The New Jelly Bean Measurement Tool

Would you use jelly beans as a measurement tool? Well, the advertising company hired by Kia Motors thinks they’re a good way to compare volume: the company’s latest commercial for the Kia Soul CUV does away with those weird hamsters and instead fills the boxy little vehicle with bazillions of jelly beans.

What a waste!

It’s National Jelly Bean Day!

Brach's Orchard Fruit Jelly Beans

No kidding, someone – probably Jelly Belly – has named today, April 22nd, National Jelly Bean Day. Sadly, the bag we’re working on today (the third of our post-Easter half-price haul) doesn’t measure up to such an honor. It’s a bag of Brach’s Orchard Fruit, fourteen ounces of almost entirely sugar, that had an original price tag of $2.99 at our local Kroger.

Post Easter Bounty, Take 2

Starburst Fave Reds Jelly Beans

Yes, jelly beans were indeed half price the day after Easter – as promised! – and so I made my way to a couple of stores to get variation in my beans. After all, you can’t spend your entire life eating Jelly Bellys (well, I could, but…). The first bag I tried came from the people at Jolly Rancher (a division of Hershey), and I was a bit disappointed. Truth be told, I’ve never been a huge fan of Jolly Rancher’s beans, which is why I only got one bag. I also picked up a special bag called Starburst Fave Red Jelly Beans.

A Way to Use Leftover Jelly Beans

As if anyone ever has leftover jelly beans! If you, however, happen to know someone who doesn't gobble every last bean that comes into your house -- or if you just happen to have a hankering for a treat that incorporates your favorite candy -- here's a way to use up some of the little morsels. We assume, of course, that you want to use quality beans, preferably "mini"; and you probably want to pull out all the licorice beans first...

Lollipop Cookies

Jelly Beans and Beer? You Bet!

Who says children have all the fun at Easter and Halloween? Not me... at least since I discovered that Jelly Belly, the purveyors of jelly beans of darned near every flavor of bean known to man -- and a few flavors better left unmentioned (snot, vomit...) -- has concocted beans that are draft beer flavored! I kid you not!

As befits candy, they are of course, non-alcoholic (not to mention having no gluten, peanut, or tree nut in their makeup), so you're not going to get a buzz from a bottle of the little darlings. Except, perhaps, a sugar high.

Post-Easter Bounty, Take 1

Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans

I don't go through bags of jelly beans at the same rate I did back in the days that I managed to get the munchies on a regular basis, but I've finally finished the first bag of goodies, 14 ounces of Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans. You know what? they could've been better... The tale of the tape: Jolly Rancher's version of beans is based on the limited flavors available in their hard candies, meaning that there are only six flavors. Licorice lovers will note that the dark ones are actually deep purple, corresponding to a grape flavor. There are two versions or red - strawberry and watermelon - plus a blue (raspberry), an orange and a green (green apple). All have consistent color throughout: the raspberry version has blue jelly as well as a blue shell, for instance.

Art that Tastes Great: Jelly Bean Masters

Did you know that California-based Jelly Belly has an official artist in residence? Neither did I -- but they certainly do: Kristin Cumings has been working for the company since 2010, making four by six foot murals entirely out of the company's delicious little morsels. She starts each one by making an acrylic copy of the image on a prepared board, then places each bean with a spot of spray adhesive.