National Candy Month

Who can take a sunrise

Sprinkle it with dew

Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two

The Candy Man

The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

First of all I want to apologize to you.  June is National Candy Month, but I picked a terrible time to tell you since it's the next to the last day of the month.  That doesn't give you much time to indulge, so I guess you can say I was looking out for your health.

(Google Image) 

June is a great month for candy.  In recent years a popular item at wedding receptions is a candy bar,  A table is set with all kinds of different candy, sometimes in the bride's wedding colors, and in various types of containers.  This is a big hit for children who are attending, and is also fun for grownups too.  Normally a bag is provided for the guests to fill with their choice of candy and this serves as their "wedding favor" or gift for attending the wedding.   Since June is the most popular month for weddings, celebrating candy in June makes good sense too.

(Google Image) 

When my son was small we had pizza and movie night every Friday night.  Every Friday night he would always get the same movies, Peter Pan and Willie Wonka.  My favorite part of Willie Wonka was when all the kids were on the boat and they are floating down the chocolate river and they arrive in "Paradise".  The room where everything is edible and the kids are running around tasting everything.  It all looked so delicious.

(Google Image) 

I have dabbled a bit in making candy.  Mostly at Christmas time I will make fudge, divinity and pralines.  Pralines are a southern specialty, and I have a wonderful recipe for them that will simply melt in your mouth.  Since I was so late in telling you about Candy month, I thought I would share my secret Praline recipe with you.

(Google Image) 

So for the last days of Candy month, treat yourself to your favorite candy, or try your hand in making your own.

Pralines

Ingredients:

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 can evaporated milk

5 Cups sugar

1 stick butter

2 tsp vanilla

1 pound pecan halves

Directions

Mix first 4 ingredients and cook on low in large pot.  I use my biggest soup pot.  Stir side to side until you can see the bottom of the pot when the spoon scrapes across.  This takes about 2 hours.  Add vanilla and pecans.  Cool pot in water and stir until thickens.  Drop on wax paper in large spoonfuls.  Let Cool.  Enjoy.

National Ice Cream Soda Day - 2012

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Today is the beginning of summer, and the hottest day of the year.  That makes it the perfect date for Ice Cream Soda Day.  Ice Cream Sodas are a cool delicious treat made with one or two scoops of ice cream then covered with a carbonated drink of your choice.  I prefer root beer.

(Google Image) 

When my dad was a teen he worked at a local drug store.  When he wasn't out making deliveries or changing the boss's baby's diapers, he could be found behind the counter where ice cream was served.  He was known as a Soda Jerk.  He would tell me stories about all the treats he would make, from banana splits to Sundaes, to milkshakes and ice cream sodas.  Those were the good ole days when the drug stores had soda fountains and served ice cream out of glass dishes.

(Google Image) 

Ice cream sodas were invented by Robert Green in 1874 during Philadelphia's sesquicentennial celebration. Legend has it that Mr. Green added vanilla ice cream to the soda he sold after he ran out of ice.  There has been some controversy over this invention.  There are at least three other claimants for the invention of ice cream soda: Fred Sanders, Philip Mohr (in 1782 at Fulton and First Streets in Elizabeth, NJ), and George Guy, one of Robert Green's own employees according to Wikipedia.  Regardless of its origins, the beverage quickly became very popular, to such a degree that it was almost socially obligatory among teens, although many adults abhorred it. According to some accounts, it was banned, either entirely or on holy days, by some local governments.

(Google Image) 

These days you can get an ice cream soda on any day, and since today is ice cream soda day, it’s the perfect day for you to enjoy this delicious treat!

(Google Image)