Canning, Candy Canes, Car

Candy canes always get soft and sticky. Around June I try to get rid of candy not eaten around here. Even kids don't like candy canes once it gets icky. When I had lots of company, I kept bowls of ribbon candy and other hard candy out at Christmas for visitors to eat. It is too sugary for me, so it sits for months in the covered candy dishes.  Now, I don't have a lot of company, so there are never any candy dishes around. However, there are candy canes.

Using a quart jar, I put 20 candy canes inside, some crook up, some crook down, still in the cellophane. That left 4 candy canes. After I took off the cellophane  those last four and broke them into 1.5" pieces, I had only half-filled a half-pint jar. This way, I can use the canes in recipes or share with friends or children before the are icky. Or, I can have a tiny piece once in a while.

The car won't run. The mechanic won't come back. Well, he is not answering the phone. Another friend insists I use his shade-tree mechanic friend. I told the guy I cannot pay his friend or buy parts. He insists I wait until I have money so his friend can do the work. I am furious. I only want this guy friend to remove boxes from my car, not find a mechanic. Calling a tow truck is the only thing I want now. The guy STILL insists I use his friend! I can only borrow another friend's cc to pay for this whole thing! It's like he goes deaf when I say that.

What I did was to talk to the owner of the shop where I will take my car. He was very enthusiastic about the Sea Foam, explaining in detail what the mechanic in my yard said about cleaning the engine.

Let me Recommend

I think it was last year that I praised watermelon candy canes from Brach. WM had hundreds of them marked down--12 for a quarter. This year, there was not one watermelon candy cane. Bummer!

This year, a clerk recommended cherry candy canes. I bought a box for a quarter. Let me tell you these are scrumptious. Have you had cherry candy canes? I should not be eating so much sugar, and I should not eat them before bed because my teeth are coated with sugar.

I have never been crazy about peppermint candy canes, but would eat a tiny one as an obligatory part of the Christmas experience. But, I never really liked them. I don't even like peppermint! Plus. candy canes are too sugary.

While I was digging around in the trunk today, looking for HEET, I was pleasantly surprised by things I had forgotten I had in the trunk. More about that in another post.

Tomorrow, Christmas presents are set to be mailed. Well, if the car still works, I can mail them.

Your turn
Did you try watermelon candy canes? Have you tried the cherry candy canes? Did you like either? Have you ever eaten something you did not really like because it was expected? Did you really think you would like it after 50+ years of not caring for it?

Lost post right here!

it really is good

Go to The Best Candy Cane.

I know it is right below here, but it would not show up other's blog rolls under the candy cane listing, just a "post about my post disappearing." Just post comments on the original below. Thanks.

The Best Candy Cane

Even though I am parsimonious some days and cheap other days, I have refused to quit buying candy canes even though I really cannot stand the red-striped candy canes. After buying the 12/$1 pack, I put one for each of my grandchildren in with their Christmas gifts. I open one, either tasting or consuming the cane,  and confirm that, "no" I really still do not like candy canes.

This year, I was given candy canes, so I just used those for grandchildren and children--watermelon candy canes. Just thinking about it was yucky. When I broke down and tasted one, I discovered they were delicious.

I am all about traditions of my childhood that were passed on to my children, but this peppermint candy cane is for the birds. When I have the 3-inch little ones in the cellophane pouch, I offer them to people after Christmas, all year long if that is what it takes. I never throw them out. One time I offered them to a charity that was pleased to get them.

At my home people are so polite and take just one even when I insist they take more. Finally, around June I start insisting that people who will get one, get all in the covered candy bowl. One seventeen-year-old was here with an adult  friend. He was embarrassed when I dumped the bowl contents into his hands. However, he could not hide the joy in his eyes. I assured him that I hated them. That was one happy kid with siblings who probably like candy canes, too.

At any rate, these watermelon candy canes are delicious. Try them. They are just not red and white! Holly in my yard is brutal with needles on the leaves. It is so painful and causes my allergies to act up.

Your turn
Do you really like peppermint candy canes or, like me, just eat them because of the tradition or that they are there? Have you ever tried watermelon candy canes? Have you ever dumped a traditional sweet from your family traditions, a tradition you long observed?