nibble nosh
sweets ‘n such
2014 : summer
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A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Willy Wonka
larder
in a jam...
our guide to homemade jams for keeps or gifts
stockist
cacao prieto brooklyn-bred chocolate
r e m m e u v s e a ow’s l l a h when a neighborhood serenades halloween in summer, all spirits are raised.
story
brooklynn-bred chocolate
i
t’s early august, that lovely time when autumn whispers her cool voice upon our rough warm skin at dusk. it’s a bittersweet time of summer. i want to hold onto the heat that relaxes my mind and stride, making days seem unending, but i also want to let go for the beauty the seasonal shift promises. perhaps that’s why, at this very time of summer, we offer our children (and let’s admit, ourselves) a treat of sorts. we have a second helping of halloween. may seem strange to those that don’t live here. definitely did to me at first. as i’ve come to know this community though, i’ve also grown to appreciate its sense of tradition. my fiancé grew up just across the street. since his youth, he and all of those who return here, have come to rely on the youthful promises of summer this neighborhood promises and maintains.
we live in a small beach side neighborhood where the seasonal residents outweigh those of us year-long. without summer, there would only be two kids in this neighborhood. with summer comes a fleet of kids. energy. commotion. life. kids are occupied by friendship revivals and secret conversations shared with the sea atop a raft. there also are organized gatherings. these, so i’m told, have been held on the same weeknights since before my fiancé’s youth -- so, forever. there is story time on tuesday nights. bingo on thursdays. the fourth of july potluck cookout. daily swim lessons. a talent show. the creaky old “casino” building is the meeting spot for most of these goings on. there are names carved into the walls of this building from kids leaving there mark. a congestion of abandoned bikes in front of the building is not an uncommon sight.each of these activities marks the passing of summer. even more than that, it allows us to savor the innocence we may still
offer our children by acting as a community. none is looked forward to as much as the summer halloween. before i had our son, i didn’t grasp the need for this summer hallow’s eve. now that he’s a few summers deep into his youth, i get it. watching him run about the neighborhood with that sense of mindless abandon with only candy in mind, well, it’s freeing for me too. the parade of princesses, firemen, emoticons, monsters, and cowboys seems fitting for the casual fun of summer. when the summer folk and their broods leave us for their fulltime abodes, and the neighborhood quiets to echoes of bird singsong and salty breezes rushing through brittle leaves, we’ll have the notion of summer fun to reflect upon. look forward to. especially...
‘stache lollis
yields approximately 30 ‘staches 4 wilton mustache fun face lollipop molds 3 bags of wilton candy melts, assorted colors 1 50-count bag of lollipop sticks after failing at the microwave technique, i used the double boiler method to melt the chocolate: gather together two deep pots. fill the lower pot with an inch or so of water and rest the top pot above the water. heat water to a simmer, then remove from heat. pour one bag of candy melts in top pot and set in position on lower pan. stir constantly, without beating, until smooth and completely melted, about a minute or two. pour melted candy into a clean, dry lollipop mold. tap mold to remove air bubbles. nestle the sticks into each ‘stache mold. rotate sticks to thoroughly cover with candy so that they remain securely in place. refrigerate until firm. to remove lollipops, carefully raise the stick and lift candy out of mold. if not budging, loosen the candy grip on the mold with a few twists of hand. place in treat bags and secure with ribbon or baker’s twine. most of all, enjoy the silliness.
Šjennifer jeanne photography : jenniferjeanne.com
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