Sunday, August 1, 2010

Another Christmas Post

My dad likes black licorice.  That is where I must have gotten the liking for that yummy licorice.  I was at work about two weeks before Christmas (two Christmases ago) and one of the vendors brought in a gift basket for the company.  We shared in the yummy treats.  There was a candy in a wrapper and I popped it into my mouth.  Oh my gosh, it was the best thing ever.  It was black licorice caramel.  I wondered where they had gotten it.  I immediately thought of my dad and his love for black licorice.  I thought it would be the perfect gift for him.  So I looked online and was astonished to find that it wasn't a typical item that candy stores held.  I looked high and low.  The best price I found for this yummy treat was $30 a pound PLUS SHIPPING!  I couldn't believe it.  I will be honest and tell you the truth here.  I was going to pay that.  I decided it was worth it because it would be the perfect gift for my dad.  And isn't Christmas about giving?

Well I was talking to my friend about it and asked if she knew of any upscale candy shops here that would carry it.  She said she would do some research and see what she could find since she was on track break and had the time.  She called me the next day and told me she found the recipe for it online and it looked super easy.  I said, "  I guess you don't know me that well after all.  I am not a baker."  She laughed and told me that she would help me make it.  She wanted to make it as well for her dad so we split the supply list and made a huge batch of them.  It was super easy and yummy.  Definitely worth the time and effort we put into it. 

I decided to give some to my dad and my ex's dad, since both love black licorice.  They both LOVED them.  I told my dad the truth about how we made them instead of paying $30 a pound.  He was happy.

My friend and I got together this past Christmas to make it again.  My dad loved it again, and I was smart this time.  I saved half of it and put it in a box for him for later (a few months later).  Something he wasn't expecting.  When I showed up and gave him his second box of candies, he said how he had been savoring the pieces of candy and had only a couple pieces left. 

Look around for recipes if you find something you are willing to pay major money for.  (For me $30 is a lot for a pound of candy, but yes I was justifying that price for Christmas.)  Try different recipes and enjoy the time spent making them.  My friend and I love getting together, making this, talking and having fun.  I am just so thankful that she was smart and found the recipe for it and pushed me to make it. 

Do I plan on making it again this year?  Yes, but this time we will do it at my house since her daughter is so allergic to milk that she had an allergic reaction afterward with the milk in the house.  :(  I will invite my friend here to do it if she is up for it.

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