Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Candy Giveaway for Valentine’s Day

The fine folks at Candy Dish Blog (the National Confectioners Association) have too much candy! So they want to give it away to some candy lovers. They’ve got some tasty organic candy canes from Pure Fun and some Zachary gumdrops. I know, those sound so Christmas. But with a little imagination you can use those candy canes as swizzle sticks for some cocktails or warm two in the oven to form a heart.


(Image by Sally Rye under Creative Commons License via Flickr)

Here’s how you win:

  • Leave a comment here telling us which four people you’d invite to a peppermint and chocolate martini party. Your guests could be present day friends, historic figures, celebrities - basically anyone you want. Just tell us who you’d pick and why.
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  • There will be two winners chosen from Candy Blog readers and two chosen from Candy Dish Blog readers. If you happen to read both, well, looks like you’ve just doubled your chances.
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  • Please use a real email address in the comment form or I won’t be able to contact you. Winners who do not respond within 72 hours of being informed about winning will be disqualified and new winners will be drawn.
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  • Anyone can win but prizes can only be shipped to addresses in the United States (they are the National Confectioners Association, after all).
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  • Deadline is February 8, 2009 11 PM Pacific February 5, 2008 to submit comments here.
  • Winners will be announced on shortly after. Shipping will be done by the National Confectioners Association (so you’ll have to be willing to tell them where you live!). Good luck!

    UPDATE 2/6/2008: Due to a miscommunication the entry period closed about 36 hours early. Winners are announced at CandyDishBlog. It was awesome to read everyone’s list. (Really, no one wanted the Candy Blogger at their cocktail party?)

    POSTED BY Cybele AT 6:38 am Tracker Pixel for Entry     CandyFeatured NewsFun Stuff

    Comments
    1. I would invite:

      1/  My sister, Robin…who loves chocolate as much as I do.
      2/  My best friend, Anne…who loves martinis as much as I do.
      3/  My friend Letty…who loves all things gourmet.
      4/  Antonio Banderas….not that he’d come, but then I would know this was a dream! (Plus, I don’t think the other 3 guests would complain, either!)

      Comment by Michelle Fugere on 1/27/09 at 6:48 am #
    2. 1. Jessica Fletcher (no, not Angela Lansbury, J.B. Fletcher) because I, a hip 30 year old, LOVE Murder She Wrote.

      2. My friend Marylynne because she, also, holds MSW as a guilty pleasure.

      3. My friend Erica who would make fun of me the whole time for inviting Jessica Fletcher, but who loves martinis and chocolate too much to really care.

      4. Hugh Laurie. Because he’s hot. Period.

      Comment by Stephanie Lewis on 1/27/09 at 7:29 am #
    3. My son Merrick, The Boston Celtics; can they count as one? I’d love to meet each one of them!! Hey, I’ll take Hugh Laurie too! and my husband!

      Comment by Bonney on 1/27/09 at 7:36 am #
    4. I would invite Helen Magnus, a fictional character from the show “Sanctuary” because she’s lived 153 years and known all these amazing scientists and people and she seems like she might dish on them.  Next I would invite Temperance Brennan (from the books, not the series, though she seems fun too).  Next on the list would be Damon Lindeloff, from Lost, because I want him to explain what the heck is going on with that island.  And last, but certainly not least, my mom.  Because she is awesome.

      Comment by Megan on 1/27/09 at 8:40 am #
    5. I would invite:
      1. Courtney, my daughter-who loves chocolate
      2. Whitney, my daughter-who loves martinis
      3. Jonathan and Seth, their husbands, because they are the best SILs anywhere!
      4. Jack, my husband, cause I love him!

      I know that is 5 people, but how could I leave my hubby out??

      Comment by Marilyn H. Miller on 1/27/09 at 8:57 am #
    6. Let’s see…my partner, sister, and best friend.  We’re all big fans of chocolate, peppermint, and fancy drinks, so we’d have a blast!

      Comment by AF on 1/27/09 at 9:03 am #
    7. gemgrrl's avatar

      1. my friend nan, who is a hoot
      2. HER friend kathleen, who is my “friend-in-law”
      3. my friend pat; i love talking to her
      4. mike rowe from dirty jobs, so we could get him drunk!

      Comment by gemgrrl on 1/27/09 at 9:33 am #
    8. I’d invite physicist Gerard O’Neill (b.1927-d.1992), whom my husband idolized, Albert Einstein (b.1879-d.1955), so he could match wits with my daughter, Donny Osmond, because I love him so, and Hans Asperger (b.1906-d.1980), so I could thank him for giving my daughter’s quirky personality a name.

      Comment by Sila Lumenn on 1/27/09 at 9:46 am #
    9. Hmmm… 4 people. 

      1.  My uber-bartender friend Rashmi to tend to the drinks
      2.  Stephen Fry (for the conversation)
      3.  My friend Jenn (who is finally allowed to have martinis again)
      4.  Gerard Butler (for ummmmm… later “conversation”)

      Comment by Amber on 1/27/09 at 10:52 am #
    10. 1. My hot boyfriend, Scott (to balance the sweet)
      2. Will Ferrell (ELF. need I say more?)
      3. McGyver or members of the A-Team (for Scott’s sake)
      4. The cast of Paranormal State (so we could play Ouija after we get hyped up on sugar)
      5. My friends Neeley, Maytal, and Breana (they’ll bring alcohol. dangerous combo with candy!)

      Comment by Kira on 1/27/09 at 11:29 am #
    11. Oh what an opportunity! I would invite my son Rawn,
      because he loves a good time, Johnny Depp to discuss
      Chocolat with and simply to enjoy, my favorite violinist Adam LaMotte, because he loves a good martini, and my son John because he LOVES candy of any kind and my son Chris because he would bring the
      best vodka. My husband Robert would be there to lend
      an air of sophitication to the place and a good time would be had by all.

      Comment by Deborah Eaton on 1/27/09 at 12:09 pm #
    12. Easy: I’d invite my wife (duh), and our friends Kendra, Lynda, and Bret.  Actually, we may do this without the prize :D

      Comment by David on 1/27/09 at 1:06 pm #
    13. Just for fun, let’s say FDR, Hitler, Churchill, and Mussolini. Tell me THAT wouldn’t be an awkward cocktail party…

      Comment by dave on 1/27/09 at 1:11 pm #
    14. Hmm..I’d invite:

      1. My friend Gurleen, who I always talk about having awesome parties with.
      2. J.D. Salinger, simply because I love his books, and it would be absolutely wonderful to meet him.
      3. My sister Carleen, for the candy.
      4. Yundi Li, for eye candy, music, and because he just looks so tired these days.

      Yum. smile

      Comment by Sarah Li on 1/27/09 at 1:15 pm #
    15. My friends Amy and Jess, for interesting conversation. My Dad because he loves martinis. My Aunt because she sends my chocolate all of the time.

      Comment by Shannon on 1/27/09 at 1:21 pm #
    16. I would invite my mom, my two aunts and my cousin Cassie.  We’re all a bit silly and have a blast together.

      Comment by April on 1/27/09 at 1:53 pm #
    17. I would invite my 3 sisters and my mother.  If they couldn’t come, I would invite my 3 youngest nieces and my youngest nephew.  Either way, it would be a FUN party!

      Comment by Shelley on 1/27/09 at 3:29 pm #
    18. paige's avatar

      i would invite lenny kravitz because he’s just so cool.  and i’d invite barack obama because he seems so fascinating.  what a great party guest.  i would invite steven spielberg because i have sooo many questions about his movies, and I would invite tina fey because i think we could be friends.  Lots of laughs and smart conversation.  and plenty of candy!

      Comment by paige on 1/27/09 at 4:15 pm #
    19. I would invite my sister, because she helped me out in lots of ways. My friends Thereasa,Shelly, and Amanda, because they’re good friends.

      Comment by marilyn on 1/27/09 at 4:33 pm #
    20. I love chocolate and peppermint!
      1. My best friend Isabella, because she’s my best friend!
      2.My best friend Jenny, again, she’s my best friend.
      3.My AWESOME teacher Mrs.Williams!
      4.And, last but not least, Martin Luther King Jr., because he is the greatest person ever, fighting for African American’s rights!

      Comment by Amarissa on 1/27/09 at 4:52 pm #
    21. I would invite Jeff Dunham with all his puppets, Mike Rowe, David Letterman, and Dane Cook. Talk about a manly, funny, eclectic group!  Then I could just stand back and ogle to my heart’s content - and laugh my silly head off!  Of course - I would have to bring a large empty bag to the party with me - because I would be too busy looking and laughing to really enjoy the party refreshments!!  Some of the chocolate would just have to find it’s way into my bag!  Ohhhh my!!!!

      Comment by Amy on 1/27/09 at 5:03 pm #
    22. I would invite my sister (because she’s my sister), David Hyde Pierce - I love his drollness - I’ve really liked everything he’s been in - and Steven Levitt, who wrote “Freakonomics” - I’m guessing he’d be a really interesting person to talk to. I think the four of us would have a lovely, albeit random, time : )

      Comment by Ani on 1/27/09 at 5:29 pm #
    23. I would invite…
      1. My dad because he’s a big foodie like me and would just love it.
      2. Michael Pollan because my dad and I would love to meet him someday!  And it is a food event so why not.  smile
      3. Dorie Greenspan because I love her and I’m sure she could give us lots of great baking stories and tips!
      4. My friend Peter who loves the chocolate-peppermint combo!

      Comment by sara on 1/27/09 at 6:58 pm #
    24. 1. My husband
      2. Manu Ginobli
      3. Tim Duncan
      4. Tony Parker

      I would invite the Spurs because my husband is a huge Spurs fan and its the season of love, and there really isn’t anyone I love more than my husband…and candy.

      Comment by Sherry Mabry on 1/28/09 at 2:18 am #
    25. Ok, so my fantasy guest list would be:

      1. My Boyfriend Adam, because I would need a wingman, he is a great conversationalist and he does not get starstruck.

      2. Julia Child, because she would provide awesome conversation, I’ve heard rumors that she was a lush and she taught us (Americans) to cook French food.

      3. Barack Obama, because I feel he is one of the most influential people of today, he would really add to the conversation (well, he would probably take the converstion over, because that seems to be his tendency) and I’ve heard that he is a foodie. 

      4. Jackson Pollock, because he was a really influential artist, he was definately a lush and would probably have interesting opinions about a range of topics.

      This guest list combines my love of art, food and political issues. I think this group of amazing figures would make an entertaining party!

      Comment by Annamonster on 1/28/09 at 4:54 am #
    26. Ahhh…this is great…

      1)My twin sister, Jennifer, whose birthday is tomorrow
      2)Friend Elizabeth, who has never met Jennifer
      3)Sister-in-Spirit, Nancy.
      4)Kurt Vonnegut. Because he was awesome.

      That would be a heck of a day! Strong, smart women…. and the one person with as ridiculous a sense of humour as mine.

      Comment by Joelle on 1/28/09 at 10:14 am #
    27. ruffy's avatar

      I would invite:
      1) My bf, who loves the sugar rush almost as much as I do (ALMOST!)
      2) My little bro, who pretends he’s on a diet all the time but definitely couldn’t resist
      3) My boss—I’m not sure he even gives a crap about junk food, but performance reviews are right around the corner smile
      4) Alice Munro, who would undoubtedly whip up the most entrancing short story out of the whole experience

      Comment by ruffy on 1/28/09 at 11:27 am #
    28. 1. Bridget Jones- “I will always be just a little bit fat”
      2. Mario Batali- who is rumored to have an unpretentious taste for “junk food” (whatever.)
      3. Duff Goldman- who would just barely out-eat me.
      4. My 12th grade English teacher- who let me write my term paper on “the art of of sweets.”

      Comment by foodie on 1/28/09 at 2:08 pm #
    29. I would invite Mindy Kaling, Kate Winslet, and my friends Meredith & Susan.

      Comment by Carrie on 1/28/09 at 3:39 pm #
    30. My daughter, Joanie, cause she knows how much I love Chocolate.
      My daughter, Karen for the same reason
      My grand-daughter, Kristen she loves Chocolate as well.
      Pres. Obama, for giving the country some hope and good feelings.

      Comment by Joan Lawson on 1/29/09 at 7:47 am #
    31. My son Alex he loves Candy. If there was a word that was above love that is what he feels about candy.

      My Grandfather, He passed away already but he loved candy and I would just like that moment to see him smile.

      My Husband, because I love him and anytime together would be a blessings.. we don’t have much right now because of the kids and work :0(!

      The Gang from the Today Show on NBC Love to watch them everyday would love to sit and enjoy some candy chatting about the crazy things that happen while taping the show…

      Comment by Francia Lopez on 1/29/09 at 12:51 pm #
    32. 1. Dad
      2. Thomas Jefferson
      3. Ella Fitzgerald
      4. William Faulkner

      Comment by Jill on 1/29/09 at 2:01 pm #
    33. 1)I WOULD INVITE MY BEST FRIEND AND LOVER; MY HUSBAND ED - HE THINKS I’M NUTS FOR CHOCOLATE THAT IS.

      2)BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BECAUSE I THINK HE SO COOL THAT HE MIGHT ENJOY THE COMPANY AND PLEASURES OF THE CHOCOLATE AND PEPERMINT.

      3)ON OF MY OLDER SISTERS - THEY THINK I AM NUTS.

      4)GOD, FOR GIVING THE GIFT OF MAKING SUCH WONDERFUL CANDIES!

      Comment by Joanna Colucci on 1/29/09 at 3:50 pm #
    34. 1) I would invite my friend Felicia,my best friend she passed away in 1997 from AIDS                                                             2) I would invite my step-dad Alto who also died in 1996 from a heart attack ( boy did he know how to party)                                3) I would invite Martin Luther King Jr. because I really want to hear him say the I Have A Dream Speech                                         4) Last but not least I would invite President Barack Obama so that he would be able to meet Martin Luther King Jr and so that he can see what he worked so hard to do when he was alive has finally happened

      Comment by Bernilla on 1/29/09 at 4:15 pm #
    35. I would choose my three favorite girlfriends and my dad.  We all love candy.

      Comment by Julie Schaeffer on 1/29/09 at 5:45 pm #
    36. 1. My sister because she has never really partied with me
      2. My friend Tanya who is a martini-lover
      3. My friend Christine who makes a wicked chocolate martini already
      4. My friend Carrie who’s always down for a party!

      Comment by Gina B. on 1/30/09 at 7:32 am #
    37. My mom - because she is the ultimate party person
      My grandma - because she won’t be with me forever
      Tara - because I never get to see her anymore since we both had kids and moved away
      Shakespeare - becasue the rest of my guests would like to meet him too

      Comment by Mindy on 1/30/09 at 9:20 am #
    38. Sassy Lady Martini Party:

      1. Dorothy Parker for her sharp quips
      2. M.F.K. Fisher for her delightful, though sometimes haughty, ruminations
      3. Laurie Colwin for her clear-eyed advice—with an edge
      4. My grandma, who’s sassy enough to have a great time with everyone!

      Comment by Rachel B. on 1/30/09 at 10:06 am #
    39. 1. Paul McCartney
      2. Ringo Starr
      3. John Lennon
      4. George Harrison

      With all the Beatles I can hold a concert and charge admission. Everyone would come to see them and it would be a swinging party. And I could be rich and throw more parties. Whoo!

      Comment by Taylor B. on 1/30/09 at 1:39 pm #
    40. First, I would extend an invitation to Gina B’s friend Christine so she could teach me how to make a Chocolate Martini.

      My dad would love this as he always had a peppermint candy in his pockets and loved anything with chocolate and was a one drink after work at home man.  This would be just his kind of party!

      Benjamin Franklin - wonder what he would make of this?  I would like to know.

      My best friend Micha. 
      Now this would be an afternoon!!!

      Comment by Nonie on 1/30/09 at 2:29 pm #
    41. I’d invite:

      1- My brother, to drink the martinis, since I don’t drink but he LOVEs them,
      2- My mother, to help eat the chocolate since without her help I’d just eat it all myself,
      3- My husband, to keep an eye on all three of us and drive us home once we’re drunk on martini’s and high from the chocolate endorphins!

      Comment by Jen on 1/31/09 at 12:14 pm #
    42. I would invite
      1. Charles Darwin.  Seriously, it’s his bicentennial, and I doubt the guy ever had a martini…were martinis even invented then??
      2. My hubby, who just loves martinis (although not peppermint)
      3. Count Chocula.  Awesome cereal, let’s toast it with a peppermint Chocotini, and some candy! (it would be a nice way to apologize for always picking out the marshmallows, and throwing away the cereal…)
      4.  Author Kresley Cole, of the Immortals after Dark series! Best paranormal romance writer, EVER.  Definitely deserves a treat!

      Comment by Becky Rutherford on 2/02/09 at 6:12 am #
    43. I would invite 4 people who share the lvoe of chocolate:

      Diana Cutron
      Bonnie Huber
      Rachael Pollina
      Kerri Uhrie

      A night with good friends and chocolate. Need I say more?

      Comment by Sharon Sikorski on 2/02/09 at 8:34 am #
    44. I would invite my best friend who I have known since I was 4 yrs old. Because her and I used to make our own chocolate molds every holiday when we were kids. So this would be a great memory to add to our friendship. Then there’s my mom, cause she is my best friend and deserves something sweet and fun. I would invite my co-worker and good friend Dee Bolin cause she is so sweet and kind and would give the party the atmosphere that would make it great! And my best friend Monica cause she is loud and crazy funny and she always makes people laugh. These four people make my life wonderful. They make me smile are there when I need to cry.  And they deserve something sweet in their lives…because God only knows how sweet they make my life!

      Comment by Kendra Rains on 2/04/09 at 1:49 am #
    45. To my chocolate and martini party, I’d invite:
      1.  Dana from work - he makes the most divine truffles as a hobby and is very knowledgeable about chocolate
      2.  My BFF Josie who loves peppermint tea and will love the martinis
      3.  Bette Davis - wouldn’t you just love to dish with her over some drinks?
      4.  My mom - who used to make me hot cocoa with candy canes to stir with.  It would be nice to share a grown up version with her.

      Comment by DivaLinda on 2/04/09 at 4:55 am #
    46. If I could only invite four people, I would invite
      1.) my mother: she loves chocolate, and she could use a drink and a nice party
      2.) my chef Peter Greweling: a master confectioner and awesome teacher
      3.) Maya Angelou: she’s always been invited to my imaginary parties because she’s my favorite writer
      4.) whoever is giving me the candy for the party: because it would be quite rude to accept candy from someone and then go have a party without them!
      (and although only four people are invited I would hope that lots of people would come anyways because the more the merrier!)

      Comment by Michelle Rappoli on 2/04/09 at 12:11 pm #
    47. I would invite my Dad, he does not enjoy Martinis but his love for candy was always and ever.

      I would invite my daughter Kristen as when she was a little girl she wrote a note stating how much she loved candy, I saved the note, and when she was in her 20’s went to work for a company that sold candy,  She was in Candy heaven, and she does like Martinis.

      I would invite President Obama, dont know if he likes candy but would like to meet him.

      Not that he would or could come but Elvis Presley, loved his music that still lives on.

      Comment by nancee stanley on 2/05/09 at 5:42 am #
    48. I would invite Al Swearengen, Seth Bullock, Doc Cochran, and Mr. Wu from the HBO series Deadwood because I LOVED that show and miss it dearly.

      Comment by Gwen L on 2/05/09 at 9:00 am #
    49. I would invite:
      1. my workout buddy Jenny because skipping a workout for drinks or chocolate is always a good idea
      2. my sister Amy because she can drink my martinis and will let me eat her chocolate
      3. my sister Gloria because you can’t invite one without the other
      4. my mom because she raised me on the best food group: Sugar!

      Comment by Melissa H on 2/05/09 at 10:29 am #
    50. I would invite:

      1. My grandmother, for her appreciation of all the fine things in life

      2. Oscar Wilde, for his charm, wit, and style


      3. Jack Kerouac, because I like his poetry


      and…
      4. My dad, for his love of all things alcoholic

      Comment by Brittany on 2/05/09 at 1:55 pm #
    51. 1 & 2. I would invite President Obama and the First Lady because I would love to meet them in person. 

      3. My best friend because she loves chocolate.
      4. My boyfriend because he would also want to meet the Obamas.

      Comment by Cookie on 2/05/09 at 4:02 pm #
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    Next entry: Dr. Doolittle’s Pastilles (Lemon, Grapefruit & Wild Berry)

    Previous entry: Niederegger Ginger Marzipan




     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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