Candy Corn

Candy Corn, although it is white, orange, and yellow, is pretty "black and white": when it comes to people liking to eat it.  You either love it, or loath it.  My father and myself fall into the category of "Oh my gosh!  Candy corn is on the store shelves!  It has to be a certain brand as we want the original and no imitation of off color oranges and yellows will work for us.  Sure, I'm all into the all natural food coloring and usually avoid artificial coloring at all cost.  Candy corn is the exception. At least it has honey in it.  I so hope that they will find a way to make it with natural coloring.  Until they do, my coworker and I will sneak a few pieces out of our hidden bag, looking at each other as if to say, "why are you eating that without offering me some?". We are enjoying it during our Fall season at school. We have not stopped with just eating it.  We are coloring pictures of candy corn, painting candy corn, and of course counting candy corn. I am rather proud of myself though as I saw a 4 pound bag of the candy that brightens my day like the golden sun, and had to put it back on the shelf.  I knew that too much of a good thing would not be good for my health.  After all, one has to eat it before it becomes stale.  Just ask my dad. He will concur with my "yes, candy corn does get stale" thought.  So, enjoy some candy corn as you welcome the delicious pumpkins, apples, turkey, and every other food associated with this glorious season of color.

Coffee and sunrise

Working in the school system has me back to early alarms and coffee in a travel mug.  There is nothing like the joy of the weekend when I can drink my coffee out of my bone china cup or a specialty mug.  The travel containers do not get used on the weekend if I am staying at home.  I love coffee.  It doesn't matter if it is an espresso, Cuban, Greek, or any other type.  I enjoy the different tastes.  For breakfast, it's coffee with steamed milk.  I'm cutting back on the sugar, though I still like it somewhat sweet.  Cuban coffee is very sweet and just perfect on its own.  Greek desserts call for a strong Greek coffee.  I still have the "briki" that my mom used to make Greek coffee in for her dad.  It must be 60 years old! I also have many of the coffee cups that made the journey from Cyprus or Greece many years ago.

My son gave me a coffee press for a gift and once I used it, I never looked back.  The old coffee pot is downstairs in a storage closet.  The coffee press makes the best coffee.  I like to grind my own beans too.  My favorite coffee brand is Gevalia.  Oh my goodness, it's delicious.  One day, I hope that I can try this wonderful coffee in Sweden!  That would be my ultimate vacation. Swedish pastry, coffee, and camera at the ready! Until then, I'll just drink the coffee in the yellow bag and dream. I do have a Scandanavian cookbook, so perhaps I will try to make something besides the delicious apple cake and cookies that I make in the fall.  A true afternoon coffee would be great.