Did you know?!

We came across an interesting article on MediaPost.com...

Candy Is Adults' #1 Christmas Snack Purchase

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/187976/candy-is-adults-1-christmas-snack-purchase.html#ixzz2DYbgh6wi

Half of U.S. adults who celebrate Christmas buy candy for the holiday, and 54% of these consumers buy it for consumption by themselves or their families, as opposed to gifts, according to an NPD Group survey.

In addition to eating it themselves, 44% of adults buy candy for gifting, and the remaining candy purchasers use it for holiday entertaining and other activities.

Half (51%) of candy eaters consume seasonal/holiday chocolate candy. Candy canes are a next favorite, followed by snack-size chocolate candy bars, gift box chocolates, and seasonal/holiday non-chocolate candy. 

Impulse is the prime driver for 15% of candy/treat purchases.

Women gravitate to the seasonal sections of stores to buy candy for the holidays, whereas men favor the regular candy section.

The survey, of some 4,900 adults who celebrate Christmas, finds chips ranking as the second most commonly purchased Christmas snack (bought by 38% of adults), followed by fresh fruit (36%) and crackers and nuts (each at 31%).

The survey's results are among the holiday snacking trends data in a new NPD report, SnackTrack Holidays Christmas Profile.

 

DO YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY CANDY TRADITION?

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/187976/candy-is-adults-1-christmas-snack-purchase.html#ixzz2DYbgh6wi

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/187976/candy-is-adults-1-christmas-snack-purchase.html#ixzz2DYbgh6wi

CYBER WEEK SPECIAL MEGA MOVIE NIGHT NOSTALGIC CANDY THEATRE BOX GIFT

 

Mega Movie Night Tower

We have the perfect gift for any movie enthusiast. Rent your favorite flick or go out for the night and take along your favorite theater candy from this tasty Mega Movie Night Retro Candy Set comes adorned with matching ribbons and makes a perfect and unique gift for any occasion. This one of a kind tower gift assortment includes sixteen of your favorite theater candies in the same size movie box you would get at the theatre. Includes the following classics: Dots Gum Drops, Crows Licorice Gum Drops, Jujubees, Gobstoppers, Red Hots, Sweetarts, Swedish Fish, Bottlecaps Soda Pop Candy, Lemonheads, Boston Baked Beans, Mike & Ikes Original Fruits, Hot Tamales Cinnamon Candy, Mary Janes, Sugar Babies, Smarties and Chuckles Jelly Candy. OVER 5 POUNDS of CANDY! Over 16 inches tall.

Originally $39.99 and for THIS WEEK ONLY $9.99!! Use coupon code CANDIES for an additional 10% savings!

ROCK CANDY RECIPE

(CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED DURING ENTIRE PROCESS)

Rock Candy experiments can be a great way to occupy children (and adults) during inclement weather, or as a great idea for a science project.  Plus, Rock Candy, unlike many other projects, allows the little researcher to eat the results!

You will need about a week to grow the sugar crystals and complete this experiment.

 

 

MATERIALS LIST:

            Glass jar (if you want to make a larger batch, double the recipe and find another jar or two)

            Cotton Thread

            Pencil

            Paper Clip

            2 C granulated sugar

            1 C water

            ½ tsp flavoring extract of your choice (optional)

            Food coloring (optional)

PREPARATION:

1.   Sterilize your glass jar by washing in a dishwasher or by washing it thoroughly with hot water. Cut a piece of thread a few inches longer that the height of the jar. Cut a length of cotton thread a few inches longer than the height of the jar and tie or tape the thread to the pencil.  Lay the pencil across the jar opening and roll it until the thread sits one inch from the bottom of the jar.  To weigh down the thread and to make it hang straight, attach the paper clip to the bottom of the thread. 

2.  Roll the thread in sugar to enable the sugar crystals to grab on to the thread and start forming.  Set the thread aside to dry and begin preparing your sugar syrup.

3.  In a medium sized pan, bring your water to a boil.  Slowly add the sugar, one cup at a time being sure to stir after each addition. (It is normal for the sugar to dissolve slower as more sugar is added.)  Continue to boil and stir the syrup until all sugar has been dissolved. Remove pan from heat.

4. Add your optional colorings or flavorings at this time.  For extract, add ½ tsp. as stated above.  If you wish, you may add 2-3 drops of food coloring and stir until coloring is smooth and even.

5. Cool the sugar syrup for about 10 minutes before pouring into the jar or jars you prepared earlier. Place the pencil with the sugared cotton thread across your syrup filled jar then lower the string until it hangs about 1 inch from the bottom.

6. Cover the top of the jar loosely with a paper towel or plastic wrap and store undisturbed, in a cool place away from bright lights.

7.  Watch your experiment for changes.  You should see some sugar crystals forming within 2-4 hours. If there has been no change to the thread in 24 hours you will need  to boil the syrup again, adding another cup of sugar. Once this additional cup of sugar has been dissolved follow the instructions again starting with step five.

8. The rock candy can be allowed to grow to the size you wish, but don’t grow it too large or too close to the sides of the jar or it will begin growing on your jar. Once the rock candy has reached the size you wish, remove it and allow it to dry for a few minutes.  

9. Enjoy!  If saving for later (good luck getting the kids to do this), wrap in plastic wrap.

10.  If used as a science project, it is fun for the experimenting student or teacher to give out pieces of rock candy to the class, but it is rarely possible to make enough during the project to accommodate an entire class.  We suggest going on line to our Rock Candy Store where you can purchase bulk rock candy, boxed rock candy or rock candy by the piece/stick.

 

Show us your loot!!!

Post a photo to our Facebook wall of your Trick-or-Treat loot to be entered into a drawing for a sweet prize!!

Candy Corn

October 30th, is National Candy Corn Day and Candy Corn is not just for Halloween anymore. Candy makers now produce Brach's Fall Flavors Candy Corn for Autumn,
Reindeer Corn for Christmas, Cupid Corn for Valentine’s Day and on Easter – plastic eggs full of Bunny Corn. As popular as this candy is (more than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year), it barely makes the top ten traditional Halloween candy favorites.

Kids tell us that their favorite treats to receive when trick-or-treating are candy and gum. Eighty-four percent of kids said candy and gum are their favorites

The Top Ten Traditional Halloween Candy includes: 

 

1)      Lollipops

2)      Tootsie Rolls/Pops

3)      Smarties

4)      Bubble Gum

5)      “Fun Size” Chocolates (with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups the favorite)

6)      Pixy Stix

7)      Sweetarts

8)      Starburst

9)      Caramel Candy

10)  Candy Corn

Better Safe than Sorry

We’ve all heard the unsavory tales when it comes to our children’s trick or trick loot. While it is likely that nothing is amiss inside of that plastic orange jack o lantern filled with treats, it is never a bad thing to err on the side of caution. Based on a poll of our employees we have compiled a list of practical guidelines.

Never allow your children to eat candy while trick or treating. You cannot be sure without the proper lighting that you’ve inspected the candy thoroughly. Once home, dump all candy on table or counter in a well lit area. First discard any unwrapped items. Also, dispose of any items that are unfamiliar or appear homemade. Check the remaining sweets for tears, holes, discoloration or the appearance of anything strange inside the package. Separate the candy deemed edible into two categories, things YOU want to eat and the sweets you’ll let your kids have. Finally, Halloween is a time to enjoy your favorite confectionary treats so stash the candy you’ve decided to keep for yourself and disperse the remainder to your children as you see fit.

All Hallow's Eve!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 40 million children will venture out into the Autumn night and go trick-or-treating this year. The origin of Halloween goes back to when Celtic groups in areas now known as Ireland, Scotland and Wales celebrated their New Year's Day on November 1^st, know then as “All Saints' Day”. The day before this celebration, October 31st, was called "All Hallows' Eve" and signaled the close of the harvest season.