Desserts 4 Today

If you're thinking of opening a candy store, there are quite a few pieces of equipment you'll need to display your candy in the most convenient, attractive, and effective ways.

Plastic Containers

Candy

If you really think about it, it might actually be impossible - or, at least, extremely difficult - to operate a candy store without plastic containers. From wrapped candies like Tootsie Rolls and Jawbreakers to unwrapped candies like gumballs and Lemon Drops, these containers are perfect for virtually every kind of candy.

Not only are plastic containers are quite durable, which makes them ideal for fast-paced stores that often have children as customers, but they're also rather versatile. You can:

• Find clear plastic containers and colored acrylic containers to match your candy store's décor and create attractive candy displays.


• Choose from an assortment of sizes to work best with the candy you want to sell and the space you have to work with.


• Add accessories like lids and candy scoops to keep your candy safe and clean.


• Refill your plastic containers with candy once they're empty, or use them for an entirely different purpose like organizing merchandise in your stockroom or displaying non-edible items your candy store might also sell.

Glass containers function in many of the same ways as plastic containers do. You can find them in a variety of shapes and sizes, and pair them with useful accessories like lids and scoops.

However, when you compare glass candy containers with plastic ones, you'll find two major differences:

• Glass containers are heavier and more easily broken, so they're not always the best choices for candy stores that usually keep a regular stream of young children coming in and out of the store.


• Glass containers add an elegant charm that plastic containers can't always achieve, so they're great for displaying gourmet candies in more upscale establishments.

Unless you plan to display all your candy within plastic or glass containers situated on your store's countertop, you're going to need a few display racks.

Candy store display racks are available in numerous styles, shapes, and sizes, the most common and versatile of which include wire display racks and wooden display racks designed for either floor or countertop displays. Unsurprisingly, wooden display racks work best with wooden baskets, and you can use wire display racks to showcase bags of candy that are able to stand alone or fill plastic containers with pieces of candy and then arrange the containers on the wire rack's shelves.

Pre-Filled Candy Displays

Pre-filled candy displays are great for candy stores that are just getting started as well as those that stay quite busy and can't always find the time to restock their displays.

Look for pre-filled candy displays in the following forms:

• Gumball machines designed for floor displays or countertop displays with as few as one head or as many as eight heads. You can also find gumball machines filled with other kinds of loose, unwrapped candies like Skittles and M&Ms.


• Lollipop trees tall enough to display on your floor or compact enough to situate on your countertop.


• Candy filled display racks complete with traditional, novelty, or gourmet kinds of candies. You can find these racks small enough for your countertop, tall enough to act as floor displays, and large enough to essentially act as aisles in your candy store.

From plastic containers and wire display racks to gumball machines and lollipop trees, you can find all the tools you need to start your candy store at http://www.candyconceptsinc.com

When Halloween approaches, you know that face painting season is kicking into high gear. Try these easy, but immensely child-pleasing Halloween "cheek art" designs at class parties, fall festivals and homecoming carnivals.

Begin with good quality, water-based face paints. You can find them online or in some theatrical stores. A palette of six, good-quality face paints is priced around .00 and includes enough paint for 70 or more cheek art designs. Water-based face paints apply as easily as watercolors and remove cleanly with a paper towel and water.

Candy

For a small gathering of children, two or three small to medium sized paint brushes will be sufficient. A bowl of water to rinse the brushes and a roll of paper towels conclude the list of basic supplies.

In my opinion, the simplest design to paint is that of a ghost. The basic shape of the ghost is that of a triangle. With a brush loaded with white paint, paint a loose triangle by creating a wavy line to outline the ghost. Fill in with more white paint, dot on black eyes and a smile and the ghost is complete.

Nothing is "sweeter" than a face dotted with painted candy corn. The basic shape is a pyramid, with yellow on the bottom third, orange on the middle third and white at the peak. You can create a candy corn crown by painting the candies in succession along the forehead.

To paint a jack-o-lantern, begin with a circle or oval of orange paint. When the orange paint dries, add small triangles in black paint for the eyes and nose and paint a toothy smile in black as well. Add a green stem and your jack-o-lantern is complete.

The most important thing to remember when face painting is to have fun and keep it simple! Children aren't expecting a Picasso to be painted on their face. They simply love to celebrate the occasion and face painting is the perfect way to light up the face of any child.

JoAnne Westcott is the author of the downloadable e-book, Easy Face Painting: How You Can Get Professional Results Even If You've Never Picked Up A Paintbrush. You can learn more about face painting and how to acquire the simple skills to get started by visiting http://www.easyfacepainting.com

Pecan Praline Candy is a kind of confection found in almost every specialty shop in New Orleans. At some point you can even bump into shops which make this kind of candy right before your eyes.

For those who love sweets but are not good in the kitchen or not good in cooking, you still have the chance to make your homemade Pecan Praline Candy.

Confection

The cooking process is somewhat tricky. If you are to cook it traditionally, you must use a thermometer upon cooking the sugary mixture. The standard temperature of the thermostat must be exactly 238 degrees also known as the soft-ball stage. You must also stir the mixture constantly so as to avoid having terrible results.

You might think it is impossible to make your own homemade Pecan Praline. But, you are wrong. As they say, nothing is impossible! I have an alternative procedure in making this yummy candy. I call it Microwave Pecan Praline Candy Recipe. Say goodbye to your candy thermometer and start making your own Pecan Praline Candy with no hassle. Check out my recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup whipping cream

1 pound light brown sugar

2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons margarine, softened

Directions:

Mix cream and sugar.

Microwave the mixture on high for 13 minutes.

When it's done, remove it from the microwave then add margarine and pecans.

Stir it quickly.

Drop it to the waxed paper using a tablespoon.

Let cool then serve.

Of course the traditional way of cooking this delicious candy would give you different result, too. However, this alternative recipe I am sharing to you is the closest thing you can get to enjoying Pecan Praline Candy the easy way. Something that will help you achieve a recipe with the use of simple ingredients at a quick spun of time. It can actually serve as a beginner step for all of those cooking enthusiast.

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