(no subject)
I saw an article on Yahoo today declaring the worst Halloween candies. It was written by some snooty foodie writer, and I can't imagine what kind of candy he hands out, but when you are trashing Hershey bars, Milk Duds, Smarties, and Dum Dums, well, something isn't right in your world.
I love candy. Not all candy, but most candy. It is my sweet tooth weakness. I can bypass cake (and usually do), pie, cookies, brownies, and almost all baked goods. But put a bowl of candy in front of me? All the willpower goes out the window. Most of my favorite childhood memories revolve around candy. My uncle kept a stash of Hershey miniatures that he only allowed us kids to touch if he was in a good mood and we did some type of chores in return. Otherwise, he had a dish of Brach's butterscotch candies for us. I liked those just as much as the chocolates. My grandmother always had a variety, like the licorices with the candy coating, I just can't remember the name. Or Sunkist jellies. Or hard candies like root beer barrels, peppermints, and butterscotches. Or nougats.
But I suspect it was my grandfather who truly got me hooked on candy. When I was little, my dad worked for his father's company. Every Friday, my grandfather would stop by our house to give my mom my dad's pay. He'd stick around for a cup of cocoa or tea or something, just a reason to sit down and visit. We'd come running to meet him and he'd greet us with a tiny brown paper bag filled with penny candy. It was probably never more than a nickle or dime's worth, but when you are 4 years old, a bag of candy is a bag of candy. He knew what we liked and he tried to make sure we had our favorites. Sometimes when he was in a hurry, it was easier to make the bags all the same and we kids would trade. But mostly, we got what we liked. And on our birthday, we got a little bit more than usual. My favorites were squirrel nut zippers -- pieces of caramel taffy with pieces of peanuts -- Sugar Daddies, Smarties, candy necklaces, lollipops, and the wax things with a tiny bit of liquid inside. I used to wear the necklaces, and whenever I needed a snack, it was right there around my collar.
The candy deliveries stopped when the company closed down and my dad got a different job. But by then, we had moved into town and not too far away was the old-fashioned store that sold the penny candy. When I was in the 6th grade and our school day ran from 1 pm to 5 pm and we didn't get home until close to 6, I would hop on my bike in the mornings and get some penny candy to take with me as a late afternoon snack. Almost every single day I did this. I usually only had a dime, but when I had a quarter, I'd splurge a little bit -- I'd get a five cent bag of Sprees and I'd buy a lollipop. I don't remember what the brand of lollipop it was, but there was one that I'd open the wrapper in the store because some of the pops had a sticker that said, "You win a free lollipop!" I'd usually win one free one a week, but once, I won 5 in a single day. I'd take the candy with me in those little brown paper bags, and if I was feeling generous, I'd share with the kids who sat near me on the bus.
By high school I had moved to Life Savers and Charm's lollipops that I'd buy at the little restaurant and country store at the bottom of the hill near the school building.
Now I don't eat much candy. Every so often I'll treat myself and on Friday I may go to see what is on sale post Halloween. Mostly, it is too much temptation to have it in the house. Folks think I have an incredible amount of willpower, turning down desserts as I do. They just don't realize if they offered me a Twizzler or a Starburst, I'd be hogging the whole bag.
I love candy. Not all candy, but most candy. It is my sweet tooth weakness. I can bypass cake (and usually do), pie, cookies, brownies, and almost all baked goods. But put a bowl of candy in front of me? All the willpower goes out the window. Most of my favorite childhood memories revolve around candy. My uncle kept a stash of Hershey miniatures that he only allowed us kids to touch if he was in a good mood and we did some type of chores in return. Otherwise, he had a dish of Brach's butterscotch candies for us. I liked those just as much as the chocolates. My grandmother always had a variety, like the licorices with the candy coating, I just can't remember the name. Or Sunkist jellies. Or hard candies like root beer barrels, peppermints, and butterscotches. Or nougats.
But I suspect it was my grandfather who truly got me hooked on candy. When I was little, my dad worked for his father's company. Every Friday, my grandfather would stop by our house to give my mom my dad's pay. He'd stick around for a cup of cocoa or tea or something, just a reason to sit down and visit. We'd come running to meet him and he'd greet us with a tiny brown paper bag filled with penny candy. It was probably never more than a nickle or dime's worth, but when you are 4 years old, a bag of candy is a bag of candy. He knew what we liked and he tried to make sure we had our favorites. Sometimes when he was in a hurry, it was easier to make the bags all the same and we kids would trade. But mostly, we got what we liked. And on our birthday, we got a little bit more than usual. My favorites were squirrel nut zippers -- pieces of caramel taffy with pieces of peanuts -- Sugar Daddies, Smarties, candy necklaces, lollipops, and the wax things with a tiny bit of liquid inside. I used to wear the necklaces, and whenever I needed a snack, it was right there around my collar.
The candy deliveries stopped when the company closed down and my dad got a different job. But by then, we had moved into town and not too far away was the old-fashioned store that sold the penny candy. When I was in the 6th grade and our school day ran from 1 pm to 5 pm and we didn't get home until close to 6, I would hop on my bike in the mornings and get some penny candy to take with me as a late afternoon snack. Almost every single day I did this. I usually only had a dime, but when I had a quarter, I'd splurge a little bit -- I'd get a five cent bag of Sprees and I'd buy a lollipop. I don't remember what the brand of lollipop it was, but there was one that I'd open the wrapper in the store because some of the pops had a sticker that said, "You win a free lollipop!" I'd usually win one free one a week, but once, I won 5 in a single day. I'd take the candy with me in those little brown paper bags, and if I was feeling generous, I'd share with the kids who sat near me on the bus.
By high school I had moved to Life Savers and Charm's lollipops that I'd buy at the little restaurant and country store at the bottom of the hill near the school building.
Now I don't eat much candy. Every so often I'll treat myself and on Friday I may go to see what is on sale post Halloween. Mostly, it is too much temptation to have it in the house. Folks think I have an incredible amount of willpower, turning down desserts as I do. They just don't realize if they offered me a Twizzler or a Starburst, I'd be hogging the whole bag.