
Fill the tumbler 2/3 of the way with 7UP and add 1oz Margarita Mix.
Drop the shot into the 7UP/Margarita Mix glass and enjoy!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Smith Brothers Stained Glass Cookies

What you need:
1 cup sugar
2 sticks butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2-3 boxes of Smith Brothers Wild Cherry Cough Drops
1 (2-3 inch) star cookie cutter
1 small triangle cookie cutter

Instructions:
Preheat oven for 350 degrees
In a large bowl cream butter with sugar until smooth, add egg and vanilla.
Mix in flour until well mixed. Press dough into rectangular shape and wrap in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate 1-3 hours.

Section dough into thirds. Roll out one section at a time to about 3/16 inch thickness. Cut out as many large stars as possible. Repeat until all dough is used.
Cut a small triangle out of each of the arms of each star.

Place the cough drops into small plastic bags, place a towel over the bags and crush candy with a mallet.
Place all cookies on parchment lined sheet pans. Fill each triangle in each star with crushed drops.
Bake 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before removing from sheet.



Thursday, September 8, 2011

History of Smith Brothers Cough Drop


 Smith Brothers Cough Drop packaging portrays two bearded gentlemen who are affectionately known as Trade and Mark, are legendary. The Smith Brothers really existed. Their names were William (Trade) and Andrew (Mark) and they helped found Smith Brothers in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1847.
William and Andrew were sons of James Smith who moved to Poughkeepsie from St. Armand, Quebec in 1847 to establish a restaurant. Though James was a fine carpenter by trade, he was an even better candy maker and a businessman. The story of the birth of the first Cough Drop is a good example. As that story goes, a journeyman stopped at the Smith restaurant and gave James the formula for a delicious and effective cough candy. James saw a need for such a product in the cold, windswept Hudson Valley and immediately mixed up a batch on his kitchen stove.
The Drops were a quick success and demand for the "cough candy" grew fast up and down the river. Only a few years later, in 1852, the firm’s first advertisement appeared in the Poughkeepsie paper, inviting all "afflicted with hoarseness, cough or colds" to test it. Young William and Andrew were active in the new business from the start. They helped mix the family secret formula in their father’s kitchen and busily sold the product in the streets of Poughkeepsie. The two boys inherited the fast growing business on the father’s death in 1866, and the company officially became known as Smith Brothers. As sales grew throughout the Hudson Valley, this success was met with a whole flurry of imitators-"Schmitt Brothers", "Smythe Sisters" and even other "Smith Brothers" appeared with imitative product. The real Smith Brothers, by this time having long, flowing beards, decided to place their own pictures on their product packaging, which consisted of glass bowls for a counter display and small envelopes into which the shopkeeper counted the Smith Brothers Cough Drops for each sale.
By chance, the word "Trade" appeared under the picture of William and the word "Mark" under that of Andrew. Thus, it happened by a mere coincidence that the famous Smith Brothers’ trademark was born and the Smith Brothers became known to generations of Americans as Trade and Mark. The glass bowl and envelopes then in use, had definite limitations. For one thing, the Smith Brothers could not be sure that only genuine Smith Brothers Cough Drops would be sold in envelopes which bore their pictures, so in 1872 the brothers developed a package bearing their likenesses, which was filled under their own personal supervision. This package was one of the first "factory filled" packages ever developed. Andrew (Mark) died in 1895 but William (Trade) continued as President of Smith Brothers almost up to his death in 1913. He was succeeded by his son, Arthur G. Smith, under whose direction the company continued to prosper. Menthol Cough Drops were added in 1922, a cough syrup in 1926 and the famous Smith Brothers Wild Cherry Flavor in 1948.


Friday, September 2, 2011

There are so many ways to enjoy PEZ, why limit yourself to just the candy?

PEZ for big kids ;)

The Orange PEZ

1oz Soli Ohranj Vodka
8oz Red Bull energy dink

Pour Red Bull into medium glass, drop in shot of Stoli and enjoy :)

Read more: Orange Pez recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink12163.html#ixzz1WcrIworp

The PEZ
1 part Captain Morgan® Original spiced rum
1 part Chambord® raspberry liqueur
1 part sweet and sour mix

Mix ingredients together over ice in a tumbler. Shake well, and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Adjust sour mix ratio to taste.


Lemon Raspberry PEZ Cupcakes

3/4 cup room temperature butter
3 eggs at room temperature
1 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Tablespoons Chambord
2/3 cup buttermilk
Red food coloring
Chambord Frosting:
3/4 cup room temperature butter
7 cups confectioners sugar
6 Tablespoons Chambord
red food coloring
PEZ Candies for Garnish

For the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350
Mix the dry ingredients, set aside.
Use mixer to combine butter, lemon zest, sugar, lemon juice, and Chambord.
Add eggs, one at a time, continue to beat.
Add buttermilk and flour in three additions, beginning and ending with flour.
Add red food coloring to desired shade.
Fill lined cupcake tin 2/3 with batter.
Bake 15-20 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Allow to cool completely before frosting.


For the frosting:
Beat butter and 2 cups of confectioners sugar, add Chambord.
Add remaining sugar until frosting reaches desired consistency.
Add food coloring to desired shade.

Frost cupcakes to desired appearance and decorate with PEZ candies.
Enjoy :)


Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Did you know? PEZ edition!

Top ten facts you might not know about PEZ candy!

  1. The name PEZ was derived from the German word for peppermint, Pfefferminz, because it was the original flavor.
  2. Over 3 billion of these sweet brick like treats are consumed in the United States alone annually.
  3. PEZ originally came in a small tin much like Altoids today.
  4. This candy has been around since 1927
  5. It wasn’t until 1955 that the now familiar PEZ character dispensers were created
  6. The highest sale of a PEZ dispenser was a Mickey dispenser sold from an Australian dealer and a California collector for $7000.
  7. There is a PEZ convention in Ohio called Pez-a-mania (http://www.pezamania.com/) that has been around since 1991
  8. Discontinued flavors include but are not limited to coffee, flower, and yogurt.
  9. The traditional spring cage design was patented in 1974
  10. The first PEZ dispensers made in the actual likeness of living people were manufactured in 2006. They were of the Teutul family from Orange County Choppers.





Monday, August 1, 2011

Fun with food, one thing Mom was wrong about!

Mom always said it was never okay to play with my food,
but we've found some cases where it just makes sense!
Here are some fun ideas to keep your kids learning this summer.


Spelling your name (and other words) just got SO much more fun when you're spelling in candy. You can also use pieces to create shapes, build scenes from favorite books (Tootsie Roll Canoe anyone?) or make a map of the USA.



Use smaller candies such as Runts or Sweetarts to practice counting and simple mathematics.
These candies are also perfect for creating custom picture frames or artwork with some Elmer's glue wooden frames or construction paper.


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

New to our Warehouse! :)

Over the past few weeks we have received several new items to our warehouse.
Check it out!!

Cinnamon Cube Pops
At $47.79 for 100 pops you're looking at only $0.47 per pop!


Choco-Starlight Mints
This old time favorite comes in a 5 pound bag for $19.88.
Approximately 450 pieces

Key Lime Disks

5lbs for $19.88
Approximately 450 pieces


Gummy Green Army Guys


5lbs for $20.99



To see all our other new items visit: http://www.candycrate.com/new-arrivals.html.

As always coupon code 'candies' takes off 10% :)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Nostalgic Adams Gum

The manufacturer of the famous nostalgic gums, Thomas Adams, is commonly regarded as the founder of bubble gum. Originally creating Chiclets, he then went on to experiment with various flavors. Finally, in 1884 he found a flavoring that worked and thus Black Jack, black licorice flavored gum was born. Not only was this the first flavored gum issued in America, it was also the first offered in stick form. Initially, gum was sold in uneven lumps, Adams had an idea that this stick would ensure a more even and long lasting flavor.

Due to the active ingredient pepsin powder, Beemans gum was first marketed as a digestive aid. Created by Dr. Edward Beeman this gum has been manufactured since 1898. Newest to the trio is the Clove gum manufactured in 1914. Flavored with natural clove spices this item is both unique and memorable.

One of the most interesting facts about these gum has nothing to do with taste or texture. These items are manufactured only every three years. Now in honor of Cadbury Adams138th anniversary they have been released again! Get yours before they sell out, three years is a long time to wait!

http://www.candycrate.com/adamsgum.html

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Break it! Freeze it! Crack it! Smack it! Bite it!

During our tour last week, we noticed a heightened interest in the Dosher's Famous French Chew Taffy. So much so, that we were inspired to find out a little more about this old time favorite. The French Chew Taffy comes in four flavors, Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, or Banana.







Created in 1902, this chewy sweet taffy is not actually taffy at all! Because it is whipped and not pulled like traditional taffy it is actually considered a nougat. Originally this item was sold by the pound in broken up chunks. Eventually, Dosher's graduated to hand cut bars and finally to a machine that pre-cuts the gooey nougat.
There are many ways to eat a French Chew, according to the wrapper you can break, freeze, crack, smack, or bite it. Our favorites include freezing it and microwaving it for about 10 seconds. 

Information can be found in Candy:The Sweet History by Beth Kimmerle

Friday, July 1, 2011

Fun with food Friday!

S'More delicious ideas for S'mores!

Looking for a new spin on a summer time favorite?


 Branch out from traditional Hershey's, try some other chocolate favorites!

Marshmallows and Graham crackers

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
 Those marshmallows are a bit too large, started cutting them in half at this point! :)



Mounds!



 Curly Wurly



Original Nestle Chocolate Bar



Kit Kat



Have other ideas? Tried something different? Share your favorite summer recipes with us!


Have a sweet weekend!



Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Facebook Contest!!!

Candy Crate Sweet Ones Contest

Submit a photo of your little one enjoying their favorite sweet treat for a chance to win a $40 gift card redeemable on our website CandyCrate.com.
Photos must be submitted via email to CandyCrate@rocketmail.com
no later than 7/8/11 at 10pm PST.
Voting begins Tuesday on our Facebook Page
 7/11/11 at 2pm PST and ends 7/29/11 at 2pm PST.
The photo with the most ‘likes’ will win!

Rules:

*Only one photo per child may be entered

*Only the parent or legal guardian of a child may enter a photo of their child.
*The photo must be in .jpg file format no greater than 10MB
*The treat must be purchasable through CandyCrate.com

Any violation will render you ineligible and your photo will be removed.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A fun addition to your 4th of July Bash :)

Rocket Pops

What you need:

Pop Rocks:
We used the Candy Cane red/white cherry flavor

Blow Pops/Tootsie Pops
We used a blow pop

But the patriotic Tootsie pops would probably be best

Juice or water.


Directions:
Dip pops in juice and roll pop into pop rocks. Set aside of wax paper to dry.




Friday, June 17, 2011

Wishing a sweet father's day to all the dad's out there!

A Father’s Day poem
because my Pop Rocks!

Even though you can be a nut roll
with butterfingers,
 Mom and I know
what a big hunk you really are!
 You’ve been the best dad
a sour patch kid like me could have
and I love you more than a hundred grand.
Although parenting can be a
Rocky Road
,
You handled it well with a few chuckles
and a lot of snickers!
It might seem like Tommie is Slo-Poke
and I’m an airhead,
but U-No what smarties we really are!
So thanks Dad for all that you do!
Now that we’re grown,
enjoy your payday
by throwing back some
bottle caps and tequila suckers!

Love you zotz, and zotz, and zotz!





Sunday, June 12, 2011

Fun with Food Friday...

I apologize for the posting delay with this week's FwfF!



Fish Bowl Centerpieces

WHAT YOU NEED:

Rock Candy Strings: Blue Raspberry

Swedish Fish


Gummi Sea Critters Candy


 

Sour Belts Candy


Wooden Skewers



TO MAKE:

Fill the bottom of a jar, fish bowl, or punch bowl with the rock candy strings. Cut 2-3 skewers in varying lengths from 3in- 4in tall. Attach Swedish Fish to the sharp end of your skewers and push into the rock candy so that they are 'swimming' above it. Cut sour strips in half, then use scissors to cut strips, stopping about a half inch from the end to create a fringe like appearance. Secure uncut end in rock candy and fan the cut pieces. Repeat until desired sea plant effect is created. Place your sea critters around to decorate your tank.