Darienne

Mendicants? From Wordsmith Talk: Mendicant (alternative Mendiant) is also the name of a small disk or bar of chocolate which has been sprinkled with dried fruit or nuts.

Mendicants?

Lizztwozee, I was stunned to read your letter. I have been trying for years to find, without success, a Chinese sesame candy. Even tried the Asian candy threads in eGullet. Mine was a bit different. It was chewy, but flavored with oriental toasted sesame oil. So very different from anyone I had ever tasted before. I never even got one reply to my question. Perhaps you'll be more lucky and perhaps this thread will also lead to my need. I too tried all sorts of Asian folk with no luck.

I forgot to add yesterday that Anita Chu is PastryGirl on eG

Received a new candy cookbook today from Amazon. Field Guide to Candy: How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable by Anita Chu. Quirk Books: Philadelphia, 2009. Chu also writes a blog, Desserts First. I haven't made anything from the book yet, and although I don't really care for the physical format...the book is thick, only 4 1/2" by 6", with rounded corners...sort of like a child's toy book, it certainly seems jam-packed with every candy you have every heard of and lots that you haven't. I opened the book randomly and found a Chinese milk candy recipe which I shall certainly try soon. One thing I love about the book is that not only does Chu provide a thorough description of each candy, she also provides a history, serving suggestions and extra notes...my kind of cookbook. I just LOVE all those extra interesting bits and bobs. Very inexpensive and it would fit right into a Christmas stocking. I'll report back after I have made something.

If I, desperately wanting, can come, I will bring my small Revolation, small marble slab, and dipping forks. (and anything else which I can think of which arises along the way) I can also bring a South African chocolate sold in a local store for the taste testing part.

Rice Krispie squares you say? Try the recipe with added cayenne. Very nice bite.

Oh my, they look lovely, Chocoera.

A dish of spiced almonds. A dish of chocolate wafers perhaps.

Yes, I got one of each on Amazon. My confectionery partner Barbara has a KA and I have a Cuisinart. And there was no shipping or handling. Very nice.

Is it only for K.A. or will it work on a Cuisinart too ? You simply buy the one made FOR the Cuisinart.

Truly wicked, that is.

I'm not good with architect plans, but if I read yours correctly, how are you going to vent your stove? If I could, I'd replace my counter tops with wood. Had wood countertops in Moab last year and loved them. Also if you are tall, get your counters higher than regulation one-size-fits-all. Or more importantly for me, as I am NOT tall, get your counters cut down by a couple of inches. My DH cut one set of counters down for me and even...who can believe this?...recut the stove so that it matched the counters. And welcome to eGullet.

Congratulations, girl. Now when it arrives, wrap it up and put it away until Christmas. NOT!

Confectionery Partner, Barbara, and I made 8 dozen chocolate-dipped, caramel-coated pretzel rods today. And a variety of this and that with the extra chocolate. Yummm...

A friend had been given a marble coffee table top and she kept it for years and years...until I knew she had it. Now I have it. Still I did pay in chocolates.

Hmmmm...that could go into the mailbox for eating on the long drive (rural mail). Or to the computer tech guys. Oh, great for the transfer station guys. Who can resist a brownie...better than fudge or most confectionery items for guys. Thanks. Heidi.

Because I am in a hurry this morning, I am not going to tease out Kerry's response which for all I know answered your question, but I shall reply to what you asked. My mold is: Tomric #I-1387 (label number on end of mold), .79" deep x 1.18" diameter. holds .39 oz/ or 11 gms. 24 cavities in the mold. It's quite small, way smaller than a Reese's PB cup. Almost dinky, I'd say. 1.18" = 29.9 mm. You are totally correct on that. Off to make chocolate-dipped, caramel-coated pretzel sticks until we run out of pretzels or energy. Good luck!

Steal away... Hardly 'my' idea.

Thanks Theresa. I just might try them...after I get my three miniature muffin pans back. Lent them to a friend who is making things for a bazaar sale.

Hi Andie and I hope you get your Thermomix. Maybe you could ask Santa (yourself in another mode) and then pretend surprise when you find it Christmas morning. Our daughter lives nearby a Lee Valley and a Toronto kitchen chain called Kitchen Stuff Plus, so I'll go to their on-line catalog and see what I can add to my list to give her more choice...as in they might be out of some items, etc. What I would really like...and won't ask for or get...is one of those large multi-layered stainless steamer sets. Bamboo would be so much cheaper, but DH won't hear of using bamboo. Case closed. Life as we know it will carry on.

Delicious. Looks wonderful. However, if I am coming to your home for breakfast, hold it all except for the potato latkes. I love potato latkes.

DH and I and the two pups live a life full of folks who make our lives pleasant and easier. These folks don't really have to give more than minimum service, but they go out of their ways to be kind and helpful. One of the joys of living in a rural area. They love our dogs, and they apparently like us too. And Christmas is nearing. Our vets treat our dogs very well. The guys at the transfer station (aka the garbage dump) give our dogs cookies. The butcher gives us special meat cuts. And on and on the list goes: computer tech, pharmacist, chiro, hardware store guys, library staff, lumber yard, mail-lady, etc. Oh, the library staff who get me Inter-library loan books constantly. They have to be kept happy. However, some of the confections must be able to withstand a number of treatments: being in the cold for several hours, stuck on a shelf for several days, put into a fridge, etc. (The fridge treatment is the opposite for those who live in a warm climate who might fear their treats will be left in the sun, etc.) Even forgotten and left behind for a couple of weeks. The transfer guys work outside...they don't even have a real 'inside' at all. Of course some will eat the candies right away and I'm already down for chocolate-dipped ginger from a number of places. And of course, I am making hard tack lollipops for the library to sell as usual. I just need some good ideas which I haven't considered. Thanks.

Just found your post. Gosh, I love the idea of such a thread, and was immediately thinking about my own need for answers as to what to make for gifts for the paper lady, the postal lady, the veterinarians, our butcher, guys at the transfer station (aka garbage dump), and so forth. These wonderful folks are so good to us...and our dogs ...that I always make things for them. It seems the more sugar and butter, the better. We need to make sure whatever it we make corresponds to what 'others' like. Now I wouldn't thank anyone for milk chocolate , but others seem to like it best. I have to keep that in mind given my own proclivities. I gave some delicious dark chocolate to two friends in Moab last year, and they each said...it tastes like pure cocoa. Interesting. So my first response to the 'corn' idea is...No, not corn. But the oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate chip item..Yes! Guys like stuff like that for sure. Builder guys invariably like that stuff. Almost all kids like that. I'll think about what you can make, although you'll get better answers from experienced bakers.

So many wonderful looking (and tasting) sweets lately. But I have to say, I love the little Mummy cupcakes best! The child in me speaks.