Licorice Ideas for Halloween

It's time to start thinking about Halloween. Don't forget to include lots of black licorice in your Halloween plans. I have some great ideas about how to use licorice from Licorice International.

Black Licorice Laces from Holland taste great, and you can use them to decorate Halloween cakes, cookies and homemade candy. Use them for spiders' legs, black cat whiskers or wherever your imagination takes you.

Speaking of black cats, Licorice International sells a couple kinds of black licorice in the shape of cats. Licorice Cats from Holland are firm, sweet, and have a strong licorice flavor. For something different, I love Katjes Kinder (kittens) from Germany. These tiny cats are firm and not as chewy as most licorice, which makes the sweet taste of licorice last a long time. You can serve Licorice Cats or Katjes Kinder in a Halloween bowl at your Halloween party, or you may use the cute candies to decorate licorice cakes or cookies.

Halloween is a great time to introduce the neighborhood kids to the great taste of licorice. Some of them may be hesitant to try black licorice, but once they've tried real black licorice, they usually are hooked. I recommend giving out some Creamy Licorice Toffee from Ireland along with your other treats. The candies are individually wrapped in silver and black (which looks a little spooky for Halloween), and because of the toffee taste and chewy texture, even many "licorice haters" find they love this toffee.

Do you have any ideas about how to incorporate licorice into your Halloween fun? Share them with us in a comment.

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Licorice Fan Finds Heaven

This licorice fan recently visited Licorice International's retail store in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Wow! Bin after bin of real licorice from all over the world - and she could sample any of them that she wished.  Her comment after leaving the store:

"Is this heaven?"

Licorice All Sorts Ice Cream

Here's another great recipe for Licorice Ice Cream.  This one uses Licorice All Sorts.  You can find the recipe here.

The recipe is from Europe, so you may not be familiar with the measurements and ingredients. Here are some hints for substitution:

Caster sugar is a very fine sugar. You can use "superfine" sugar or simply run regular sugar through a food processor (let the dust settle before opening.)

Simbuca is an Italian anise-flavored liqueur. If you can't find it, you may substitute 2 teaspoons anise extract for the 2 tablespoons Sambuca.

Here are the conversions of the measurements:

300 ml (milk or cream) = 1 1/4 cups

200 g. sugar = 1 cup

You can buy Licorice AllSorts at Licorice International (click here for the direct link to Allsorts).  Either kind will work for this recipe.  One-half pound equals about 225 grams.  A half a package of RJ's Allsorts equals the amount used in the recipe.

Licorice Allsorts come in fun shapes and colors that are fun to serve guests.  So you may want to buy a few extra bags.

Enjoy!

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Yum! Licorice Chunk Ice Cream!

If you like homemade ice cream (and licorice), you'll LOVE this recipe for Licorice Chunk Ice Cream.  Be sure to follow the recipe exactly.  Egg yolks MUST be cooked before putting in the ice cream freezer.  Get ready for a sweet, creamy licorice treat!

Click here for the recipe.

Where the recipe calls for "Licorice Whips," we recommend using Licorice Laces from Holland, available from Licorice International.  They're great plain or in recipes and are made with licorice root for that "real licorice" flavor.  You can get a 4-ounce package here or a 2-pound bag here.

Enjoy!

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Good and Plenty Licorice Commercial from the 1950s

They just don't make television commercials like they used to. No hype, no false claims, just fun. And often a cute jingle to help you remember.

Here's a commercial for Good and Plenty, a long-time licorice favorite:




Licorice International sells this traditional favorite, and it's always fresh. You never know what you're going to find at the grocery store. You can choose a 1/2 pound bag or a 5 pound bag. Or try our Licorice Tunnel Mix or American Favorites Sampler, which feature Good and Plenty along with other traditional American licorice treats.

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Licorice Helpful in Treating SARS

Good news. A compound found in licorice root may be helpful in treating SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), which has caused many deaths in Asia. Scientists have experimented with glycyrrhizin, which is found in licorice root. Of the five compounds they tested, the glycyrrhizin was the most effective. It stops the virus from making copies of itself and also keeps the body from absorbing the virus.

More info here:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Liquorice-plant-may-offer-SARS-treatment

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Licorice Delight Cake

Wow - A wedding cake decorated with licorice! Now that's a treat for licorice lovers (pun intended).

The black licorice laces (available here) add an elegant--yet whimsical--touch to this five-tiered cake. The laces are attached with a "paste" made of corn syrup and water, lightly brushed on with a fine-tipped natural bristle paintbrush. This cake would be great for an anniversary or graduation party as well.

You can find the recipe and directions here.

Licorice Lovers IQ Test

Licorice Lovers IQ Test » Make Your Own Quiz

Free Licorice from Germany

I love the giveaway at Licorice International this month -- a free sample package of Euro Lakritz licorice from Germany with any order. These soft coins with a deep licorice flavor each represent one of the countries in the European Common Market. Fun and yummy at the same time!

Click here for details.

Plus, you get free shipping on orders of $35 or more. Click here for info on free shipping.