Pardon me for not posting yesterday

But I couldn’t seem to tear myself away from the book I was reading to the extent that I had Sam outside on his tricycle in the rain while I walked behind him still reading the book. Oops, it’s a library book Now with raindrops.

And what was it that kept me so enthralled? It was “Candy Freak” by Steve Almond. A nice quick read of serious silliness and mouth watering details about the chocolate underdogs…chocolate bars not made by Nestle, Hershey, or Mars. I thought I was a Candy Freak until I read this book and now I suspect that I fall into the category of amateur sweet tooth. Still, it was amusing to hear him his tongue-in-cheek justification of his sweet tooth (having to do with withheld or misplaced childhood affection) and the descriptions of the people he met during his research.

I’d never heard of most of the thing candy bars he was describing and I’ve certainly never tasted them even if I had heard of them. There were things such as Twin Bings and after the description I really wanted to see a picture. Who would have thought to make something that looks like this? And a candy bar with a liquid center called Valomilk? The manufacturing description sounds like a nightmare. Actually, there were plenty of moments while reading where my food industry quality assurance background was standing up and waving wildly for attention while yelling “you’re not supposed to do that!” but we’ll let that go.

He also highlighted a bar I haven’t tried even though I live in the city where it’s made. He called the 5-Star bar the best candy bar he’s ever tasted. And I’ve never really paid any attention to them so I suppose it is now my duty to stop by the store on my way home and get one all in the name of research. I don’t suppose they’re calorie-free though, eh?

The book also made me think of weird candy bars I enjoyed as a kid that I never see any longer. Was the Bun bar something that was widely distributed? It appears that it’s still around. And the 7-Up bar? Surprisingly or maybe not given there are times when I feel as though I’m suffering from Alzheimer’s, I don’t remember the packing looking anything like those. It’s possible that those are older or newer versions of the packages from my era.

I wonder what candy Sam will remember fondly as he grows? He appears to be well on his way to enjoying almost everything that I’d rather he’d not be eating so I know he’s inherited the love of all things sweet. Every morning I still hear “I want a Popsicle!”