Friends Food Review

The Sour Gummy Challenge

With Easter just around the corner, I figured this would be a great time to talk about candy. Though our kids range in age between 15 and 24, everyone still enjoys a few bags of candy from the "Easter Bunny" (wink, wink). We were at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets when it seemed like every store we went into had sour gummy candy.

At the Williams-Sonoma Outlet Store, we grabbed a bag of Sour Gummy Eggs and at Harry and David's the Sour Galaxy Chews. When we got home we convinced ourselves that testing them before Easter would tell us whether people would like them and ultimately enjoy them as a holiday treat. (Oh, the psychological games we have to play to eat a bag of candy.)

So, the challenge began...which gummy tasted better? As everyone came through the kitchen they had to taste the candy and tell which one was better. Hands down, it was the Sour Gummy Eggs from Williams-Sonoma. Jeff was the only one who liked the Sour Galaxy Chews better. So, we fought over who would eat the last gummy egg and let Jeff take the Galaxy Chews to his office, where he enjoyed the bag all to himself.

Hilliard's House of Candy

   
I was introduced to Hilliard's candy over thirty years ago when I arrived at Stonehill College. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The best chocolate in the world and only a short walk from campus. Since that time, I have always been drawn back to buy confections for many holidays. Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day (my dad loves their homemade marshmallow peeps), ice cream in the Summer, chocolate covered candy apples in the Fall, Halloween, Christmas...did I miss one? Even when I worked for the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce, we had Hilliard's chocolate stars decorating the tables at our annual meeting.

Hilliard's also holds a special place in my heart because I grew up enjoying chocolate from Merken's Chocolate (now ADM Cocoa) located in Mansfield, MA. Having lived less than a mile from the "chocolate factory", I woke up many mornings to the smell of chocolate. Because ADM hasn't sold chocolate at a retail level for many years, you have to find a candy shop that uses it. Hilliard's uses ADM Cocoa.

My son and I went over last night to pick up some Valentine's Day goodies. As we were looking around, I found a bag of hot chocolate mix and homemade marshmallows. I love good hot chocolate and this one was amazing. Rich, smooth, chocolaty and the marshmallows were amazing. Much better than the stale ones you buy at the supermarket. Doesn't that cup look delicious? I'm thinking of putting a few tablespoons of chocolate in my cinnamon coffee tomorrow morning...Mexican Mocha!

I also found Praline Pecans, Milk Chocolate Pretzels and Chocolate Covered Wintergreen and Peppermint Mints. This was one stop shopping for all my confection lovers.

I know I might be a little late for Valentine's Day, but you can still get out and get some chocolates for your sweetheart. Hilliard's has three locations, Easton, Canton and Hanover, MA. If you don't have time this weekend, make it a point to visit Hilliard's for your next holiday or event. It's easy to become hooked. I did!

 

The Old Country Store and Emporium

There is a great place in Mansfield, Massachusetts called the Old Country Store and Emporium. I love stopping by and just wandering through the store. It's nostalgic and welcoming. I usually don't have any immediate purchases in mind when I arrive but I always seem to leave with a bag!

When you first walk in, you step into the specialty food area that includes a penny candy section. Candy...my favorite! Tootsie Rolls, Mary Jane's, Squirrels, Hot Balls, Charleston Chews, Swedish Fish, SweeTarts, Candy Necklaces...and list goes on and on. It reminds me of growing up in Quincy and a store called Candyland of Oz. It had shelves upon shelves of penny candy. 

The Emporium also sells homemade fudge and has a wide selection of jelly candies; Spearmint Leaves, Orange Slices and Red Jelly Hearts. I picked up the hearts thinking they were cinnamon, until I read the tag and it said, "cherry jelly hearts". One of my favorites, it's a flavor we would fight over in a package of Chuckles. Put those in the basket, we have a purchase to make.

As you continue through the store you will discover, candles, lampshades, furniture, rugs, country decor, soaps, lotions, cookbooks, kitchen gadgets and bird houses. It's got a varied and unique selection of goods. And if you have a few quarters to spare, you can play a song on the player pianos, strategically placed through out the store.

The next time you are in the mood for some old-fashioned fun, take a ride to the Old Country Store and Emporium. It's definitely worth the trip!