Halloween Candy - It's Not Only For Kids!

By Sean J. Patrick

Yes, of course, when you think about Halloween, you think of little kids dressing in costumes and going door to door to gather bags of Halloween candy. And with some more days till 'dress up time' - you better start thinking about what you are going to give to those children ( yes, the giant youngsters too ) and if you're going to buy bulk candy for that party of yours. We have everything you might ever need to give the children - no matter if they're nine or ninety!

Gum - a candy custom that everybody loves! But we've put a twist on it!

With such a big amount of different tastes, consistencies, colors and sizes, who can resist this chewing sensation? From Adam's sour apple gum ( don't you just love that name? ) to a Guitar Key Chain with bubble gum picks (yes, we are serious - cool huh?) and everything in the middle, who can resist these tasty flavors that burst in your mouth? Our Halloween candy is a sure fire hit for your vacation festivities!

Buy in bulk!

When you would like to satisfy each single person on your list and all those small ones who will arrive on your doorstep, ordering bulk candy is the smartest way to buy. With such a large amount of different taste buds and everybody having their own preference, bulk candy puts a grin on everyone's face! There's candy coated, soft candy, hard candy, chocolate candy ( do not even get me started with the different types of chocolate ), licorice candy and every type of Halloween candy you can think of! Many of those types come in assortments so you have a wide selection of flavors and colours. And do not forget the chocolate rocks! Yes, you heard right - chocolate rocks!

Halloween candy is fun! ( Yes, for adults too )

Naturally, what would Halloween be without the normal candy corn? This Halloween candy puts a grin on your face, reminding you of this time of year and the colours of autumn. Don't forget to add those to your list as well as our Monster undead candy, Halloween Pez candy and Trick or Treat Mix! We have so many more that it would probably take forever to list them. Just come on over and read around. We promise you that regardless of what age you are our Halloween candy will put a smile on your face! - 29884

About the Author:

To get additional information about bulk candy, visit CandyDirect.com.

Sugar Cookies: Make Your Family Happy With These Treats

By Jack Markson

Sugar cookies have been a favorite of children and adults for years. The simplicity of taste and ease of making them enables them to be made even by those who are not expert cooks. Sugar cookies are also very versatile. They can be made round or in different shapes. They can be sprinkled with plain or colored sugar. They can be decorated with colored icings and decorated with chocolate chips and candied fruits. No matter how you serve them everyone will want more.

Sugar cookies have been made for quite a long time. The modern recipe was invented by immigrants coming from the Dutch lands to America and eventually called Pennsylvania Dutch. The recipe was very popular and soon it was known all over the world. Pennsylvania adopted the cookie as the state cookie in 2001.

Some say that the sugar cookie started way before that. They surmise that around the 7th century someone decided to make small cakes that were made in order to test the temperature of the oven. They did not want these cakes to go to waste so they sold them as small cakes which were made from sugar. In France small sugar cakes were called gimblettes and in Italy they were called cimbellines.

On variety of sugar cookie is fluffy and light and they become quite tall while in the oven baking. There is a bit of crunch to the edge but the middles are soft and sweet. Another variety is made where the cookie is a little harder and crisp. Both are wonderfully sweet and tasty.

In many recipes you roll the dough flat and use cookie cutters to cut it into different shapes. These type are favorites for many different holidays. They can be made into hearts on St. Valentines Day. They can be cut out in bunny or egg shape for Easter. Pumpkins can be cut out for Halloween. Cut out turkey cookies to celebrate Thanksgiving. The most popular are made a Christmas in various shapes including Christmas trees and Santa.

The following Soft Sugar Cookie recipe is made with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar. They come out soft and fluffy. Do not try to use cookie cutters with this recipe because the cookie is to soft to make them that way.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl cream one half pound softened butter then add one cup confectioners' sugar gradually. Add one egg, one teaspoon vanilla and mix well. In another bowl combine two cups flour and one half teaspoon baking soda. Mix well and start adding gradually to the mixture containing the egg. Once it has all been incorporated scoop out teaspoonful and shape into a one inch ball. Place two inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Take a fork and press each ball flat. Bake for about six minutes and remove from oven and let sit for five minutes. Remove cookies to a cooling rack. You can sprinkle each cookie with a little bit of granulated sugar before putting them into the oven if you would like. This makes about 5 dozen cookies.

The next recipe is a sugar cookie that is rolled flat and cut with cookie cutters. Using a large bowl take 1 and one half cups flour and sift it with two teaspoons of baking powder and 1 half teaspoon salt and place aside for later. In a bowl for the electric mixer place one cup butter and gradually add 1 and one half cups of granulated sugar. Beat until the mixture gets light and fluffy. In a small bowl beat 2 eggs. Add to the mixer with 1 tablespoon of milk and one teaspoon of vanilla. Slowly add 1 and a half additional flour until incorporated. The dough should not be stiff, but smooth so if it starts to stiffen stop adding the flour. Roll the entire bowl of dough into a ball and place it in wax paper to be placed in the refrigerator for a whole hour. Take out of the refrigerator and roll to about one fourth of an inch thick and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Sprinkle them with sugar or leave them alone to be decorated with colored icing after cooking. Put the shapes on non stick sprayed cookie sheets and bake in a 400 degree F oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges become lightly brown. Leave them on the cookie sheets for about 2 minutes then remove to a cooling rack.

Make sugar cookies a treat for your family. They will love finding them in the cookie jar. You can make them for holidays in different holiday shapes or enjoy them any time. - 29884

About the Author:

You can make Sugar Cookies that will look beautiful and taste fabulous! Visit our site and find Sugar Cookie Recipes from all over the world!

The Modern Ice Cream Machine

By Wally Clydesdale

Although summertime is almost over, it's not time to store away your ice cream maker--pumpkin ice cream anyone? Or if you don't own an ice cream machine, if you look around, you may find some good end-of-summer sales and be able to pick one up for really cheap. But how do ice cream machines work?

Virtually all ice cream machines function the same way. You take an ice cream mixture, lower the temp of the mixture until it's almost frozen while at the same time beating air into the mix.

Although home ice cream machines vary in size and operation, there are basically only three kinds. The first kind is probably what you remember Grandma using on Sunday socials. They use rock salt and ice to get the ice cream mixture to a low enough temp.

Next comes the more recent style of machine. This one features a bowl that you freeze for at least' hours, before making ice cream. A plus to this kind of machine is less mess than the traditional style.

Then there is the compressor-style ice cream maker. With one of these, you can forgo, the mess of rock salt and ice, as well as having to plan ahead for freezing your bowl insert, by using a machine that has its own built in freezer compressor. Homemade ice cream any time you feel like it.

Fresh ice cream anytime--what's the catch? Well for starters, a compressor-style machine is really expensive. Then there are some models that don't have a removable mixing bowl and that can make it difficult when it comes time to clean up.

There you have it, the three basic kinds of ice cream makers along with how they work. Like I mentioned before, summer is gone but that doesn't mean your ice cream machine isn't as useful. Pumpkins and sweet potatoes are in season and are great in ice cream. You can also use regular vanilla to top pumpkin pie. - 29884

About the Author:

Wally Clydesdale's knowledge in ice cream extend back to childhood. He is currently a writer of Ice Cream Maker Basics.com where he is called up to write about electric ice cream makers

Enjoy the Retro Candy Flavors of Yesteryear Now

By Charlotte Broomen

Harking back to the good old days of our youth brings back a lot happy recollections. Tossing the ball in the park, staying up late at a buddy's house, or maybe family trips spring to mind. One memory in particular that brought a smile to my face was reminiscing about when my buddies and I might pick out our favorite candies from the neighborhood candyshop.

Modern day sweets just don't seem the same. There's something about retro candy that makes us all just smile. Moderncandy are no match to the likes of : Teaberry gum, Necco wafers, Boston Baked Beans, root beer barrels, or Abba Zabba. Each one of these tantalizing candies makes us think of different happy childhood memories.

Because many of these candies are not available in stores it got me thinking, wouldn't it be great to celebrate these retro candy favorites? One idea that came to mind was to buy lots of old fashioned candy from the internet and throw a party with a nostalgic theme. With the holidays approaching, this is going to be a wonderful. Not only does candy function as a great treat and decoration, but also it is the ideal talking point.

When guests notice some of the candies they haven't tasted in years they will have to try some. Everyone seems to have a tale of their favorite childhood candy. Another way to party with nostalgic candy is to send it as a gift. There are websites that sell hard to find candy piece by piece or in bulk that is smartly prepared into a gift box. What a great way to send a salutation to a buddy or anyone else.

There are some gift boxes that have about fifteen different types of retro candy that many of us haven't seen in ages. The fun part was trying each retro candy and remembering those times as a kid. Who would not be thrilled getting some of their old time tops as a present?

We adore old time candy not just for the memories but also because it tastes good too. Young people these days still get excited over gum cigarettes, circus peanuts, gold mine gum, or rock candy.

These are some of many concepts to bring back some great retro candy. No matter your preference of candy it is just plain fun! More than just eating candy, sentimental candy provides stories and entertainment with friends, children, neighbours, or collegues. Give it a try and expect a real large smile! - 29884

About the Author:

Before you buy anything on the Internet, make sure you visit the old fashioned candy store the best website for retro candy on the Internet.

Try These Original Desserts

By Katie Rogers

Everyone loves a good dessert. What better way to top off a nice meal than by finishing it with a sweet, guilty pleasure?

With so many different dessert varieties, it's sometimes hard to think about an original creation that will taste great. It's always easiest when we're ordering them off a menu! Thankfully, they're a lot easier to make than it seems.

If you're looking for an original dessert dish that deviates from the norm, you might be interested in trying out any one of the following three suggestions. Be creative and you can even expand on these.

1. White chocolate mousse. You're used to eating regular chocolate when it comes to mousse, but white chocolate mousse can be just as delicious, or even more so depending on who you ask.

While it tastes great on its own, it never hurts to add some more ingredients here, as things like caramel, syrups, and more all go really well with this dish.

A second dessert dish that goes over really well at parties is the ice cream martini. You're basically serving ice cream inside a martini glass, which looks much more appealing than ice cream in a cup or a bowl.

Some people like to take it to the next level, throwing in additional toppings like nuts, hot fudge, and whipped cream. The dessert truly becomes a sight for sore eyes.

Lastly, there's the mango rose filled with ice cream. This has it all. It has the aesthetics, the great taste, and even some fruit for health benefits. Believe it or not, it's pretty easy to shape the mango as you need to here.

Fill it up with ice cream or sorbet. Whether it's vanilla or something more adventurous, you'll have a sweet, tasty treat on your hands. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a mango. - 29884

About the Author:

About this writer: When she's not dreaming about desserts, she's writing about prices of diamond drop earrings and cheap pearl drop earrings.

The Greatest New Ice Cream Flavors

By Nicholas McMillan

Ice cream is one of those things that people will never stop loving. Or I'll never stop loving it at least. I've been eating it my whole life, and my love for it hasn't faded one bit since my childhood. It's truly my junk food of choice when it comes down to it.

Besides the classics, there are also plenty of newer ice cream flavors that'd be pretty easy to miss if you weren't getting it as often as I do. While I love the classics and they'll never get old to me (chocolate is still my number one flavor when it comes down to it), there are some great newer flavors worth trying out.

Anyway, here are some new ice cream flavors that I've tried over the course of the last year and I've really enjoyed them. If you're an ice cream lover like I am and want to expand your palette, try these out as I'm sure you'll find them to be pretty interesting.

The brown sugar flavor by Haagen Dazs is a can't miss. If you like something sweet, this is a great flavor that truly tastes like the brown sugar you'd use baking cookies as a kid growing up.

Another really interesting type of ice cream was the fleur de caramel. I don't kid when I say that it's one of the most unique types of ice cream I've ever tried, as the blend of the sweet caramel mixed with salt results in a really unique flavor.

This makes it really interesting, as the salty and sweet mix really hits the spot. I think you'll find this one to be very different from other ice creams that you typically try.

Sticky toffee pudding is another flavor that I truly find to be amazing. If you're a toffee lover, this will hit the spot.

The last one I'll mention before you run out and get ice cream now is Oreo Outrageous. Baskin Robbins makes this flavor, and it's truly one of my new favorites. Much better than cookies and cream in my book. - 29884

About the Author:

About Nicholas McMillan: While he's definitely an ice cream lover, he also writes regularly about the Little Tikes country kitchen, and the Little Tikes Prep and Serve Kitchen.

Cake Decorating Equipment: Figure Out What You Need to Become an Expert Cake Decorator

By Maria Campbell

You need the right kind of cake decorating equipment to perfect your cake decorating skills. Paddles and icing smoothers are some of the essential cake decorating equipment.They come in handy especially if you are decorating a cake with various kinds of frostings and icing.

You may also find a rolling pin to be useful. However, plastic ones usually aren?t strong or heavy enough to get the job done, so you may want to go with a marble rolling pin. It?s hard and heavy, and is a much superior choice to both plastic and wood. It is also cold, which is a great asset when fondant is concerned.

Even though you shouldn?t use a cheap rolling pin, you can get away with using a plain mat, just as long as it?s flexible. Mats can come in handy for rolling out icing. Some of them come are made to grip table surfaces in order to prevent slippage. You may want to consider getting this type of mat if you don?t feel like chasing it all over the table!

One type of cake decorating equipment you really need to get is a good turntable. Since cakes can be heavy (i.e. wedding cakes), you will find a turntable to be very helpful. If you can afford to do so, invest in a good, study model, as some cheap turntables are known to tilt too much.

You can not imagine decorating a cake without the spatula or the palette knife. Metal spatulas are the choice of professional bakers.

For creating delicate designs on your cake- such as icing shells, scrolls or snail trails a piping set with various sized nozzles could be your best choice of cake decorating equipment.

For your paint brushing needs, you can use both fine-tipped and broad ones. The fine paint brushes can be used for brushing sugar and crumbs out of the way and for applying thin lines or decorations. The broad brushes can be used for clearing away debris off the board.

Other cake decorating equipment you might need are- the flower nails, silver pins, food coloring and decorator tips. All the cake decorating equipments are affordable and available at a local cake supplies store as well in on-line stores. - 29884

About the Author:

Finding Cake Decorating Equipment does not have to be a difficult task. You should be able to buy a set of items to get you started. If you go to the store and buy individual items, you will likely spend a ton more than you should spend. Buying a good quality starter set is the way to go!