Holiday Candy 2024
This year’s candy: hot honey sunflower butter cups, orange ginger clove white chocolate ganache, cranberry sage walnut marzipan, licorice cardamom ganache with dried cherry, turmeric white pepper white chocolate ganache, coriander black pepper marshmallow with candied fennel seeds, lemon saffron marshmallow with smoked salt, bay leaf caramel ganache. and juniper berry ganache with candied lemon peel.
This year’s candy: hot honey sunflower butter cups, orange ginger clove white chocolate ganache, cranberry sage walnut marzipan, licorice cardamom ganache with dried cherry, turmeric white pepper white chocolate ganache, coriander black pepper marshmallow with candied fennel seeds, lemon saffron marshmallow with smoked salt, bay leaf caramel ganache. and juniper berry ganache with candied lemon peel.
Holiday Candy 2023
This year’s candy included lapsang souchong ganache and caramel, wasabi marshmallow and ginger ganache, ras el hanout walnut marzipan, tequila marshmallow and jalapeños lime ganache, balsamic vinegar marshmallow and strawberry ganache, and pernod marshmallow and sage ganache.
This year’s candy included lapsang souchong ganache and caramel, wasabi marshmallow and ginger ganache, ras el hanout walnut marzipan, tequila marshmallow and jalapeños lime ganache, balsamic vinegar marshmallow and strawberry ganache, and pernod marshmallow and sage ganache.
Fundraiser Candy
I’m on the Board of Director of a fantastic little theater company called Teatro Visión. For our annual fundraiser this year, I made candies as a thank you to our donors.
I’m on the Board of Director of a fantastic little theater company called Teatro Visión. For our annual fundraiser this year, I made candies as a thank you to our donors. Flavors were habañero lime white chocolate ganache, coffee dark chocolate & hazelnut milk chocolate ganache, chipotle pecan brittle, and ube marshmallow with candied ginger on top.
Holiday Candy 2022
This year’s candy included anise black pepper marshmallows, coffee nutmeg marshmallows, spiced cinnamon ganache, paprika cinnamon toasted almond brittle, tarragon ganache with candied grapefruit peel, ginger caramel ganache, and coconut curry black sesame ganache.
This year’s candy included anise black pepper marshmallows, coffee nutmeg marshmallows, spiced cinnamon ganache, paprika cinnamon toasted almond brittle, tarragon ganache with candied grapefruit peel, ginger caramel ganache, and coconut curry black sesame ganache.
Sushi Pusheen Cake
My nephew loves sushi and he loves Pusheen, so his request for his birthday cake was Pusheen wrapped up in a California roll (otherwise known as Susheen).
My nephew loves sushi and he loves Pusheen, so his request for his birthday cake was Pusheen wrapped up in a California roll (otherwise known as Susheen).
The rice is marshmallow piped over top of a chocolate cookie structure. I made the Pusheen cake separately, inserted it into the middle of the rice tube, then filled in the space between the rice and the Pusheen with marzipan krab and avocado and fondant cucumber. The nori is fruit leather, painted with green food coloring. The wasabi is also marzipan and the ginger is just thinly sliced candied ginger. The base is covered with royal icing and is supposed to look like a slate serving tray.
When I made my Rainbow Unicorn Pusheen Cake and my Valkyr Pusheen Cake, they were rainbow colored inside, but the layers of the cake were still flat. This time I decided to make the inside rainbow shaped as well as rainbow colored.
Walnut Chocolates
I made these for a dear friend who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
I made these for a dear friend who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. The filling is a brandy ganache with carmelized walnuts and a piece of spiced brandied maraschino cherry.
Holiday Candy 2021
This year, I made toasted almond cherry marzipan, pecan chipotle brittle, peppermint marshmallows, port wine marzipan, amaretto ganache, habañero dark chocolate ganache with mango white chocolate ganache, and carmelized walnuts.
This year, I made toasted almond cherry marzipan, pecan chipotle brittle, peppermint marshmallows, port wine marzipan, amaretto ganache, habañero dark chocolate ganache with mango white chocolate ganache, and carmelized walnuts. They all turned out well, especially the pecan chipotle brittle. I forgot I was scaling the recipe when I added the chipotle, so it was about 4 times as chipotle-y as it was supposed to be, but I think it was fortuitous because ultimately my mistake made it a more powerful eating experience.
Holiday Candy 2020
This year’s flavors include raspberry, honey sesame seed, anise, earl grey, almond cranberry toffee, coffee marshmallow, and almond clusters with white and dark chocolate.
Holiday Candy 2019
Most years, I make candies to send to friends and family over the holidays. This year, I got a new great new book called Spice, so I tried a bunch of new spice combinations.
Most years, I make candies to send to friends and family over the holidays. This year, I got a new great new book called Spice, so I tried a bunch of new spice combinations. Starting with the pink marshmallows in the upper left and moving down and then to the right, the flavors are: mulled wine marshmallows, tamarind garam masala marshmallows, cardamom sesame brittle, rice pudding white chocolate ganache, spiced apple caramel, spiced milk chocolate ganache, and dark chocolate mole bark.
Brain Chocolates
My friend was having brain surgery. My way of showing support was to send her brain-shaped chocolates.
My friend was having brain surgery. My way of showing support was to send her brain-shaped chocolates.
Holiday Candy 2018
Flavors include coffee-chocolate squares, sesame seed brittle, crème fraîche, cinnamon-marshmallow with chocolate ganache, eggnog, and ginger-rum.
Flavors include coffee-chocolate squares, sesame seed brittle, crème fraîche, cinnamon-marshmallow with chocolate ganache, eggnog, and ginger-rum.
Holiday Candy 2016
Flavors include nougat, curry, toffee, habanero mango, strawberry balsamic vinegar, and coffee chocolate.
Holiday Candy 2015
Flavors include dark chocolate sunbutter cups, sunflower seed toffee and brittle, coffee chocolate disks, chocolate-covered dried cranberries, and peppermint bark.
Flavors include dark chocolate sunbutter cups, sunflower seed toffee and brittle, coffee chocolate disks, chocolate-covered dried cranberries, and peppermint bark.
Edible Dramaturgy: Exploring death and fetish through candy
This is a performance I did with my friend and collaborator Kristin Hunt at the Makers Exhibition at the 2015 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. The menu consisted of single peas, pea gummies, pea soda, capsaicin spun sugar, red wine gummies, black pepper conversation hearts, and pea cake balls filled with garlic marshmallow.
This is a performance I did with my friend and collaborator Kristin Hunt at the Makers Exhibition at the 2015 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. It’s based on two of our previous edible dramaturgy performances, Woyzeck (2013) and Miss Julie (2014). Guests were presented parallel, five-course tasting menus that led them through Woyzeck’s increasing madness and Miss Julie’s sexual surrender through the scent, taste, and texture of the food.
The menu consisted of single peas, pea gummies, pea soda, capsaicin spun sugar, red wine gummies, black pepper conversation hearts, and pea cake balls filled with garlic marshmallow.
Breast Chocolates
My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. I made these to let her know I was thinking of her.
My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. I made these to let her know I was thinking of her.
Miss Julie
My friend Kristin Hunt invited me to create aphrodisiac candy recipes for a production of Miss Julie at Northeastern Illinois University - roasted garlic marshmallow, salted truffle caramels, red wine gummies, habanero cotton candy, and oyster white chocolate ganache.
My friend Kristin Hunt invited me to create aphrodisiac candy recipes for a production of Miss Julie at Northeastern Illinois University. These photos are from the production, so I didn’t make the candy myself, but they are my recipes - roasted garlic marshmallow, salted truffle caramels, red wine gummies, habanero cotton candy, and oyster white chocolate ganache. There were also black pepper conversation hearts, but that one was Kristin’s recipe, not mine. I tried to invent oyster cordial cherries, but I couldn’t get them not to be gross.
Holiday Candy 2013
Flavors include raspberry caramel, pistachio marzipan, almond and pistachio nougat, lime ganache, and swiss rocks with almonds.
Eyeball Cordial Cherries
One of my personal favorite candy invention. They squish just like a real eyeball (maybe?) when you bite into them and they taste delicious!
One of my personal favorite candy inventions. They squish just like a real eyeball (maybe?) when you bite into them and they taste delicious! The color of the iris distinguishes between the brandy-soaked and non-brandy soaked varieties.