Vending Machine Heaven

 If you like buying odd foods from vending machines, this is the perfect video for you.

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Cake In a Can

Japan is a truly amazing place. In Japan they not only think of putting cake in a can, but they manage to make it work. Making something innovative work is the key to amazing treats.

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Candy In The Media - A DIY Gumball Mashine

Make your own gumball machine out of cardboard, then make enough money to buy a real gumball machine.

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A Vending Machine Book Candy Thing

Learn something about those machines that give you a little joy by simply dropping a little pocket change.

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A "For My Birthday" Candy Thing

Every Wednesday, till my birthday, I'm posting candy things that I'd really like to have.  I'm not saying you have to get me anything, but if you're planning to, these things would make me really happy.

This week I thought I'd go a little retro.  Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted my own arcade.  This probably stems from the fact that I'm not really good at games, but I really enjoy playing them.  I used to drop quarter after quarter in the Paper Boy arcade game, yet I don't think I've ever made it past level 3.

A claw game that dispenses candy would be the perfect addition to my fictional home arcade.  It's a game that I've never been good at, but really enjoyed.  It would be a great way to minimized that amount of candy I eat because it would take me hours just to get one candy out of this machine.

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A Cool Candy Thing

As I'm sure you know, I'm a Lego fanatic.  I love building with the stuff, and checking out what other people have built.  This in particularly interested me, because I've discovered that my Lego Minifigs don't really have any place to purchase candy.

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Candy News

Tic Tacs are now available in custom packages. If I did this I'd print a reminder on each package that I should only eat one at a time.

Did you know that the Icee came before the Slurpee?  Here's more fun facts about this cool drink treat.

What do you think about the idea of kosher Cadbury Easter Cream Eggs?

Vending machines have really evolved from their humble beginnings.

From these Easter candy statistics, it really looks like the modern Easter traditions are going strong from generation to generation.

Two articles about Ben and Jerry's came out this week, one with some basic facts about the whole Vermont factory, another that looked specifically at the Flavour Graveyard.

If you want to keep up with all of the daily candy news that we come across as it happens, follow us on Twitter.

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Candy News

Ben and Jerry's has invented a new way to put more things into their ice cream, this is the kind of science I can get behind.

I'm glad that King Games does not own the word candy, because that might affect the way I write candy reviews.

Are those Cheesies?  Nope, they're miniature representations of popular culture and art.

What would you do with five-hundred thousand sugar cubes?  Would you build a fortress?

Here's a look at 50 years of PopTarts, from a PopTarts expert.

Here's a look at how Russel Stover turned into one of the biggest players in the chocolate scene.

Here are 10 facts about Tastykakes, and here's one bonus one:  I've never tried one in my life.

The folks at Jelly Belly are trying out some new natural colours, but we all want to know, will their candy still be pretty?

I've stopped believing when "experts" tell me that something I eat is unhealthy, it's a constantly changing science.  Moderation and portion control are always in style.

Army rations are often described as horrible but nourishing, but some of the treats you get with them are downright tasty.

Sara Lee, real.  Betty Crocker, fake.  Famous Amos, real.  A great list of who's real and who isn't, as well as an explanation.

Did you know that you can order custom made chocolate bars on the internet? You can also get custom ice cream too.

Just Born updates their factory, and now we can expect some new awesome treats.

Fannie May recalled their heart shaped box of chocolates, apparently they contain nuts where there shouldn't be.

So this guy working at a warehouse had problems with a candy machine, he then did the next logical thing, and slammed the machine using a forklift

Apparently people wan their licorice to not only be soft, but healthier.

Time Magazine listed the 13 most influential candy bars of all times, I have a few problems with this list, but many of the bars deserve high praise.

If you want to keep up with all of the daily candy news that we come across as it happens, follow us on Twitter.

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Friday Candy Video

I got an e-mail from the folks that designed a really great candy machine.  This might be the first time I've seen a machine that can sell bulk candy really well.  First of all you're not limited to one type of candy, you can mix and match all you like.  Secondly they make mixing the candy fun and interactive.  This thing is like combining a coffee machine with a Roald Dahl book.  The only problem I see with this machine is keeping the candy fresh.  One would hope that whomever runs this machine would change and update the candy regularly.  I've seen on many occasions bulk candy machines with very stale candy.

(Just as a note, this is not an advertisement, I really think this is a cool idea)

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Candy News

Those "healthy" bars you're eating instead of a chocolate bar... well they may not be as healthy as you think.

The folks that made the movie Wreck it Ralph, had to do a lot of candy research to make candy land just right.

I love red velvet cake, mostly because it looks so cool, but where did it come from, and why is it so darn popular?

We all know that the recipe for Coca-cola is a very closely guarded secret, so how do they manage to get kosher certification?

The New York Times published a really interesting article about how junk food is marketed and sold, it's a little long, but well worth reading.

If your children come home from school with a candy shaped like a skull, then it might be a pot drop.

Wrigley's believes that they have a gum that will freshen your breath even better.

Madelaine Chocolate had a bit of a bad time when hurricane Sandy hit, but it looks like they're getting back on their feet, and should be producing candy in time for Halloween.

I love food festivals, I particularly love chocolate festivals, I'd love to go to "the annual Chocolate Festival, hosted by the Galesburg Historical Society"

If you cut yourself it's a good idea to go for the antiseptic, or maybe even a bit of aloe, but what about a spoon full of sugar?

I am a huge fan of fun gumball machines, I even like a good challenge, this secret knock gumball machine sounds so awesome.

If you want to keep up with all of the daily candy news that we come across as it happens, follow us on Twitter.

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Friday's Candy Links

I love vending machine technology, it's amazing what companies will do to sell you a product.

High class food meets the best in low class sandwiches, the Foie Gras Fluffernutter.

Check out Candy Trail in Plymouth.

What are you doing this weekend?  If you live in Long Beach, I have a recommendation for you.

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Wednesday's Candy Links

I so want one of the candy dispensers of the future, it's got a motion sensor so if you're too lazy to hit a bar or turn a knob you can still have candy.

Portion control is the best way to keep eating treats, but not gain weight or health problems, fortunately if you live in New York you have many option in the "smaller treat" category.

No more caffeine in Massachusetts schools, I fear those kids who wait till the last minute and pull all nighters will suffer.

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Monday's Candy Links

Chocolate bars are evolving now that Cadbury is designing bars that can stand upright.

What better way to end off the holiday season than a video of a really creepy, unappetizing, transforming gingerbread house.

I'm not sure if the writer of this article realizes that there are vending machines all over Japan, so making them hotspots for wifi is not a marketing scheme, but good wifi science.

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Thursday's Candy Links

Vending machines are getting smarter by the day, a new one from Kraft can guess your age and sex.

The mystery of candy canes is a mystery no longer.

Snacks and nibbling probably aren't your problem when it comes to being overweight.

Milwaukee chocolate shop, Atomic Chocolate Co. offers some great looking hand made treats for the holidays.

I bought a bag of candied chestnuts, I can't eat the whole thing, what to do, what to do?

Kosher store sells chocolate Santas... you do the math.

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Friday Candy Video - Lego Candy Machine

I have to admit that although I really love Lego, I'm not very clever with it.  Sure I go outside the boundaries of the suggested builds, but I've never come up with anything beyond a custom space base, or castle.  People that build things that actually serve a function out of Lego blow my mind.  I particularly enjoyed this project only because it also dispenses yummy candy.

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Airport Find - Worst Coke Machine Design Ever

One of my favorite things about traveling is checking out airports.  In particular I love checking out all of the unique treats and treat advertising that you can only find in airports.  On my recent trip to Brussels I took note of a few of the great candy displays and exclusive treats, and I'm going to post a new one every day this week.

Seriously?..  Do I really have to write any words down here to explain how wrong this Coke machine is?  Why in the world would anybody from Coca-Cola approve this?  I'm not complaining, but I'm also not tempted to buy a Coke right now .

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Airport Find - The Secret Message On An M&Ms Machine

One of my favorite things about traveling is checking out airports.  In particular I love checking out all of the unique treats and treat advertising that you can only find in airports.  On my recent trip to Brussels I took note of a few of the great candy displays and exclusive treats, and I'm going to post a new one every day this week.

Allison made the connection on this M&M's machine that convinces me that the folks at Mars are trying to take over the world, and aren't afraid to use force.  On the front of the machine is the large atom like structure found in Belgium (The Atomium).  On the side of the machine is an airplane bombing the world with M&Ms... So, take the front "atom", and take the side "bomb", no more proof needed.

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The Greatest Coke Machine Idea Ever

Apparently Coca-Cola is distributing new machines that let you add flavour to your fizzy drink.  Best of all the number of flavours available is fantastic.  Better still, you can mix flavours and make even more crazy flavours.

Click here to read more about these crazy machines.

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Popcorn Nerve

All over Europe I've come across many different variety of self service popcorn machines, they mystify and terrify me at the same time.  I can never get the nerve to drop in a Euro or two and watch the magic happen.  I can't drop in the money because I figure the popcorn will be horrible (I'm a bit of a snob since Allison taught me how to make excellent popcorn), and I also think that two Euros is a lot to pay for a small bucket of popcorn.  It's just that my curiosity about these machines is probably setting me up for a great deal of disappointment.  Should I go for it?

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So According To Vending Machine Makers...

If you shake the machine it will not, I repeat not, dispense free treats.  I'm glad they made that clear.  Now what I want to know is, are there people in this world that believe if you shake the crap out of a large vending machine it will just give up and give you a free chocolate bar?

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