HoneyDukes at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

I believe it’s been established that I am quite the Disney fan. But I also have other loves – one of which is Harry Potter. On our last trip to the World, we decided it was crucial that any true fan should visit the theme park created in Harry’s honor.

Universal’s visitors must all flock to Hogsmeade and stay within the fictional town’s snow-capped walls. At least this was my experience when we arrived and were welcomed by throngs of Butter Beer thirsty ninjas. They elbowed their way past anyone and everyone in an attempt to be the first in each line – of which there were many. Because of this, we didn’t go through the hassle of purchasing anything in the gift shops. We didn’t wait in queue for an hour to pick out a wand in Ollivander’s, and I decided a Quiddich sweatshirt could be more easily obtained online.

That is, until we arrived at Honeydukes – or Heaven, as I like to think of it. A candy-coated, gloriously sugar-laden Heaven.

Universal may be smaller, less magical, and overly crowded in Harry Potter-ville, but one thing they’ve done right is THEMING.

Honeydukes alone proved this. The outside facade, complete with a roof practically sagging under the weight of snow, was so realistic one would think they were in a small village in England (had it not been for the pushing and shoving of other park visitors).

Once inside, the aroma of melted chocolate and sugar-filled bon bons hit with a force of its own. The walls were painted in inviting candy hues, the floor was a fun black and white tile, and every inch of space seem to be taken up by something that simply screamed JK Rowling and her conjured up world.

Disney would be wise to take note of the effort Universal goes to where theming is involved. I noticed that each gift shop sold something different – which has been lacking in the Disney Parks over the last few years. Having merchandise that is more original to the shop and land in which it’s being sold would do a world of good to their sales, I have no doubt!

But back to the edible delights.

The line here – like everywhere else – was very long. Because this was where the majority of my money would be spent for the day, my husband went to take his place in line while I shopped like the crazed, candy-loving person I am. Having previously taken notes on the Butter Beer ninjas outside, I was able to dodge other shoppers, pull things from over little heads, and dive under taller people in my effort to secure the items I felt were crucial.

But here I was forced to pause. The Bertie Botts tower of Jelly Beans was simply something to stand in awe of. Like everything else, it was truly beautiful.

After a moment to pay homage, I continued on my way, filling a bag full of fun treats that were sold by the pound, grabbing a Chocolate Frog, and debating the need for a Cauldron Cake before handing it all to the cashier.

The experience went far toward redeeming the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in my eyes. Will we be back? I’m not sure. Perhaps if they expand!

Dream a Little Dream

Let me tell you about a small aspiration of mine. Small, because it isn’t grand by any means. A dream, because I don’t know when – or if – it will ever happen. This tiny dream has flitted through my head for a few years now, and has taken shape the way only true dreams can.

I would like to own a tiny Bohemian shop. This shop has a very clever name, but one so close to my heart that I can’t bear to write it out for the world to see as of yet. The shop is located by the sea somewhere, and although I can’t quite hear the ocean from the doorstep, I can imagine it, and almost make out the blue waves over the horizon. There is a porch overflowing with wild vines and flowers, and every morning I check them and make sure no weed has set foot in their territory.

I will only sell a few things, specializing in those particular items so that the collection is eclectic and ME. This would be books primarily, but only those that I truly love and want to pass along to others. I would concoct healthy treats made with natural ingredients – small indulgences that people can feel good about eating while they browse the store and decide which purchases to make. Perhaps they will take a dessert home with them and curl up to feast on it and their new book, escaping into a world that I have long-adored.

I will wear a bandana in my hair and embrace the salt in the air. My husband would smoke a pipe while recommending important yet interesting works of literature, and I have a small room in the back to paint whimsical scenes on canvases that will adorn the walls. These paintings will be for sale, allowing those who wander into our small shop of wonders the chance to take home a visual representation of their time in this particular town.

We go home at night, where I write about my encounters with these people and form stories surrounding them. We make a small dinner and thank God that he’s given us contentment. Content, because while we aren’t rich by any means, we are happy as only those who do something they truly love – something they find a wealth of meaning in – can be.

Two Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies that Anyone will Love

I thought about entitling this post “A Tale of Two Cookies,” but thought that perhaps others had over-played that title already. So instead of going for clever, I went with a more straightforward approach.

Yesterday, I worked. I cleaned the house from top to bottom, washed clothes, and worked on numerous school projects. After all that, my stomach was growling, demanding that I feed it after such a strenuous morning! The first thing I thought of was cookies. Perhaps not the healthiest thing to put in an empty stomach, but a craving is a craving, and my mind was made up. With cookies on the brain, I set about finding a recipe that would be delicious, as well as gluten free.

I finally decided on TWO recipes. When baking and using alternative flours, the final product may be quite different from what was originally claimed. Not wanting to fail in my cookie attempts, I ensured that at least one batch would turn out delicious by baking two versions. I also altered the recipes to match what I envisioned for my little indulgence. Guess what? They were both a success! While I now have an over-abundance of cookies, my sweet tooth is sufficiently satisfied.

Almond Meal Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 1/2 Cups Almond Meal
• 1/4 Cup Butter, Room Temperature
• 1/3 Cup Honey Granules (or Sugar of your Preference)
• 1 Egg
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1/2 Cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 375. In a bowl, cream Butter and Honey Granules until smooth. Mix in the egg, then add vanilla, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add Almond Meal to the mixture until all is incorporated. Fold in the Chocolate Chips.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and then scoop dough by the spoonful. Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden.

Nut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1/2 Cup Almond Butter
• 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter (I prefer Earth Balance)
• 3/4 Cup Honey Granules
• 1 Large Egg
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 Cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl, stir together Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Honey Granules, Egg, Vanilla, Baking Soda, and Salt until well blended. Mix in the Chocolate Chips. Drop balls of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet, giving them enough room to spread while cooking. Baking for 10 minutes, or until golden.

Enjoy, and let me know which is your favorite!

This blog is a part of Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays!

Goofy’s Candy Company

While at the beach last week, we decided to make the relatively short drive to Orlando for a day trip. It was opening day for the Hunger Games, which gave me the excuse I needed for satisfying my craving for Mickey Waffles, BabyCakes, and some other Disney-themed goodies to eat while on vacation. What could be better for that than a trip to Goofy’s Candy Company?

Our first stop was The Grand Floridian Resort. Dining with Alice and the Hatter at 1900 Park Fare proved to be very filling, so we decided against popcorn at the theater. But this meant we were very hungry when the movie ended! After practically buying out the BabyCakes bakery, we skipped over to Goofy’s and had a feast for the eyes before settling on anything in particular.

Goofy’s Candy Company is practically a Disney attraction in and of itself. Walking in, the deliciously tempting scent of melted chocolate hits immediately, but the source of that smell isn’t instantly apparent. This is because there are distractions everywhere! The brightly lit space is overflowing with candies and sweets of every shape and size.

The wall closest to the entrance is dedicated solely to by-the-pound candy containers in a rainbow of colors. While a long-time favorite of mine, I managed to conjure up some willpower and force myself to walk past. I had other treats in mind during this visit.

Upon another wall, row after row of flavored popcorn beckons. This was my first of several stops. I have a weakness for popcorn – one that goes beyond what is socially appropriate. Seeing flavors like Chocolate Caramel with Cashews, Cookies and Cream, and Chocolate Cheddar nearly made me feint with excitement. I know I spent a minimum of 5 minutes simply looking at my choices and debating which I should purchase.

But the main attraction at Goofy’s is the station that occupies the center of the store. Lining one side is a glass encasement filled with chocolate-covered treats that anyone would appreciate. Another side is devoted entirely to an array of Candy Apples featuring different Disney characters.

Neither of these are the draw, however. A large sign above indicates that customers can custom design their own dessert! Choose a base, topping, candy, and drizzle, and the bakers behind the counter will design it exactly to those specifications!

After circling the store like a couple of hungry animals, my husband and I finally made our selection. The Popcorn was the first item chosen – a variety pack, for obvious reasons. Also making its way to the checkout counter was a Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, as well as a Custom Creation. This treat, which was so enormous that it took a few days to finish off, was comprised of a large Mickey-shaped Rice Krispy Bar, coated in Dark Chocolate, sprinkled with Peanut Butter Chips, and finally, drizzled with Milk Chocolate. Heavenly!

We walked to Raglan Road with our purchases, and managed not to rip into any of it until we had an appetizer, a beer, and a better handle on our hunger. Moderation and all, right?

Chocolate Coffee Caramel Bars

I may have said it before, but I’m not sure there are many things that can compare to the combination of Chocolate and Caramel. Unless, that is, you throw Coffee into the mix. I found these tasty treats on PaleOMG, and I must say – WOW. Dense and not too sweet, this dessert just may make it into my home cookbook, for those times when attempting to please everyone!

Chocolate Coffee Caramel Bars

Crust

• 12 Dates, Pitted
• 1/2 Cup Almond Butter
• 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
• 2 Tbsp. Raw Honey
• 3 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• Pinch of Salt

Caramel

• 14 Dates, Pitted and Soaked in Water for 1 Hour
• 6 Tbsp. Canned Coconut Milk
• 3 Tbsp. Water
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• Pinch of Salt

Topping

• 1 Cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 Cup Canned Coconut Milk
• 2 tsp. Ground Coffee
• Course Sea Salt, to top

Add all Crust ingredients to a food processor and mix until well combined. Add this mixture to a bread pan or similar, and push down until the mixture is flat.

Once this is done, add remaining dates to the food processor and mix until they have broken down – about 1 minute. One Tablespoon at a time, add Coconut Milk while the food processor is still running. Add Water, Vanilla, and Salt. Mix until a creamy caramel is formed – this may take 3-5 minutes total. Pour over Crust and spread evenly.

Next, melt Chocolate and Coconut Milk together in the microwave by heating for 30 seconds, mixing well, and reheating as necessary. Once completely melted, add ground coffee and mix well. Pour chocolate mixture over caramel and spread evenly.

Add Sea Salt to top. Put in the freezer to harden – approx. 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Recipe and Photo Courtesy of PaleOMG

How Does Your Garden Grow?

A bit more tan and much more relaxed, I came home from our Spring Break at the beach to a house that looked completely different than the one I left. My husband and I purchased it in November, so we didn’t know exactly what the yard would look like once Spring began to show its pretty face.

No, this is not my home...only in my dreams. But just look at that garden!

I’m sitting on our back porch as I write this, looking at green plants and bright blossoms – and staring at the little vegetable garden with a mixture of apprehension and dread.

I certainly don’t consider myself too prissy when it comes to the outdoors. After all, I sat on the beach for more than a week, didn’t I? Aside from that not-so-telling example, I will readily boast that spiders do not bother me very much, and I love birds and small animals. I adore English gardens, and hope that I can transform my back yard into a real life Wonderland (hence the reason for the photos in this post). So why the fear of this tiny plot of raised beds? I’m not sure.

An English Garden, complete with Alice and White Rabbit statues

There’s the fear of the unknown, certainly. What if nothing grows? Even worse, what if it grows and then I somehow manage to kill it off? The fear of failure has kept me from many things – surely I can conquer this garden. Of course, the fact that I walked into it yesterday and encountered two-foot stalks of Asparagus covered with unidentifiable black and red insects could have put me off a bit, as well.

I’m just going to have to purchase a pair of gloves and step into this uncharted territory. The idea of just-picked strawberries, tomatoes, asparagus and peppers is almost too appealing to pass up simply due to fear (and creepy insects). Perhaps I’ll even truly enjoy it and can begin an herb garden similar to those that my ancestors cultivated. Now THAT would be an interesting endeavor!

What a fantastic idea for an Herb Garden!

Writing, Researching, and Genetic Memory

Although the first draft of my novel has been completed for some months now, I am still very much in the process of editing, gathering new information, and just generally attempting to make it the best book it can be. This has only been accomplished sporadically, however – the nerd in me makes sure that schoolwork comes first.

High Street - Chipping Camden, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestry and heritage have become the driving force in my Creative Writing class this semester, so it was only natural that they should come out in my personal writing, as well. The idea of lineage has popped up in the minds of my characters, and they have now begun their own exploration. But the plot had already been set more than a year ago – the theme of the book written down and sent out to literary agents. These characters were only supposed to look for minor details and a bit of new information – certainly not make major discoveries.

So it came as a shock (and a bit of disbelief) to realize that my life, and that of one of my characters, had come to a collision.

Last night I sat researching the location where Mary Bliss Parsons, the Witch of Northampton, had been born. I knew she was an immigrant to the New World, arriving with her family in Plymouth when she was very small, and immediately making her way to their new home in Massachusetts. The Parsons family had sailed from Gloucestershire, England, where Mary’s parents had been born and later married at St. Patrick’s church.

Puzzlewood, in the Forest of Dean - Gloucestershire, England

Looking up further information on Gloucestershire, I soon found a large amount of picturesque photos, all depicting homes and pastureland in the Cotswolds of England. One in particular caught my attention. It looked so familiar, as if I had seen it before. Glancing at the caption written below, I saw the words “Bibury, Gloucestershire, England.” Bibury – the birthplace of one of the main characters in my book.

Bibury, England in Gloucestershire

But I had selected Bibury as this character’s home more than a year before. At that time I had not even begun to think about my ancestry, and would have had no knowledge of Mary Bliss or her hometown. Was it simply a coincidence? Or did something within me recognize Bibury, wanting my character to hail from this particular location? Regardless of the reason, my life had now been linked to that of my fictional character, forming a bond that a mere pen never could.

Perhaps I will find more connections such as this. I am certainly not one to ignore relevant information, and will now have to find a way to add a new element to my book. Two seemingly unrelated characters may discover they have family ties. Or perhaps an ancestor’s memories will make their way into the mind of someone in the present day.

Perhaps this discovery has been the sole reason for the stall in my progress of the book. Providence – I’ll take it.