Tag: candy

Caitlyn, in the kitchen, Seasons

Easter Treats

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Last week, I found Betz White’s photo tutorial for some super-cute, adorably tiny Easter baskets made from 3 oz. Dixie cups. Naturally, I decided that I needed to make these for Easter. And put homemade candy in them. Never mind that I came up with this plan about a week before Easter. Clearly, it’s a very sensible plan. We painted our cups (instead of using markers like Betz) and I glittered some of them. Someday I’d like to upgrade the paint in our craft supplies from the washable Crayola stuff to something that doesn’t feel like chalk when it’s dry. …

in the kitchen, Seasons, sewing

Making the Tradition Mine

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I sort of fell off the Internet there for the second part of December. Wanna know why? After last year’s first attempt was deemed a success by my candy-making grandfather, and with his candy-making tools in hand (omg! marble slab ftw!), I picked up the family Christmas candy tradition. I’ve always thought that someone should carry on Grandpa’s candy making; if it’s me, I get to claim the extras. I guess there’s an ulterior motive for everything. Grandpa made caramels for years. I remember there were a few years when I was a teenager (I think) when he made all …

in the kitchen, Seasons

On with the Sugar Rush

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English toffee. It’s the reason for the season. Or is it the traditional Christmas morning coffee cake ring? Family gatherings, carols, large meals and gift exchanges are all very nice, and I’d miss them if they weren’t part of our rituals, but take out the candy or the coffee cake and I think my world might stop spinning. Even if it didn’t, it would definitely develop a bad wobble. I’m thinking of you, Grandpa! Save Save

community, family, Seasons

My Weekend

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Things I did this past weekend: spent 2 hours shoveling gravel into buckets as part of a work party in our local urban forest, Cheasty Greenspace at Mt. View. We graveled 75 feet of trail! attended a showing of Once Upon a Circus, a production of the SANCA Youth Company. They attempted to tell fairy tales but kept getting the details mixed up. Favorite segments: the acrobatic seven dwarfs and Red Riding Hood’s aerial routine. The introduction skit mangling The Lord of the Rings was pretty awesome as well. made a bag from In Color Order’s tutorial: started the holiday …

in the kitchen, Seasons

Candy Corn Restrospective

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It was supposed to be quick and fun. Instead, it took more than an hour and inspired some… er… colorful language. So, should anyone else want to attempt making candy corn from the how-to provided by The Harvard Crimson Flyby, here’s what I learned: If you are using ingredients from the natural foods aisle (eg, not C&H powdered sugar), sift everything really well. I used powdered sugar from Wholesome Sweeteners and powdered milk from Organic Valley. Both of these clump up as a general rule but it’s never been a problem with other uses, although those usually involved a mixer. …

family, Seasons

Reviving a Tradition

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My grandfather loves his sweets. One of the best things about staying with my grandparents for an evening when I was in elementary school (ok, and later, too) was that I always knew there would be dessert after dinner. Dessert was a rare treat at home, but Grandma always had something, even if it was only a bowl of fruit or a scoop of ice cream. I can’t quite remember a time before the candy. I think Grandpa started making it after their house was finished (or what passed for finished – to this day, I don’t think my grandparents …