Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie

I apologize for the seemingly endless hiatus. I've been battling computer issues for the past month.

As I've previously noted, I'm a true history lover, particularly American history. Salem, Massachusetts (site of the infamous Salem Witch Trials) is one of those towns I'm glad to have visited and experienced the rich history of trade, witchcraft accusations, and candy. That's right, candy. Salem houses the oldest candy company in America.

Now I'll admit that I am not the biggest fan of candy. I've always loved my fair share of chocolate, but I can be very picky when it comes to candy. Perhaps this is due to the fact that my mom tried to avoid giving us chewy "gummy" candies as children, so I never really had enough exposure to it to gain a taste for it. Ironically, though, my dad has a particular liking for fudge. It must be genetic because my favorite thing to do on the boardwalk was run up to The Fudge Kitchen or Laura's Fudge and ask the worker outside for a piece of vanilla walnut fudge.

Our hotel actually recommended Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, explaining that it was noted for being the oldest in the country. The next morning was muggy, so we decided to stop in and see what 207 years in the candy-crafting business was all about.

Stepping through the quaint New England shop was jaw-dropping. They had any piece of homemade candy you could hope for. Dozens of flavors of fudge, chocolate dipped delicacies, and some very traditional choices only your grandparents would recognize. Everything is sold by weight, which allows you to get as little or as much as you like. They also have prepackaged (but equally fresh) goods for convenience.

I picked a small tin of chocolate walnut fudge which was deliciously rich. My dad made a surprising choice in purchasing peanut butter molasses candies, and, of course, my sister snagged a chocolate covered Oreo with a red lobster piped on top. Everything had a very authentic flavor with a 207 year old recipe.

I would recommend swinging by Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie if you are considering a trip to Massacusetts, as it's a delicious excursion through history.

-Laura

Chocolate Face Cupcake and Brownie

                                                                        "Shark Bite"
                                          (Dark Chocolate Cake with Tinted Buttercream,
                                           topped with a sparkly white chocolate shark fin)

Allow me to preface this post by saying that Chocolate Face has made it onto my Top 5 list of cupcake shops. It opened in Summer of 2011 and I'm almost positive that I stopped by during their very first week.

Chocolate Face sits right on Route 9, the road leading directly to Cape May, NJ. It's parked right in front of a campground entrance (the one where I spent my summers) and was once the campground's office and store. However, the owners and bakers of Chocolate Face transformed the entire yellow building into an inviting little cupcake shop, attracting vacationers on their way to the beach.

This place is absolutely incredible when it comes to dessert. The assortment of cupcakes and brownies is perfect for the mid-day munchies. Very few days passed when Caroline (pictured above) and I would not hop on our bikes and ride over to pick out our favorites for the day.

I wish I could list all the flavors we've ordered, but I've been there so many times that the list is easily in the dozens. So, to keep the list brief, here's a list of my family's all time favorites:

• Irish Tator (Vanilla Cupcake, Vanilla Buttercream, rolled in green tinted coconut)
• Cookies and Cream (Chocolate Cupcake, Vanilla Buttercream, rolled in oreo crumbs and rainbow sprinkles)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly (Vanilla Cupcake, Grape Jelly Filling and Topping, Peanut Butter Frosting)
• Thin Mint (Chocolate Cake, Mint Frosting, topped with a Girl Scout Thin Mint)
• Mini Me's (Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Buttercream, topped with an iced mini Reese's Cup)
• Banana Split (Banana Cake, Vanilla Buttercream, Chocolate filling and drizzle, topped with sprinkles and nuts)

My family and I tend to be plain and simple when it comes to cupcakes, which explains the relatively traditional flavor choices. Don't think for a second, though, that Chocolate Face lacks imagination. They actually have some of the neatest choices I've found anywhere. Just to name a few:

• Maple Bacon
• Blueberry "Cobbla"
• Jewish Apple
• Key Lime Butter Cake
• Chocolate Salted Caramel
• Cookie Gut
• Dreamsicle
• Espresso Chocos
• Hot Chocolate

I could go on and on about the taste, but everybody knows that you eat with your eyes first. Chocolate Face really "takes the cake" when it comes to decoration. I visit year round, and every time I walk in, I see several treats decorated to celebrate the nearest holiday or season.

"Spring Forward"

(Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Buttercream,

 rolled in yellow coconut flakes)

 

 

This little Easter Chick cupcake was picked up in mid-March. In the background is a Mini Me cupcake and a partial view of an Emmy's Choice cupcake. On that visit, we also ordered a blonde brownie which came with white chocolate and milk chocolate chips. Delicious.

Chocolate Face continues to amaze me with what they're able to do with a cupcake. It's become a regular stop for us, and I never pass up an opportunity to peek into the display cases to see the daily varieties.

                                                                   Happy Shark Week!

Laura

Springer's Ice Cream

Stone Harbor, NJ- Home to my favorite shopping district at the Jersey Shore and to some of the sweetest attractions. Vacationing at the Jersey Shore guarantees you several trips to the local ice cream parlor. Luckily for me, my sisters and I handpicked some of our favorites and made it a point to visit each one whenever we were in town.

Anytime I see a business that's been around for decades and is a staple of a community, I'm inclined to stop in and experience what generations and generations of customers love. For Stone Harbor, that's Springer's Ice Cream.

Springer's is nestled on Third Avenue, a quiet side street intersecting the busy and popular 96th Street, where families young and old stroll along day and night. The large white building is hard to miss with the line of customers that seems to wrap around the block and the bright sign that hangs above the sidewalk. Perhaps my favorite part of the Springer's tradition is their popular phrase "Since Prohibition". Being the history-lover that I am, I was always interested that the ice cream parlor started a short time after World War I. Unbelievable to imagine, right?

The ice cream is definitely something to admire. Each flavor is homemade and the selection each night could almost be found overwhelming. Don't worry, though, because Springer's posts their flavors outside the shop as well as inside, so that you can decide as you wait in line. The line might be the most intimidating aspect of getting this frozen masterpiece. It extends almost to the end of the block on any given night, but there are so many "scoopers" working that you can be in and out within fifteen minutes.

I always went for their Mint Cookies and Cream specialty, but later began regularly getting their "Per-snicker-ty" (Snickers) ice cream in a little sugar cone. If I had to choose their most interesting flavor, it would certainly be the Potpourri, an "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" blend made from the remaining ice cream of several batches. Yes, you heard right. It's a flavor concocted from other homemade flavors, so odds are that two batches can never be exactly alike. A friend of mine who is a "Springer's Scooper" explained to me that sometimes the Potpourri flavor is a calm mix of ice cream and other times you'll find an exotic blend of Pistachio and Coffee in the same bowl. Something to add to the bucket list, I suppose.

Ice cream at the beach seems to be as good a combination as peanut butter and jelly. A trip never feels complete until I get to choose a sweet flavor of frozen goodness. Springer's is just one of my favorite down-at-the-shore snack spots, so of course I'll have to share more later!

Laura

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Beverly Hills used to just be home to the famous Rodeo Drive, that is, until 2005 when Candace Nelson sparked a revolution in the business and pastry industries. She introduced the ORIGINAL cupcake bakery and sent Americans into a craze so sweet that nearly every town now has a "cupcakery".

I  first heard about this unique shop on the Food Network where Nelson is a judge on the popular competition show "Cupcake Wars". Then, the baker was featured in an episode of Martha Stewart, teaching the world how to make her mouthwatering strawberry cakes. One look at those little pink desserts and I was sold.

Sprinkles Cupcakes expanded its audience to other areas in California, and then finally set out for locations across the country including Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Georgetown. My recent trip to Washington D.C. allowed me the opportunity to visit this intriguing establishment, so of course I brought the whole family with me to see this baking monument.

Although the storefront in Georgetown isn't what one would consider "huge", it did accommodate a large number of people. The cupcake selection was satisfying, as they have a menu system that rotates each day. The decor and ambiance of the shop was inviting with its large windows overlooking M Street. Everything was clean and orderly and the service was excellent.

Cupcakes Ordered:
     -Red Velvet
     -Black and White
     -Chocolate Marshmallow
     -Milk Chocolate

I have to say that I was very impressed with the products. Each one was moist and the icing was perfectly sweet. My sister even commented that the Red Velvet was the best she'd had anywhere. Also, on a more technical note, I loved seeing how Sprinkles hand frosts each cupcake with a spatula instead of the ordinary piping bag (it adds a beautiful finish and a decadent dosage of frosting).

Overall, I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. Although its rather pricey at $3.50/cupcake, Sprinkles offers great quality goods. I will definitely be returning to the shop the next time I'm found in the Georgetown area.

-Laura

Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake

If there's one thing that I love more than baking in my own kitchen, it's eating cupcakes! Some people call it a mere trend, others regard it as a nostalgic treat. I find that cupcakes are a welcoming tradition that has long been a part of me. Whatever town or city I stumble upon, I always seem to whip out a map and find a local bakery praised by its loyal customers. I am always in search of a good treat, and I hope to record all of my cupcake encounters here. Mmm, I can't wait to embark on this sweet journey!