Texas Candy - the Grand Finale!

Did you know the Texas state tree is the pecan? I didn't, but I was wondering why there was so much pecan candy. Candy is a clue to the mysteries of life.

We looked at pralines in New Orleans (where they are way too sweet for me). Let's see what they've got in Texas:

Love the box and the festive design and colors. These are nice because they are bite size:

See the pecans in there? These were good and chewy. Could have had more pecan bits. Very chewy like a good caramel. Like 'em.

This "pecan chewy" was enormous - about the size of a large hamburger.

And it was delicious! You know what was best about it? TONS of pecans with just a little sugar and other stuff. If you love pecans like I do - this is for you. I loved it. It should be called Fistful of Pecans. We could squint like Eastwood when we eat it.

It's made by http://www.monterreyproducts.com/ it's not a praline - that requires all the junk apparently. I think it was much, much better. YUM!! Made in San Antonio. It's so cool when you get to buy something really made locally. And not in China. Unless, of course, you're IN China, they it would be made locally. (God, get me out of this digression.)

This is a Texas Chewie by Lammes Candies - they also say it's a pecan praline. (This is getting kind of confusing - chewie, praline, fistful - what the hell?) There was a lot more of the other stuff - corn syrup, butter, milk, etc. here than in the pecan chewy by Monterrey. But still not as super sweet as those from New Orleans. I like these much better. These seem more like a caramel, those in New Orleans seem more like fudge.

Lammes is another one of those long standing American candy companies - http://www.lammes.com/. On their website there's a great section on their history and you can order a catalog. I want to see them continue - I requested a catalog.

These are very, very good and what a great American success story! Get a catalog!! Yehaw!! I squinted when I filled out the online form.

As you all know, everything is bigger in Texas. Look at these jelly beans:

I love jelly beans, so these are like a beautiful dream - giant, chewy, sugary - YAY!! Happy Easter to us!!

Well, not quite yet. I have some unfinished business to attend to. It involves the cherry. Meet me tomorrow at the O K Corral.

Blob, Cluster, Turtle - Chocolate Evolution

I have a confession to make. I didn't really know there was a difference between a "cluster" and a "turtle." I thought they were all blobs of goo (marshmallow, caramel, peanut butter, whatever) and nuts covered with chocolate.



So little I know, so much I have to learn.

According to About.com in their candy section - "Turtle Candies get their name from their whimsical turtle shape. The combination of toasted pecans, soft caramel and smooth chocolate is impossible to resist. Some people make their turtles with 3 pecans: 1 for the head, and 2 for the front legs. I prefer to use 4 (for all 4 legs-I guess my turtles don't have heads) but you can modify to suit your tastes."

Hmmmm........I really didn't know. Heads, legs, - complicated. I've had turtles before. They're good. But then I had Mama Laura's turtles:

Mama Laura's turtles are so good, there is no reason to ever eat any other turtles ever again. Her turtles made me want to know just what turtles were. Her turtles are indeed Saint worthy. Her place in chocolate heaven is completely locked in now!

These are make your eyes roll back in your head good. The turtle shell is a mountain of delicious, gooey caramel that blows all that other lame turtle caramel away. The chocolate is fabulous, the pecans fresh. These turtles are life changing. Mama Laura is amazing!! Thus, our first Church of Chocolate Saint. I have to say that eating these are definitely a religious experience.

Now these are clusters, which apparently are blobs of goo (caramel, marshmallow, peanut butter, etc.) and nuts covered with chocolate. I have three GooGoo Clusters and one (yes, I keep giving them a chance) Russell Stover Almond Delight (cluster).

GooGoo Clusters (http://www.googoo.com/) come in three flavors. We'll cover each one. First let's look at all of these naked:

We don't have anything against nudity in the Church of Chocolate, by the way.

We'll start with the upper left - the GooGoo Supreme. This one has milk chocolate, pecans, caramel and marshmallow. Next to it on the right is the GooGoo Cluster. It's the same but with peanuts instead of pecans. Bottom left is Almond Delight with milk chocolate, caramel and almonds. And finally, GooGoo Peanut Butter, with milk chocolate, peanuts and peanut butter.

Let's just say that Russell Stover continues to be lame. As you can see from the nude shots, there is way more chocolate than nuts. It's applied in a too thick layer and overpowers the caramel and the nuts. You can barely even taste the almonds. The caramel and the chocolate are sub par. This should be called Almond Plight - I feel sorry that almonds gave their lives for this.

I also am proud to announce that GooGoo Clusters ROCK! Made since 1912 in Nashville, TN by the Standard Candy Company. You know how I love these independent candy companies!!! If you haven't tried a GooGoo Cluster - you should! They have them in those nostalgia candy places (Cracker Barrel) and I see them in convenience stores from time to time. The next time you see one - try it!

Back to the clusters - Supreme has the pecans, but I prefer the peanuts in the standard cluster. The pecans seem a little too sweet, I prefer the saltier peanut. But I was impressed by how many nuts were packed in these - the way it should be if you ask me!! And the marshmallow is balanced perfectly with the caramel and the chocolate - you will love these. I kid you not.

But my favorite, a true work of candy art - was the GooGoo Peanut Butter. No caramel and marshmallow here - just packed with peanut butter and peanuts and coated with chocolate - fantastic!!

I even liked the GooGoo Peanut Butter better than Koeze's Cream Nut Peanut Butter Clusters. Remember them? (I reviewed them and Reese's Clusters around Christmas). GooGoo is the best.

And you know what? When GooGoo Clusters first came out - all candy bars were rectangular. No one knew what to call these weird globs. They were hard to wrap. They didn't fit in. I like that - GooGoo Cluster have been rebels since 1912. They were making candy bars that weren't bars. At the Church of Chocolate, we let everybody in - especially nuts and rebels. Actually, we might not have any members if it weren't for nuts and rebels.

Have a nutty and rebellious week!