Holland's Homemade Caramel Corn

Last week on a trip to Lindy's Downtown Market, we spotted the new sign for Holland's Homemade Caramel Corn in the former 4A Deli spot.

My husband was thrilled, being a huge caramel corn fan. He still misses the shop in Northwoods Mall.

Monday when I got home from class I found a bag of Holland's Mix, a caramel corn/cheese corn blend on the kitchen counter, along with a sample bag of a white chocolate popcorn.

I guess I would have to say the mix was my favorite, since I like to have a piece of cheese corn and a piece of caramel corn in the same bite to get that sweet/salty combo, but the white chocolate was good, too.

The prices are pretty reasonable compared to some we've seen.

My husband said they also were selling cotton candy in the shop, located at the back of 110 S. Main Street.

December, 2009 — Holland's is now making their flavored popcorn on site.

In 2011, Holland's moved their caramel corn operation to the north side of the square.

The Cupcake Camper

When I heard there was an Airstream trailer topped with a cupcake selling the petite pastries at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria, I said I must visit. I am a big fan of cupcakes. Heck, one of the first things I became a fan of on Facebook is cupcakes!

We served cupcakes at our wedding, but they were not all I dreamed of.

Sunday we were walking through the mall when I spotted it, The Cupcake Camper.

After finding out my husband would buy me one, we walked up the wooden steps and I selected an orange and chocolate one, noticing they were out of both the pink and spiced cupcakes.

My cupcake was delivered in a mug-sized cardboard box with a folded pink napkin and plastic fork slid into the gap.

Having had lots of treats over the weekend during Spoon River Drive, I decided to save the orange-iced cupcake dusted with black sprinkles for later, so I put it in the fridge.

Monday I ate the last of my Maurie's carmel apples, since they'd been around for a few days.

Tuesday after dinner I pulled the cupcake box out of the fridge so it could warm up a bit.

I opened it later and poked at the icing, saddened to find it a bit hard. I had the fleeting thought that I may have to throw it out, but decided to turn the oven on for a minute, then back off, and put the treat in there to sit a bit.

A few minutes later I pulled the cupcake out and tested the icing again. Soft and fresh as new.

I cut the cake neatly in half, noting the thick layer of orange icing. Sampling it, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

The icing was soft, thick and buttery tasting, with a hint of almond flavor.

The cake itself was made of a fine, almost silky chocolate flour mixture.

Considering this cake had been neglected far long enough, I went ahead and ate the other half in the same sitting, enjoying every last morsel.

Part way through I informed my husband I may need to try some more of their cupcakes. Right after I take that long bike ride.

The Nut House

There's a little treasure of a shop tucked away at 311 Main Street in Peoria. It's called The Nut House, and it's been in Peoria for around 100 years. The Nut House roasts fresh nuts every day, carries homemade and diabetic candies and are a great resource for gifts or for candies for your wedding or other party. They carry fun candy like rock candy and Jelly Belly jelly beans, too.
Visit on the web at www.thenuthouse.info/.

Maurie's Candies

I shudder to think what my life would be like if I had never been introduced to caramel apples from Maurie's Candies, 522 Court Street in Pekin. I was sitting at work, minding my own business, when a co-worker brought in a bag of caramel apples and offered them to our department. I tried one, and was hooked. It's the best caramel apple I've ever had. I guess they can only make them for a short time each fall, with their super-secret caramel recipe calling for the right climatic conditions.

Maurie's also has plenty of other homemade candies, books, gifts and magazines, too.

My co-worker may rue the day he brought those apples in. Every year as soon as I start thinking fall, I start bugging him about whether the apples are ready yet. Not living in Pekin, I like to have that inside source...

Abe's

Abe's in the Metro Centre in Peoria is a great place to visit. There's always the scent of caramel popcorn in the air, and lots of great gifts, candies, bath gels and lotions, candles, sauces, salsas and kitchen linens, plus a whole lot more.
Once, we spent a couple of hours traipsing around Peoria looking for a pizza peel. Finally, we stopped at Abe's, and they hooked us up.

Holland's Mercantile

Holland's Mercantile, 117 Washington Square in Washington, is a great old fashioned candy store where candy is sold in bulk.
Opened in 1987, Holland's now features a soda fountain, ice cream parlor, hot dogs and popcorn in addition to a great candy selection.
They carry tons of candy you remember from way back when. And heck, who isn't up for a good phosphate now and then?