A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

I have to admit that Halloween is one of my most and least favorite holidays. I love the baking and the candy, but hate (dread) the dress up part. Halloween snuck up on me this year and I scrambled to get my kids their costumes – they were going to be whatever TJ Maxx had in their size this year…

And don’t even get me started on decor. My things from last year are still in a box in storage and have yet to come out, so it might just have to be the three pumpkins I over paid for this year as far as decorations go. Halloween candy? I’ll have to drag myself to Target this week and get my 800lbs of assorted candy. Now don’t get me wrong, I love me a good Reese’s, and mom tax was the best thing ever “invented”, but sometimes I crave grown up chocolate, you know, the good stuff you hide in a special cabinet away from the kids. So this year, Leah and I rounded up some “beyond basic” halloween candy to share with our readers.

These chocolate covered pretzel rods from Pocasset Pretzel Co. have just the right amount of chocolate to salt ratio – it’s not sickening sweet, and there is just a light layer of dark chocolate (and the pretzels were still super crunchy). Now I know I may have lost some of you on the candy corn (love it or hate it?). Me, I’m not a big fan, but nothing screams Halloween than these super sweet tri colored candies.

Also shown are chocolate moons by Praliné and those deliciously famous mice (dressed for Halloween) from L.A. Burdick, this one was white chocolate with a cinnamon filling.

The dark chocolate mice from L.A. Burdick are a big favorite in our house, filled with orange and finished with two toasted almonds for ears. The pumpkins are special for the Halloween season, and are chocolate covered marzipan with fresh almonds, pumpkin and spices. Those chocolate covered Oreos would be perfect if you are doing a “boo” basket, and are from Pocasset Pretzel Co.

I immediately fell in love with these chocolate ghosts from L.A. Burdick. For their 17th anniversary, they introduced them with a new flavor this season, pumpkin spice cider dark chocolate ganache. Each ghost is hand made with organic pumpkin, five difference spices, and local New Hampshire apple cider. The 5 piece box can be yours for just $18.

Going for something a little more subtle? The marzipan filled chocolate bar from Chocolat Moderne is just a little bit spooky.

Lollipops your thing? How cute is this one by Melville Candy Co.? We found this one, and a scary eyeball one, at Formaggio Kitchen.

Going to a Halloween party? This coffin box of chocolates from L.A. Burdick is the perfect hostess gift – giving you the best of everything (some seasonal, some classic)!

Saving the best for last. After doing some serious chocolate research (hard work right?!), we stumbled upon Beth’s Chocolate,based out of Newton. Beth makes these delicious, small batch chocolates out of her home (where you can pick up by appointment) or you can find a small selection at Vino Divinio and Volante Farms. These chocolates would be perfect for any occasion, not just Halloween. A 15 piece box can be made with all milk, all dark or an assortment of chocolates for $30. Beth doesn’t add preservatives to her chocolates, so make sure to eat them right away!!

While all of her chocolates were delicious, I was most impressed with her hand painted chocolates, they are simply a work of art.

Her flavors are complex, for instance, her ginger 3 ways (top) begins with infusing dark chocolate ganache with freshly grated ginger. Next, she adds a splash of Spiker’s ginger bite shrub. Finally, after hand dipping each piece in dark chocolate, she finishes them off with a sliver or crystallized ginger. Did you know that Beth roasts her own coffee beans for her coffee chocolate? How about her “fig-in-a-box” chocolates? Beth starts with homemade fig puree and a splash of balsamic vinegar. The puree is transformed into a pâte de fruit and then is hand dipped in chocolate. She hand paints on the gold strips for a beautiful end product. The Spicy Hot! (red) chocolate has a subtle chocolate flavor that you get first, and then at the end, you are hit with the cinnamon flavor and a kick from the cayenne. I think my favorite of all of the chocolates was the Maple Liqueur (milk chocolate on the left). This piece is made with Boston Harbor Distillery’s maple cream liqueur, a blend of rum, cream and Vermont maple syrup.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Tags: candy, halloween, holiday, specialty goods