Sour Patch Kid Martini

Any Sour Patch Kid Fans out there?  I hope so, because I am a Sour Patch Kid lover and this is my all time favorite cocktail!  On this Thirsty Thursday, you will be consuming the Sour Patch Martini because The Sweetest Temptations said so!  Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

This drink is super sweet, delicious, and so tasty that it does not even seem like there is any alcohol in it. (This could be dangerous so be careful!)  It's the perfect blend for those with a tongue who craves sweet and sour at the same time.  It's definitely more sweet though.  It also tastes very much like eating a Sour Patch Kid and while sipping, some must be reminded that they are actually drinking a drink and not eating the best candy ever.    It is SO good and will be your new drink of choice!  

Here are the ingredients:

1 oz. Raspberry Vodka

1 oz. Sour Apple Pucker

1 oz. Watermelon Pucker

1 oz. Sweet & Sour Mix

Mix ingredients and ice in martini shaker.  Shake it up, pour into martini glass, drop some Sour Patch Kid candies inside the drink to add some more color and fun, or place on rim of martini glass (which should be a sugar rim) for extra embellishment. and enjoy!

Jelly Bean Easter Bunny Cake

Happy Easter!  

It's just one day away now!  A lot of you are probably scrambling for last minute preparations before the big day.  Check out my last blogs for other ideas on how to make your Easter the best!

One Sweet, Easy, and Fun project to make is this Jelly Bean Easter Bunny cake.  A simple box cake is all you need.  


Then follow these easy steps:


Pour batter into two circle shaped pans


Bake and let cool


Leave one circle intact while cutting the other one into ears and a bow tie.  Just cut two leaf shapes into the circle and then those are the ears, while the middle part is fit to be a bowtie


Frost with frosting of your choice


Decorate with Jelly Beans and your favorite candy.  I used Jelly Beans and M&M's this year.  


Use this picture as a guide and have fun, it's a GREAT project to do with kids!


Happy, Happy Easter!  Get ready for Peter Cottontail to come tonight! :)

Bunny photo courtesy of http://www.everythingeaster.com/

Jelly Bean Martini

Hippity Hoppity, Hippity Hoppity, Easter's on it's way... 

Monday, Tuesday, Happy Days, Wednesday, Thursday Happy Thirsty Thursday!  

It's Thirsty Thursday!  Since Easter is just a few days away, I couldn't suggest a more perfect drink for today.  The Jelly Bean Martini.  It is so festive, fun, sweet, tasty, and fantastic to say the least!  Just whip up this drink and give it to all of your favorite bunnies to celebrate Easter's arrival in just 3 short days.  


Ingredients
1 Shot Peach Vodka
1 Shot Malibu Rum
1/2 Shot Blackberry Brandy
1/2 Shot Grenadine
Splash Sour Mix
Jelly Beans
Ice


Put ice in martini shaker then add alcohol, grenadine, and sour mix.  Shake and pour into glass and drop as many jelly beans as you want in the bottom of the glass!

And just so the kids don't feel left out, fill a martini glass with jelly beans so they can join in on the festive fun!  

Happy, Happy Easter to all!

Thanks to http://momsinthecitycocktails.blogspot.com/2010/09/candy-martinis.html for the yummy idea and photo! Jelly bean martini photo courtesy of http://www.123rf.com/photo_6477599_mixed-fruit-gummy-candy.html

Filling an Easter Basket with Unique Easter Candy

Easter is just around the corner with just 5 more days to go!  Peter Cottontail is getting all his candy baskets ready for all the children around the world.  He is well aware that it takes some creativity and thought to present the ones you love with the perfect Easter basket.  I had a few tips for him to create a basket like no other.  I'm going to share with you three types of candy that are unique and fun that I just came across and had never thought of before, and are a DEFINITE must have for filling up an Easter basket!

I know all of you have consumed a deviled egg at least once in your lifetime.  But have you ever tasted a white chocolate deviled egg?  These candies are handmade and chocolatey with sprinkles on top.  Mmm Mmm Good!  Look how cute they are!

Now I know all of you have heard of peeps before, but have you ever dipped them in chocolate?  I have never seen them like this before, but like many say, anything is better when it's dipped in chocolate.  So now upon consumption, tastebuds get that marshmallowy taste plus that decadent taste of chocolate all in one bite! So good!  As you can see below, they can come individually wrapped, with the chocolate on the bottom.   They are easy to make at home as well, just buy some Peeps, and then melt some chocolate, and dip the bottom in it, let it cool, then consume!  It's a fun project to spice up the taste of an original Peep and spice up any Easter basket with a little extra chocolate.

The last exclusive type of candy I found that would be perfect to add to an Easter basket is edible grass.  This is a great way to "go green" and enjoy a fun little snack at the same time.  Instead of buying that plastic grass that everyone uses in an Easter basket, but this stuff and kill two birds with one stone.  It looks even better than the plastic grass, and the fact that it can be eaten makes things so much better!  It comes in a variety of colors, including blue, green, and pink, which is perfect because it is suitable for boys and girls.  

These three candies are not only fun to look at and delicious to taste, but will add such a one of a kind touch to any Easter basket!  Enough with the mundane and predictable candies.  Go out and find these products and surprise your kids with these new and awesome ideas!  By the way, I found these products at a small candy store in Santa Barbara, CA over the weekend, but I'm sure they are available in a store near you :)

Happy Easter!!!

Gummy Bear Margarita

It's Thirsty Thursday once again!  How many of you like gummy bears?  How many of you like margaritas?  Well, if you said "Me!", you will very much enjoy this Gummy Bear Margarita.

Margs are personally my drink of choice.  Gummy bears are my favorite when topped on frozen yogurt.  So when gummy bears are mixed in with tequila, it doesn't get better than this!

Here are the ingredients

1 1/2 oz Voodoo Tiki Blue Dragon Tequila (yum!!)
1 oz Watermelon Pucker
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Cranberry Juice
1 oz Sour Mix
Splash of grenadine
Gummy bears for decoration
Ice Cubes

Once you get off work today, it is a good idea to head straight to the grocery store and get these fixings for the most amazing margarita you've ever tasted!  This is such a enjoyable drink because it brings out the kid in you while getting you a little tipsy at the same time.  Make sure to decorate with PLENTY of gummy bears, one can never go wrong with too many!

This sweet fruity drink will make your taste buds rejoice!  One more tip- Don't forget to add sugar around the rim instead of salt!!!!  Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Recipe and photo courtesy of http://cocktails.about.com/od/tequilarecipes/r/gummibear_mrg.htm. Gummy bear photo courtesy of http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2008/08/01/recycling-dead-animals-1-waste-not-want-not/106/

Hippity Hoppity Easter Candy's on it's way!

Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka must be happy that Easter's NOT over and is actually just around the corner!  In one of the best movies ever made, the Golden Goose lays huge Chocolate Eggs all year around, but for this particular season, the eggs are more than suitable.  Easter's just a few weeks away so it's time to get prepared to fill those Easter baskets!

Easter is a holiday revolved around Candy, Candy, & Candy.  Chocolate Bunnies, Peeps, and Jelly Beans to be exact.  These three types of candy are the staple of the holiday and today you'll learn some fun facts about each.

Chocolate Bunnies

90 Million of these chocolately mouthwatering delights are made each year.  Can you believe it?  So many!  When consuming them, 76% of people start with nibbling on the ears.  For those who have a foot fetish, which is a small amount compared to the majority, 5% of chocolate lovers dive in foot first and take a bite.  Never would have thought about biting foot first, but to each his own!  And 4% of people eat the tail first.  Interesting.....

Peeps

All Peeps are hatched out of Bethlehem, PA.  (A great place to visit, especially during Christmastime, it was one of my family's favorite traditions)  Just Born company produces 1 billion peeps a year.  There are all different shapes but for Easter, there are Chicks and Bunny shapes.  Back in the day when Peeps first hatched into the world about 50 years ago, the marshmallow treat took 27 hours total to make.  Nowadays, the whole process takes only 6 short minutes.  Amazing!

Jelly Beans

These chewy and flavorful beans are produced all year long, but 16 Billion are produced for Easter alone!  Jelly Beans are one of the best selling candies on the market because of how delicious full they are.  The Easter Bunny started filling baskets with these treats because they symbolize new life with their bright and vibrant colors in the Spring time.  Spring is all about rebirth and Jelly Beans are one way that the new season has come.  The Jelly Belly Factory is a must see in wonderful Fairfield, CA.  There are tours where people from all over the world can come and see how this popular candy is made.


Photos Courtesy of http://www.angel-stardust.com/Easter/easter.html, http://www.candysnob.com/archives/2008_03.php http://www.strossners.com/greenville_florist/index.phpmain_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=233, http://forladiesbyladies.com/index.php/2010/03/31/chocolate-bunnies-on-easter-nibble-away-guilt-free/

Tea Flavored Candy

Most people need some type of caffeine to help them wake up in the early morn.  If that daily cup of joe isn't your thing, the next choice is usually tea.  Drinking tea is very beneficial to one's health.  It is known that many Chinese and Japanese individuals live very long lives, and one of the reasons why is because they drink a lot of tea.

For those of you who are always running late or need to drink more than one cup to keep you going, there is a flavorful alternative to easily fulfill that need.  Tea flavored candy.

First, I'll introduce you to SEN CHA Green Tea Mints.  Three of these sugar-free, leaf shaped mints are equivalent to one cup of tea.  There are a variety of different flavors including lemongrass, original, and pear green. Popping three of these will satisfy the need for tea without having to burn your tongue!

Next is Bali's Best Classic Iced Tea Candy.  This candy is rich in anti-oxidants and gives off the same taste as sipping a glass of iced tea.  Other Bali's Best Tea flavors include Citrus Green Tea, Green Tea and Tea Latte candy.

If you don't like hard candy or mints, the next option is Xyloburst Green Tea Flavored Gum.  This sugar-free gum whitens teeth and supplies you with that green tea taste that you love.

Lastly, there's Jasmine Tea Candy for those of you who enjoy Jasmine Flavored Tea.  It tastes just like the beloved cup of Jasmine Tea but is perfect for on the go consumption!

Feel free to snooze a little longer in the AM now that these tea flavored candies will do the same trick as that common cup of tea!  Mix things up a little bit and try these flavorful tea candies! :)

Photos courtesy of http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/07/michele_bachman_118.php, http://www.amazon.com/SEN-CHA-Original-Lemongrass-Delicate/dp/B000EYHKHI/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1302492885&sr=8-8, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016AJQIA?tag=small-notebook-computer-20, http://www.amazon.com/Xyloburst-Green-Flavored-Ind-Wrapped-xylitol/dp/B003YHJGAG, http://www.tentea.com/jasteacan.html

Coffee Flavored Candy

Does it take drinking a Cup of Joe to get you going in the morning?  Or two or three cups?  Well, that is perfectly fine because we all know coffee is delicious and a perfect boost to start the day right.  Studies have even showed the benefits of coffee drinking and why it's good for the body.

The morning rush is always crazy for everyone so if you don't have time to stop by your local Coffee Bean, you should consider purchasing Coffee for the Pocket.  This consists of all different types of Coffee flavored candy that will give you the same great flavor that your favorite lattes do.  Some are even filled with Espresso.  Eating one piece of Ferrero Pocket Coffee is equivalent to a single shot of espresso.

Here are some other coffee filled delights that are worthy of trying:

Coffee Rio Candy-flavors including Original Roast, Kona Island Blend, Caffe Latte, Irish Creme Mint, Caramel Caffe, and Raspberry Mocha. Also, there are Sugar-Free flavors which include Original, Espresso, and Latte

Nestle Coffee Crisp Candy Bar

Sugar Free Baskin Robbins Cream and Hard Candy-Espresso flavor

Werther's Original-Caramel Flavored Coffee

Coffee Filled Bon Bons

Nips Coffee Flavor

Caramel Coffee Swirls Candy-flavors including Mocha, Irish Cream, and Latte

So go to the nearest grocery store and pick up some of these delectable coffee candies!  Savor them during the day when coffee is not available, or pair it with your favorite latte by eating it before, after, or while drinking coffee.  The good thing about these is that they could always be on hand when that extra boost of energy is needed throughout the day!

Photos Courtesy of: http://www.munchiessweetsandtreats.com/Nestle-Coffee-Crisp-Candy-Bars_p_3633.html, 

http://www.candywarehouse.com/coffeeswirls.htmlutm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=nextag, http://www.munchiessweetsandtreats.com/Balis-Best-Coffee-Candy_p_362.html, http://www.bulkcandystore.com/Coffee-Rio-Candy-Assorted-Flavors-P671.aspx, http://www.reallynatural.com/archives/2007/06/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010SAHTU/ref=asc_df_B0010SAHTU1489890smid=A11UN9M6O9YNVF&tag=dealtmp33424420&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B0010SAHTU, http://www.bulkcandystore.com/Sugar-Free-Baskin-Robbins-Espresso-and-Cream-Hard-Candy-P1256.aspx, http://www.bulkcandystore.com/Coffee-Filled-Bon-Bons-P72.aspx, http://www.jumbocandy.com/productDetail.aspx?pid=2384, http://www.couponmamacita.com/2010/09/12-werther’s-original-coupon/