Tag Archives: So Sweet Candy Cafe

I Think Candy Would Help

Posted on November 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe this was in December.

I wanted to do a Throw-Back Thursday, but I can’t seem to settle on any throw-back pictures, so I thought I would throw back to not too long ago and give a shout-out to a local business.  This is my husband, Steven, and our friend, Margaret, proprietor of the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.  It is a lovely little shop with lots of goodies.  I think another trip there is in my near future.

“Oh shame! Oh degradation!”

Since this is also Non-Sequitur Thursday, I do not feel I need to have a theme to my throw-backs.  This is me and our dear, recently departed friend, Julianne Allen, in Dirty Work at the Crossroads Ilion Little Theatre at  in 2013.  My character was having a real wrist to forehead moment.  It is kind of the way I feel when I fear I am making a really foolish blog post (which, as we all know, is often).

I even felt kind of like Superman that day.

Here is another throw back to a mere year ago, the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K.  It is also another wrist to forehead situation, because, alas, I did not run it this year.  I meant to, but I neglected to write it on my calendar and something else came up.  Well, there’s always next year.

 

That reminds me, I need a hair cut.

Also about a year ago, Steven and I visited the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  Now, there’s a place I need to go again.  Maybe I could write about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  It would definitely make a good blog post.  I’m afraid this has not been a particularly good post.  I’ll try to do better tomorrow, but no promises.  After all, it will be Lame Post Friday.

 

 

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Purple Potatoes on Tasty Tuesday

Posted on October 31, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I see I did a Tasty Tuesday post last week.  It may become a regular thing, because I intend to do another now.  For one reason: I can’t think of much else (oh why did I have to tell you that?  Sometimes I am too honest for my own good).

Last Sunday I roasted some purple potatoes.  I LOVE purple potatoes!  I got these at Hannaford, but I was introduced to them by T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables of Herkimer, NY, just to slip in a little local flavor (see what I did there?).  I used a 350 degree oven (does that mean I baked them?  I’m not up on my cooking terms) and tossed the potatoes in a casserole dish with oil and spices.  I used garlic powder, minced onion, paprika, basil, oregano, and Salt-Free All-Purpose Seasoning from the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY (just to mention another local business).  They were yummy and there was a lot left over.

Tonight, after pouring myself a glass of Pinot Noir, so I could cook with wine, I put about half my leftover potatoes in a frying pan and started them heating.  While they sizzled, I grated some colby-jack cheese, taking frequent breaks to stir the spuds.  Once I had grated enough cheese, I cracked in two eggs and whisked.  There was more cheese than eggs, and it made an interesting kind of a pasty stuff.  I poured it over the potatoes, when I thought the potatoes were pretty much heated through.  I was kind of fascinated, because for the first time after many years of cooking eggs and cheese, I realized:  I was waiting for the eggs to HARDEN and the cheese to SOFTEN.  Paradox is a beautiful thing (I know, that little notion occurred to you years ago) (you know who you are).

It did not take long for the mixture to be done.  It was delicious.  Sometimes I am so pleased with myself as a cook.  I am far from a gourmet, but I likes what I makes!  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

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Saturday Supper, In Progress

Posted on September 30, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am making a Saturday Supper post while I am actually cooking said supper.  I have not done a cooking post in a while, and I am making this dish up as I go along, so I thought it would be a good one.  If I am mistaken, I would point out that these things happen and we must make the best of them.

First I chopped up an onion and put it in some oil in my cast iron frying pan. I confess, I thought sadly that I do not enjoy washing that pan, but it is one of my favorite things to cook in.  I put in a little more oil than I had intended, but I just went with it.  While it fried, I peeled and crushed some garlic and set the timer for 15 minutes (to let the garlic breathe, so it could reach its full cancer-fighting capacity) (I guess).  I knitted and looked at Forensic Files while I waited.  Steven is a big fan of Forensic Files.  I like it too.

After putting the garlic in the pan and stirring, I added burger.  Steven had taken the burger out of the freezer a couple of days ago, but one cannot always be ambitious enough to cook supper the day the meat is thawed.  I broke it up somewhat, knowing I could break it up further as it cooked.

Eventually I did break it up more, and I thought all of the pink was gone.  Then I thought of adding Worcestershire Sauce, which I could have done while it was pink, but whatever, I put some in.  Looking in our cupboard, I saw we did not have tomato sauce, as I had thought.  Luckily I found some diced tomatoes as well as some canned mushrooms and tomato paste.  I put the diced tomatoes and mushrooms in.  The I threw in a few spices:  Salt Free All-Purpose from the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica (a great place, by the way), basil, garlic powder (can’t have too much garlic, after all), cumin, parsley… I think that’s it.

There! I just went out and stirred the sauce, which was boiling away.  I put in the tomato paste. After I finish this post and hit Publish, I will put on water to boil for pasta.  Will it be ruffles or elbows?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my Saturday.

 

 

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Picture This: a Garlic Festival!

Posted on September 9, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Eat, Stink and Be Merry!  Those are words to live by!  My husband Steven and I did that today when we went to the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, NY.  I brought my Tablet and took a few pictures, which I will now share.

I wanted to get at least one crowd shot.

This is one of the most popular events in the area.  I confess, I was not into a crowd scene today, but one does not like to miss the Garlic Festival (one being me, of course).

One of the more decorative displays of garlic braids.

Full disclosure:  I did not purchase any garlic.  I have a braid of local garlic from T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables in Herkimer, and I have not been cooking that much lately anyways.  That did not stop me from sampling a lot of stuff. Yum!

I took a picture of this booth, because I liked the Halloween table cloth.

I like horseys (isn’t that how you spell horseys? My computer doesn’t seem to think so).

We did not go on a horse-drawn wagon ride, although I went last year with my friend, Kim.

I had some garlic fudge, and Steven enjoyed a piece of chocolate-covered bacon.

Of course we stopped at my friend, Margaret’s booth, the So Sweet Candy Cafe.  My sister, Cheryl, was minding the shop on Varick Street.

I guess I’m heavier on pictures than words today, but at least I gave a brief shout-out to the Festival.

 

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Non-Sequitur Steve

Posted on August 3, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is that moment on a weeknight when you know you need to get to bed (YES, I go to bed EARLY, you would too if you got up at 3 stupid a.m., and if you wouldn’t you ought to), but you want to make your blog post because, once again, you cannot bear for today to be the day you do not post.  Regular readers may like to point out that some days I have not made a post and made two the next day.  However, on those days I have made one of those posts EARLY in the morning.  I will be at work early in the morning tomorrow. I can’t be making a blog post then.

I can feel my brain becoming muddled.  I know,what makes today any different?  Never mind that, I have a blog post to make.  How about a Throw Back Thursday?  I’ve done that before.  A Throwback Non-Sequitur Thursday, then it doesn’t have to make sense. I know, when do I ever?  Just never mind disparaging my brain and blogging abilities, let’s get on with the post.

Talk about your kid in a candy store!

Here is a sweet throwback:  my husband Steven and childhood friend Margaret in Margaret’s So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.  What a great place to be! I wish I was there now!

Isn’t he handsome?

I continue with Steven, but now he is at the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  I do like beer.

Three handsome dudes!

And this is Steven, our friend Jim, and our new best friend bartender Larry at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica.  There’s a place I need to go again!

And now I am over 250 words, so I call this a respectable blog post.  I might hope for a better blog post tomorrow, but it will be Lame Post Friday.  I hope to see you all then.

 

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So Many Sweet Choices!

Posted on December 21, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last Saturday, my husband Steven and I made another sweet stop (in addition to the stop at So Sweet Candy Cafe, which I wrote about on Monday), at Honey Brook Hobbies in Ilion, NY.  Alas, I did not take any pictures.  But I thought in lieu of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday,  would give a fun business a quick shout-out.

In addition to freshly made baked goods and candy, Honey Brooks offers a variety of toys, decorations, and gifts.  I love reading all the hand-made signs with sweet and funny sayings.  Steven looked speculatively at some soft fuzzy blankets, and I found a good Christmas present for my great-nephew Shepherd (I don’t have to worry about him seeing this; he doesn’t read blogs yet).  With great self-control I did not purchase any baked goods, but Steven treated himself to an eclair.

As I looked over Honey Brook’s Facebook page just now, I keep seeing all these pictures of cookies.  Dammit!  I just bought some cookies at Friendly Bake Shop in Franklin, and I was NOT going to purchase any more!  Well, if I refrain from getting any of these yummy cookies, I can always go back around Steven’s birthday and order a wonderful custom-made cake.  Or should I do that from the So Sweet Candy Cafe?  Or Friendly Bake Shop?  Oh dear!

As we paid for our purchases, on Saturday I told the Honey Brooks lady how we had been at the So Sweet Candy Cafe earlier.  She did not seem to mind us talking about the competition.  Well, I think there is plenty enough room for more than one bakery in the Mohawk Valley.  Of course it will not help me reach my weight-loss goals if I feel I must purchase yummy baked goods from all of them.

Honey Brook Hobbies is located at 4 E. Main St., Ilion, NY, 315-444-8254. You can Like them on Facebook, and visit their website at https://www.honeybrookhobbies.com/.

 

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Sweet Stop on Saturday

Posted on December 19, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

What could be more seasonal than candy, fudge and yummy stuff?  Oh, who am I kidding?  I eat sweets and fattening things all year long.  However, during the holidays, we can all pretend we have a good excuse, and I will thank you NOT to rain on the yummy stuff parade (you know who you are).  This by way of introduction to a well-deserved shout-out to the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.

I do not get to the So Sweet as often as I would like, because I do not get to Utica as often as I used to.  However, when Steven had last Saturday off and the So Sweet was having a Holiday Open House, we naturally seized the opportunity.  I remembered to bring my Tablet, so I could take a few pictures for the blog.

I love an old fashioned Santa even more than I love the old fashioned candy.

One reason for seasonal visits to the cafe is that they decorate accordingly.  Steven and I both admired the Santa, and made several slow trips around the display looking at the stocking stuffers.  Covered pretzel rods, candy canes, and old fashioned candies like Lemon Drops and Boston Baked Beans…

This is where the Skelleton sat in October.

Because it was the Open House, there were some free samples.  Naturally I tried a few.  Then, since we definitely wanted some fudge, we asked to sample that too.

Mmmmm…. fudge…

 

It was delicious fudge for a really quite reasonable price.  We got three different kinds, a quarter pound of each.

I should have gotten a couple of close-ups of some of the fancy shaped truffles.

We ended up not getting any of the fancy stuff from the truffle case, but I’m afraid I stared at it so long that the calories seeped in through my eyeballs.

It was a fun and delicious part of our Saturday morning adventures.  We still have not eaten all the fudge and candy we purchased.  That may not stop me from sneaking back again before Christmas.  I may need some truffles.  Or cookies.  Or biscotti.  Or….

The So Sweet Candy Cafe is located at 531 Varick St., Utica, phone number 315-765-6463.  They are open 8:o0 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 to 7 Friday, 8 to 4 Saturday, and 9 to 1 Sunday.

 

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Setting an Example on Scattered Saturday

Posted on December 17, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause amidst my Saturday gyrations for a Scattered Saturday post.  It’s going to be a quick one, too, because I am frying sausage and it does not do to neglect these things.

My wonderful husband, Steven, had a rare day off, so we wanted to spend at least some time having a few minor Mohawk Valley adventures.  Accordingly, we got an early start and headed to Utica to the So Sweet Candy Cafe for their open house.  Heading back to Ilion, we went to Honey Brook Hobbies, Ilion Wine and Spirits, and Original Herkimer Cheese.  I can do blog posts about all these things, and I hope to in the coming days.

Before and after our adventures, I wrote out a few more Christmas cards.  Alas, I was not in time to get them to the post office before it closed.  It was, in fact, a little cold to walk to the post office, much less go running.  I daresay I should not have let that stop me had I been on my own for the day.  Perhaps a walk to the post office tomorrow, or even later today and look at other people’s Christmas lights.

And what about a run, you may ask.  Well may you ask! I confess, after the Reindeer Run 5K, I once again fell off the running wagon.  I did not mean to, but, well, these things happen.  Now I begin to repeat to myself the mantra: If you are too busy to exercise, you are too busy.  Substitute “lazy” for “busy,” though. Sorry folks, but there it is.  I set a bad example.

But here I am approaching 300 words.  Doesn’t that set a good example for making a blog post every day?  Oh well, given the general quality of my posts, perhaps not.  Then again, some people find them amusing. For those who do not, there are other blogs to read.  Happy Saturday, everyone.

 

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Plans for Sunday on Slacker Saturday

Posted on October 29, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

A delightful array.

I thought I’d lead with a nice Halloweeny photo.  This is another Slacker Saturday post.  I’m using stuff from my Media Library, but with perhaps a little more method to my madness than previous such posts (has there been more than one?  I’m too lazy to check).

I’m starting this on my Tablet,  because Steven is on the laptop. I just really really want to  get my blog post done and get on to the Halloween movie watching portion of the evening.  The photo above was taken at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit last year.  We have not made it back there this year.  However,  Steven is actually off work tomorrow.

Aaaahhh… back on the laptop, typing with all ten fingers, as God intended.  Now I can get this post done!  As I was saying, with Steven off work tomorrow, we actually have a whole day together!  Yay!  Naturally, we think to make some plans.  A visit to Pumpkin Junction, perhaps to purchase a pumpkin?  It’s not too late to make a Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween!  And roast the seeds, of course.  Yum!

I would naturally take another picture of two of Steven.

 

I wonder if these fellows will be there again?

But Pumpkin Junction is not our only possibility for tomorrow.  We could also visit the So Sweet Candy Cafe,  in Utica, which decorates delightfully for the season.

He’s a dapper fellow, is he not?

Full disclosure:  there is every chance that tomorrow we will merely get comfortable and watch Halloween movies.  Whatever we do, I will probably write a blog post about it.  As always, I hope you’ll tune in.

 

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Halloween Pics on Tired Tuesday

Posted on October 18, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s Tired Tuesday, and I knew it would be a Tired Tuesday, and I did not one thing all day in any attempt to avoid this being Tired Tuesday.  I even had vague thoughts of going to bed and saying, “To hell with it, I’ll write something stupid tomorrow morning at four!”  Of course, that would entail getting up at four instead of my usual 4:30.  I could always try to post at 4:30, though, couldn’t I?

After Saturday night’s successful murder mystery, I only have two more theatrical commitments, and then I can concentrate on just going to work, coming home, and trying to get my act together.  Hey, that’s just three things, and I don’t think “coming home” even counts as one.  So that’s my plan.  I’m going to get my act together.  Does anybody believe me?  I’m not even sure I believe myself.

The folks at work don’t even believe I’m going to take a break from doing theatre things, but I think I can manage it at least for a month or so.  I wonder how much of my act I can get together in a month.

In the meantime, here I am making a silly and I’m afraid rather boring blog post.  I will add a couple Halloween photos to cheer things up a little.  I’ll just take some from my Media Library (doesn’t that sound fancy?  it is what the website calls it).

She looks so happy!

This lovely lady is from Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit.  We have not been there yet this year.  We must plan a visit soon!

Ah, if only I stayed on the South Beach Diet long enough, perhaps I could look like this!

This one was taken at Pumpkin Junction.  Now I really want to make another visit there, to see if it is the same or if they have come up with new arrangements.

 

Another handsome fellow.

This last one is from the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica.  This photo was on my Facebook On This Day, so I re-posted it, asking the So Sweet if he was there again this year.  He is! Another visit I must plan.

That’s two things I can write better blog posts about!  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

 

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