We've all been there. It's 2 or 3 in the afternoon and you're starting to drag, unable to focus on the computer screen a minute longer. You start to ponder a snack and settle on a trip to the corner store to the local vending machine for a little something sweet. Only when you settle back down at your desk with that bag of M&Ms and crunch into the first one, you discover that it is stale. The next one is just as bad. You sigh heavily and offer the rest of the bag to your cubemate (who is known for his ability to eat anything).

However, thanks to a tip posted on Consumerist, you can now avoid the scourge of stale candy, you just have to know how to read the codes. For Mars and M&M candy, just check out the first three digits of the ten digit code. The first number is the year and the next two represent the week of the year. Candy that expires this week would have the code 815. For Hershey's, they use a letter/number code. This month would be represented by 8D (2008, April).
Just check the codes and never eat stale candy again!

This is going to come in a little too late for Valentine's Day, but is still good news for all you chocolate lovers out there. Based on the trends consumers have been following over the past year, Hershey's apparently plans to expand their chocolate bar line with the introduction of three new products.

The first is an organic chocolate bar, which really comes as little surprise since consumers can't seem to get enough organic into their shopping carts these days. Second will be a "whole-bean chocolate" which, according to the President and CEO of Hershey Co., will have increased fiber and 40% less sugar than their regular chocolate bars. Finally, they will be introducing an antioxidant milk chocolate which will boast the same health benefits of dark chocolate, but with the creamy rich taste of milk chocolate instead.

They also plan to continue their focus on portion-control products, offering consumers smaller, healthier sizes of their various snack foods. As they say, everything in moderation.

My friend Todd is a mixologist. Technically, he is a college molecular biology instructor, but on the side, the guy can mix up some fabulous drinks. His specialty? What he calls "booze candy" - anything that's so super sweet that it's basically, well, candy. These are things that are made with fruit flavored vodkas, juices, cordials and liqueurs, and can be very appropriately served in a sugar-rimmed glass.

Normally, the sticky, almost syrupy drinks are too sweet for my personal taste, but if I drink them after dinner and with the mindset that they are dessert, then watch out. Booze candy is so easy is to drink, I can finish three of them without even realizing it. 

A drink recipe I came across is so perfectly "booze candy, it's ridiculous: Almond Joy Martini. I love the dark chocolate covered coconut and almond bar, so I love the idea. I haven't actually made it yet, as I don't have all the ingredients, but the next time I have a cocktail party, I'm sure Todd and I will have to give this a try.

Almond Joy Martini

Shake 1 oz. each of coconut-flavored rum (Parrot Bay or Malibu), Frangelico, Godiva or other chocolate-flavored liqueur, Hershey's chocolate syrup, and vodka. Add 4 oz. half and half or light cream, shake with ice, then strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with shredded coconut.

Cadbury Creme Eggs just haven't had the same appeal to me since they took the adorable clucking bunny out of their ad campaign. Something about that bunny just made me want to eat a whole, sugary egg. In all probability, age had something to do with it as well. I no longer want to scarf down a large Cadbury Creme Egg when given the opportunity because it almost makes my teeth hurt, though I do enjoy a bite of one every now and again. Leave it to the company to come to my rescue. Their Mini Creme Eggs are just the right size - about 3/4-inch long - to eat in a bite or two. They still have the same sugary fondant filling with the trademark orange "yolk" in the center, but the chocolate-to-filling ratio is much higher than in the larger eggs. The milky chocolate even manages to temper the sweetness just enough to allow me to to indulge in one or two at a time. Cadbury Mini Creme Eggs are definitely a great Easter treat. Maybe I'll reconsider the larger eggs if they bring back that bunny!

[Photo by Nicole Weston]