Junk Food
Gourmet Chocolate & Chocolate Chip-Covered Pretzel Rods
Monday, May 26th, 2008Chocolate-covered pretzels are good, but these Mrs. Prindable’s Gourmet Pretzel Rods look like they would put garden-variety chocolate-covered pretzels to shame. The set includes:
- 3 pretzel rods with caramel and triple chocolate chip
- 3 pretzel rods with caramel and peanut butter/milk chocolate chip
- 3 pretzel rods with caramel and milk chocolate crunch chips
They sound like Pretzel Flips on steroids, and I love Pretzel Flips. I’m tempted to buy a pencil cup and fill it with these pretzel rods instead of pencils. Of course, with my luck they’d melt all over the place and I’d end up spending all my money at furniture stores trying to replace everything I ruined with the chocolate. Maybe I’ll just hold off on that plan for a little while…
Nostalgia in a Basket - The 50s Candy Gift Basket
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008Although Father’s Day isn’t coming up for about two months, it’s never too soon to start gathering ideas. Oh sure, I could buy something useful like a cell phone repeater or a new weed whacker, but where’s the fun in that? I think my own father would get a lot more enjoyment out of something like this 50s Candy Gift Basket.
The 50s Candy Gift Basket includes over 30 full-size pieces of candy - roughly 5 pounds of wonderful processed sugar. You get Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles, Sen-Sen Breath Refreshment, Chuckles, Charms Ass’t Squares, Vanilla French Chew Taffy, Haviland Wintergreen Patty, Candy Buttons, Necco Wafers Chocolate, Cherry Mash, Necco Wafers Ass’t, Mary Janes, Zagnut Bar, Violet Scented Gum, Charms Pop Sweet, Walnettos, Bubble Gum Cigars, Smoothie Peanut Butter Cup,Teaberry Gum, Candy Stix Cigarettes, Oh! Henry Bar, Gold Mine Nugget Gum, Wax Lips, Skybar, Chocolate Moon Pie, Black Licorice Pipe, Abba-Zaba, Slo-Poke Jr. Sucker, Cup-o-Gold, Chocolate Cigarettes, Slap Stix, Sno-Caps, Chick-o-stick, Butter Rum Lifesavers, Clark Bar, Goetze’s Cow Tail, Vanilla Bun Bar, and Bubble Gum Cigarettes.
Funny story about the Goetze’s Cow Tails, though - As a child, I can remember my grandmother taking me out to the local Rural King (that’s a farm supply / clothing / toy store, for those of you who didn’t grow up in the middle of nowhere) and buying me a Cow Tail. I was pretty young, so I still believed…pretty much everything…and I spent hours squishing it around and feeling bad for the cow that lost its tail. As small as it was, I figured it had to have come from a baby cow…
So I guess the moral of the story is that even if you didn’t grow up in the 50s, this gift basket may stir up some funny memories from the past. If your dad (or mom, or friend, or whomever) did actually grow up in the 50s, I can pretty much guarantee that this gift will be a hit. Just make sure you have time to stick around and listen to stories about riding bikes down to the general store and how all the candy cost a nickel.
The Girly-Girl’s Oreo Cookie Gift Set
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008While I wouldn’t exactly call this the perfect gift for the giant button remote controls and shower stool set, the Good Fortunes “Shopping Maniac” Cookies would be a great birthday gift for a high school or junior high-aged girl. Of course, at that age, getting any kind of delivery at school is totally awesome.
The gift set includes Oreo Cookies that are covered in white chocolate and pink sugar. Each one has a girl-related design like shoes or handbags. From Macy’s.
Top 5 Popcorn Gifts of 2007
Monday, December 10th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsPopcorn is truly a miracle of the earth. Obviously, good popcorn is a little more complicated than planting a seed and harvesting the results, but I think there’s something very cool about the fact that you’re eating something that was once a seed. Anyway, these popcorn gifts are nothing like that. They’re still popcorn, but they’re altered and packaged to the point that they’re almost nothing like the boring, plain popcorn you make in an air popping machine.
1. Dale & Thomas Twelve Pack Sampler - If you don’t read anything else that I write, read this and go get yourself some Dale & Thomas Popcorn. Dale & Thomas is pretty much the Rolls-Royce of popcorn, and they have flavors that range from Peanut Butter & White Chocolate to Toffee Crunch to Country Smokehouse Cheddar (and of course, all the old standbys like caramel).
Their flavors are inspired, their packaging is simple but attractive, and the overall eating experience will ruin you for other popcorns forever. There’s a reason that Oprah swears by it. My tip - The best way to try Dale & Thomas Popcorn is in a sampler. It’s cost-effective and absolutely delicious. This particular sampler will set you back $48.
2. Kettle Corn from iGourmet - It’s sweet and salty and a it might even stir up some nostalgia. Remember, sometimes simple works just as well as something completely over-the-top. At $39.99, it’s pretty reasonable, too.
3. Popcorn Balls - These popcorn balls look an awful lot like snowballs. Their largest package gives you 100 balls for $39.95, but they have smaller packages starting at $14.99. This is a great choice for a party, since there’s plenty of popcorn for everyone.
4. Holiday Sweets & Snacks Tower - If you’re looking for a “popcorn hybrid” gift, a tower may be the answer. Most will fill the bottom layer with popcorn, and possibly other middle layers as well. This one is interesting in that it has blueberry cookies and southern pecan rolls. At $39.95, it’s also very reasonable.
5. Ultimate Snowman Bundle - As usual, Mrs. Field’s gets an A+ for presentation with this Snowman Tower. It includes toffee popcorn, 48 cookies, 24 brownies, an entire cake, and enough other stuff to keep someone busy for weeks after the holiday season is over. This magnificent display will set you back about $170, but for the right recipient (perhaps yourself!), it’s definitely worth it.
And if none of these things do it for you, you can always get your friend or loved one one of the usual, boring gifts that you can’t eat - ties, sweaters, makeup mirrors, perfume - I’m sure they won’t mind that you didn’t care enough to get them something totally awesome and delicious 
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Monday, September 10th, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsThere are few things in life as delicious as Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. They’re fun to eat, fun to give, and they’re on sale. What more could you want? If you’re looking for the perfect corporate gift for someone with a sweet tooth, or the perfect gift for anyone who just likes cookies, definitely check these out. I have to admit, I’d like some for myself.
Couch Potato Gift Basket
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 Food and Candy GiftsI absolutely love this Couch Potato gift basket. Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ll appreciate the delicious contents - Chips Ahoy, Oreo Cookies, sausages, tortilla chips and salsa, nuts, pretzels, peanut brittle…and you can choose just how nice you want to be. They have a price range from $49-99 that determines how much is actually in the basket.
