Celebrating Five Years with DIY Candy Candles!

 Has it been 5 years already?! Yes it has!

Today, October 31st, marks my 5th Birthday in Bloggyland..Bloggingdom..the Blogosphere!

October is a celebration month in our family for sure. My son, grandson, brother, brother-in-law, and my niece, all share tenth month birthdays! So this week has seen me baking cupcakes and more cupcakes and tomorrow on request, I'll be making my yummy
Coca Cola Cake! 

Meanwhile, back at Sugartown Sweets, I wanted something unique to feature for this momentous birthday occasion. So I put on my sugar think cap. Aha! I remembered something cool I had seen on youtube. It was a tutorial on how to make edible chalk. Click here for that cool video by The Caking Girl! 

The idea struck me that these could be made with colored candy melts and turned into candles. All they needed was a wick. Hmmm..

One Twizzlers pull-n-peel candy package later and I was in business! I love the way they turned out.

We had so much fun with these at my son's birthday celebration, and the kiddos thought it was pretty cool to eat the candles right off the cake! Let me show you how to make your own!

But first, let me tell you about my special birthday surprise! 

It all started last Friday when the grandbabies and I were hanging out at the house. My phone rang and seeing that it was from New York, I assumed it was a junk call. I was not going to answer it but decided to go ahead anyway.. I then had my sweet 2 year-old grandbaby say hello for me..TWICE!

I heard the lady on the other end asking to speak to Karen. Still thinking it was just another one of "those" calls, I grudgingly said "speaking".

Then I heard this--> "Hi! My name is Allie and I'm calling from the Rachael Ray Show. Did you send us an email a while back?"  I'm stammering "No..but I think my sister Donna did."

From there it got kinda blurry 'cause I was kinda freaking out and all. But I got the part where she was asking me if I would shoot a video of me making a couple of my treats that they could use on the show!! Really?! Yes!!!

So I..well, my video, is going to be on the Rachael Ray Show in the near future! But don't blink or you might miss it. It will be very short, like 1 to 2 minutes.

I will post an update when they let me know the air-date if y'all want to see it (just know that my stomach was all tied up in knots and I was crazy nervous)!
**update** My video making my, "Turkey in the Straw Cupcakes", will air on the Rachael Ray show on Wednesday, November 9th!! 

And that's my story of my sweet birthday surprise!

To make our candy candles, we'll need:

-Smoothie straws (because they have a larger diameter)

-Twizzlers pull-n-peel candies

-candy melts

-chop sticks (to remove candy from straws)

-Wilton candy decorating bags

Place candy melts inside candy decorating bags and microwave @ 50% power for one minute. Knead candy in bag and return to microwave. Melt candy at 50% power for 30 seconds kneading each time until candy is fully melted.

Don't be like me and get the candy too hot..'cause it WILL burn you! Ouch!

Cut the straws in half before you fill them.

Pour some sugar into a cup in which the candy straws will stand and set.

Snip off the end of candy bag and begin filling the straws. Make sure you fill it till candy comes out the other end. We don't want any air bubbles in our candles.

Smooth the tops of candy candles and place into your cup of sugar. Next, insert "wicks" and hold till set.

Let candles set till completely hardened. You can also pop them in the freezer for 10 minutes if you're in a hurry. I wasn't, so I didn't.

Trim the "wicks" on an angle.

 Ain't they purty?

 There will be some dried/hardened candy on the bottom ends of the candy sticks.

 Just gently scrape it off.

Now this, is the really fun part.

Using the thicker end of the chopstick, push candy from the bottom of straw while gently but firmly holding onto the straw.

Yes! There it goes!

And here you are! Colorful, fun candy candles all ready to go and help you celebrate the sweetest of life's occasions.

You all light up my life!

Have a sweet day, Karen

National Chocolate Day Marshmallow Pops

Happy National Chocolate Day!

There nothing quite so yummy as a chocolate covered marshmallow.

Unless..you add more chocolate!!!

I melted some Ghirardelli chocolate and stuck some marshmallows on sticks.

Them I dipped, dipped and dipped some more.

Let's coat these babies in some chocolate candy!

Total decadence..

You need more chocolate in your life!  :o)

Chocolate for breakfast? Yes!

My happy place..

If you're on a diet, I do apologize.   ;o)

 Have a Sweet Day, Karen

Googly Eyed Candy Pops

 These little g00gly eyed guys are simple to make and sweet to eat.

The perfect cooler weather and fall-time treat!

 "Eye" see you!

 You will need: marshmallows, black candy melts, black fondant, black sugar sprinkles (not pictured), and lollipop sticks.

I used a pair of food dedicated scissors to cut my marshmallows. If you don't have any, you can use a knife.

Wet your scissors or knife and cut through the middle of marshmallow.

You now have two eyeballs!

Roll fondant into balls and flatten to make the eye centers.

Melt candy melts according to directions on package. I used a cereal spoon and spooned a nice dollop of melted candy onto parchment paper. I then used the back of the spoon to swirl the candy into a circle.

 Insert lollipop stick and shake sprinkles to cover the candy pop.

Place the g00gly eyes onto pop with a dab of melted candy. Let set till candy hardens.

And remember..I'm watching you! hehehe!

Won't the kiddos just love these yummy and fun candy pops?!

Have a super sweet day, Karen   :o)