Friday, October 29, 2010

Review/Giveaway: Glee Make Your Own Candy Kit

We recently had the opportunity to make gummy candy using Glee Gum’s Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit
Gummies Kit Ingredients 300dpi

I thought I’d give you a little visual tour of the steps before telling you our opinions…
First we read about seaweed and how it is harvested, and then we soak REAL seaweed.
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While that’s soaking, we find objects to use for creating candy molds.  We wash and dry them…
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Then we spread out the molding starch and attempt to make molds with our clean little objects.  When all else fails, we use our fingers.  And grab out the Jello Jigglers mold tray.
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With the molds ready to go, we start cooking up the seaweed and seaweed powder.  Before adding the colored sugar packet, we dig the whole seaweed out of the mix, since it’s done its job.
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Mom pours the stuff into the molds and we stick it into the fridge while we go outside to play.  When we get back, we unmold and dip the candies (or gummy cookies, as Esmé calls them) into sour coating.
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And we eat them.
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And we are very happy!
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Alrighty, let’s get to the official blurb about this product:
Available in Make Your Own Chocolate, Make Your Own Chewing Gum, and Make Your Own Gummies, these activity kits are all-natural, educational, and eco-friendly. With pre-packaged ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, everyone aged 8 and up gets a real kick out of making candy from scratch. Focusing on the history behind and the origin of these candies, each kit is designed to captivate your interest, connect you to the global community, and create something yummy to eat in the process!
What We Liked:  This is a perfect item for our Christmas list.  It’s clutter-free.  Kids will love it – it’s candy, after all.  Parents will love the educational and creative aspect of it – and the ingredients aren’t too bad for a candy.

Personally, I loved the educational sheet, which introduces Divina, a girl whose family grows seaweed in the Philippines.  Not only does it explain a little of the science involved, it encourages global awareness and responsibility.  I think the full lesson plans provided on the Glee Gum site would be terrific for older kids.

As a vegetarian who *tries* to avoid gelatin, I was pleased that this product does not use it.  Another plus for seaweed gels is that they can be reheated and poured if you want to reshape something or do a second run.

The kit gives both stovetop and microwave directions.  We went stovetop since it seems more tangible, but it’s nice to have both options.

And Esmé?  Loved just about everything in the process.  She was completely engaged from beginning to end, especially the consumption.  And that makes Mom happy!

What We Didn’t Like:  One step of the process drove Mom crazy – the molding starch.  No matter how carefully we pressed objects into the starch, it would crack, or at best, leave a very vague impression.  Esmé really really wanted gummy fish, but I couldn’t manage it – a little disappointment on her part.  But she perked right up when I brought out the Jello Jiggler tray.  Ice cube trays would probably work just fine, too.

Also:  the package is clearly labeled for ages 8 & up.  I’m not sure entirely why – perhaps that’s the recommended age for unsupervised candy making.

Overall – a terrific concept and product that we thoroughly enjoyed and will be passing on to others.
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Would you like to try this out?  Check the store locator to find a store near you!

Glee Gum is offering one lucky reader their choice of one of the following:
  • Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit
  • Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit
  • Make Your Own Chocolate Kit
To Enter:
  • Leave a comment stating which kit you’d like to win.  Make sure I have a way to contact you.
  • If you’re a subscriber or follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
  • And we'll give you a third entry on this one!  If you follow Glee Gum on twitter or or like Glee Gum on facebook, leave a third comment.
Giveaway ends November 10, 2010.  Winner will be chosen randomly.  Open to those with continental US addresses only. 

Thanks to Glee Gum for providing the Make Your Own Candy Kits for review/giveaway, along with 6 packs of Mini Glee Gum.

48 comments:

Nicole C. said...

I would choose the Make Your Own Chocolate Kit.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

twinmomoftwins said...

I would love to try the make your own chocolate kit
ortizvelasquez at yahoo dot com

Laura Lee said...

I think I'd go with the make your own chewing gum kit.

llee611838@gmail.com

I Am Boymom said...

We'd love to try the chewing gum kit. I can't believe how beautiful Esme is!! It's been a while since I've checked in on my blogroll people and WOW! She is gorgeous!

I Am Boymom said...

I am a blog follower!

slb3334 said...

the make your own chocolate kit

Julieanne said...

I would choose the gummy candy kit - that would be so much fun! I've never heard of this before, and the natural seaweed thickener really appeals to me. My children have always thought it was strange that seaweed was in some yogurts, ice creams, etc. Fun!

Julieanne
http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com

Julieanne said...

I'm an email follower of your website. Thank you for hosting this giveaway!

Julieanne
http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com

Julieanne said...

I've "liked" Glee Candy on Facebook.

Julieanne
http://www.JoyInOurJourney.com

ranya112 said...

I'd like to try the Make Your Own Chewing Gum.
iridia718 at gmail dot com

Jennifer Wilson said...

I'd like the "Make your own chewing gum" kit.

jenndiggy at gmail dot com

mogrill said...

I like the Chewing gum kit.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

Mary Worthington said...

Wow these look really fun!! I think I might try one of the kits. Thanks for the review.

Susan said...

I would choose the chewing gum kit

MaureenT said...

My little ones would LOVE the Gummies!
Please include me!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I am a follower!


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Pat said...

I'd like to win the Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit.
pkildow at gmail dot com

Melissa said...

I'd love to try the chocolate one!

melissamcnicol at yahoo dot com

Tammy said...

Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit!

jessica a said...

I would choose the Make your own gummy candy kit
imjessica(at)mail(dot)com

Tina P said...

I like the chocolate kit!:)

trixie420247@yahoo.com

Tina P said...

I'm a subscriber.

trixie420247@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

The Make Your Own Chocolate Kit would be my choice!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

SouthernSnow said...

We would like the chocolate kit!

SouthernSnow said...

I follow you GFC

SouthernSnow said...

I like Glee Gum on Facebook
Teresa Layfield

MizVickik said...

I'd like to give the gummy kit a try! Thanks!

Unknown said...

would like to try to make gum
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com

Viva said...

I'd love the Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit. Contact info on my blog, thanks!

Viva said...

I follow via GFC

Amanda S. said...

I'd like to win the chewing gum kit!

Email is in my profile.

Steph S said...

I'd like to win the Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit. Thanks!

ms0812(at)zoominternet(dot)net

Tracey said...

Liz and Tristan would like the Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit.
traymona[at]aol.com

Jess L said...

My son would love the make your own chewing gum kit!

cass said...

well I'd like the chocolate kit since we're all chocolate freaks here.

wombatpurple{at}yahoo.com

Susan said...

I would choose the make your own gummies kit. suelee1998 @ gmail.com

Leslie S. said...

We would love the chewing gum kit.I homeschool my 4 kids so this would be a great lesson for them.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com

kelley c said...

I would love to get the gum kit!

pandahugger(at)gmail(dot)com

kelley c said...

following your blog

pandahugger(at)gmail(dot)com

kelley c said...

following gleeguy on twitter - pandahugger76

pandahugger(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathy P said...

id love the Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit

Kathy P said...

google friend klp1965
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathy P said...

like glee on facebook kathy l pease
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Bakersdozen said...

I would choose the chocolate kit. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bakersdozen said...

Email subscriber. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

cman said...

Make Your Own Gummy Candy Kit

cman said...

I'm a GFC Follower.

MistyNXHd said...

We'd love to try the chewing gum kit. I can't believe how beautiful Esme is!! It's been a while since I've checked in on my blogroll people and WOW! She is gorgeous!