soup of the day and a giveaway: the great lollipop caper by dan krall!

May 7, 2013September 14, 2017 ~ jama ~ 56 Comments

If you’re in the mood for a tempestuous tale of jealousy, greed and world domination, you’ve come to the right place.

The frenetically talented and unusually hungry author, illustrator, animator and art director Dan Krall (yes, he’s tall) has just today released a brand new shiny briny picture book called The Great Lollipop Caper (Simon & Schuster, 2013)! Yay, Lollipops!

Some would say respectable grown men shouldn’t write about sweet lollipops, but here’s the lick: at first glance, this may seem like a simple, albeit saccharine story. But all you diehard sourpusses will be happy to hear this tome has a testy tart edge — it taps into the inner torment (for crying out loud) of one little green wrinkly caper. Oy, a caper’s cautionary caper — bite me!

Before I tempt you any further, a couple of party accoutrements.

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sweet sweet visit to chocolate chocolate

August 21, 2012September 23, 2017 ~ jama ~ 44 Comments

*AS furry residents with their favorite bon bons from the shop.*

Chocolate Chocolate!

So good, you have to say it twice :).

Some of you may remember when I reviewed Chocolate Chocolate: The True Story of Two Sisters, Tons of Treats, and the Little Shop That Could (Thomas Dunne Books, 2011), and interviewed co-authors Frances Park and Ginger Park. We rhapsodized about half-moon buttercream dreams, le bouchon, chocolate covered pretzels and dark almond bark.

We learned how Frances and Ginger opened Washington, D.C.’s, first independent, high-end sweet shop featuring decadent delights from all over the world. We met some of their most memorable customers and marveled at how they launched their writing careers on a rented Selectric typewriter in the store’s tiny backroom.

Most important, we reinforced our staunch belief that writers and chocolate naturally go together — the creamy, dreamy combination seems to create magic in its wake, forging lifelong friendships, steeling sisterly bonds, and inspiring award-winning books.

You may also remember that Chocolate Chocolate was my hands-down favorite food memoir of 2011. I gave everyone I could think of a copy for Christmas, and I gave my brother’s family a copy when I visited them in Hawai’i last November.

Well. My 13-year-old niece Julia absolutely loved the book and shared it with her friends. Going to Chocolate Chocolate and meeting Frances and Ginger was at the top of her must-do list when she visited us in Virginia recently.

*Julia loves reading, writing, blogging, and chocolate!!*

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tastiest game of scrabble, ever

March 8, 2012September 26, 2017 ~ jama ~ 10 Comments

#42 in an ongoing series of posts celebrating the alphabet.

When last we met in alphabet land, we were contemplating a bunch of luscious letter lollipops in an amazing array of colors and flavors.

Today, behold an exquisitely handcrafted set of edible game tiles and racks, made with pure vanilla extract and real chocolate by Andie’s Specialty Sweets of Los Angeles, California. When I first saw these at BB-Blog, I fairly swooned! These faux wood grained beauties are truly too beautiful to eat, and are a fabulous way to express a broad range of sentiments.

*Tiles are 1″ square, racks are regulation size.*

Andie’s also makes many other gorgeous candy and cake embellishments. I like their policy of using fair trade organic chocolate, non g.m.o. sugars and starches, and organic flavorings. Their products are also gluten free, vegan friendly, and free of hydrogenated oils, gelatin, and corn syrup.

I love these pastel Peppermint Buttons!

*Can be made in any flavor (shades of coral, pink, lemon yellow, mint and sky blue).*

And these very cool edible Antique Inspired Chocolate Candy Gears. I imagine architects, engineers, clockmakers and tinkerers would go crazy for them!

Final Swoon: Candy Vintage Inspired Cameo Necklace! Dynamite idea for bridesmaids gifts, birthdays or Mother’s Day.

*Comes with 20″ silk ribbon (flavors: peppermint, lemon sorbet, butter rum and vanilla)*

Okay, what’s a five-letter word for delicious?

Check out all the other goodies at Andie’s Specialty Sweets Etsy Shop. They even have some heart-stopping fungi for scientific types ☺. Enjoy!

♥ More alphabetica here.

Certified authentic alphabetica. Made by hand just for you with love and a hundred extra triple-word squares.

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tasty and tempting typography

February 22, 2012September 26, 2017 ~ jama ~ 18 Comments

#41 in an ongoing series of posts celebrating the alphabet.

Here is a very cool way to eat the alphabet!

Vintage Confections makes these wonderful (custom/made-to-order) hard candy typography lollipops in plain, block, or Greek letters. They make great favors for weddings, birthdays, etc., and are unique “just because” gifts. Also great for book launch party giveaways (author’s initials). They come in different sizes and an incredible range of colors and flavors:

Amaretto, Apple, Apricot, Banana Cream (yellow), Bavarian Cream (vanilla), Blackberry, Blueberry, Bubble gum (pink), Caramel (brown/tan – light), Cardamom, Champagne, Cheesecake, Cherry, Cinnamon (hot/spicy), Cinnamon roll (sweet), Citrus Blossom, Clove, Coconut, Coffee (brown), Cotton candy, Cranberry (mild), Creme de menthe, Eggnog, Fleur de sel (see also sea salted caramel), Ginger (natural), Grape (purple), Grapefruit, Guava, Honey (yellow), Horchata (similar to a cinnamon latte), Horehound, Juicy pear, Keoke coffee (kahlua-type flavor), Key lime (natural), Lemon (natural), Lemonade, Mango, Maple (brown), Marshmallow, Peppermint, Pineapple, Pistachio, Plum, Pomegranate (mild), Raspberry (red), Root beer (brown), Salt water taffy, Sea salted caramel (brown/amber), Strawberry/kiwi, Strawberry (natural), Tangerine, Teaberry, Tropical punch, Tutti frutti, Vanilla, Watermelon (pink).