Friday, December 2, 2011

Visions Of Sugarplums

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds
while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads."
Clement Clarke Moore

Today I present to you actual Sugarplums! If you don't believe me, just read the bag. I was excited to find this, because I had always wondered what they were. One dictionary declares the word obsolete. They are not plums, and do not even contain any plum-like substances! Turns out that sugarplums are small round or oval sugary pieces of candy. Usually it is layers of sugar that have been hardened around something in the center. Almonds are a good example of the center, and the result would be Jordan Almonds, always so pretty. So I guess you can put a sugary coating around any small treat and pronounce it a sugarplum! These did not photograph well, they were actually a very pretty purple. And I say WERE because I have thrown them out! You see, they had the look and consistency of gumdrops, but were so hard and tough it was impossible to chew them. My jaw got plum tired!!! In bible times, they ate honey like we do sugar.


"Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off."
Proverbs 24

32 comments:

Terra said...

Your photos make the sugar plums look purple and pretty, and how disappointing they were so hard.

Shoutforfood said...

that is so so good. i love sugar plums.

DawnTreader said...

I've never heard of sugar plums. I've given up buying that kind of sweets, thinking of my teeth... You probably did the right thing in throwing them out!

SquirrelQueen said...

They really are pretty and they do look like they would be like gum drops. Too bad they were too hard to eat. I have always envisioned sugar plums as a sugar covered dried plum. It sounds like they can be anything.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting post, Ginny.

FilipBlog said...

I would eat a whole bowl. Not good for me.

Greetings,
Filip

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

I thought they were gum drops, looks like them,

Alice said...

They look beautiful!

From the Kitchen said...

I purchased what looks like the same "sugarplums" as you have but several years ago and locally. I had pictured them as being dried plums with a sugary coating. While these looked pretty, I tossed them out as well--not good!

Best,
Bonnie

Tanna said...

I have always wanted to see a sugarplum!! Thanks for the education! blessings ~ tanna

Ann said...

not only is the word sugarplum obsolete but most likely no child these days has visions of them. :)

Fred Alton said...

O.K., Ginny. So now you found my weak spot. Anything wrapped in sugar (or honey) will be something I like! (Well...most anything, to say the least)

Bobbie said...

I love this post Ginny... and especially the scripture! I love Proverbs!!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Too bad they were so hard. They look good,but I guess looks can be deceiving.

MadSnapper said...

at first i thought they were black candies like the orange slices. i have never seen or heard of sugarplums except in the night before Christmas when there were visions of them dancing in their heads. back when that was written, nuts with sugar on them were not ordinary like now. thanks for another learning lesson.

Karin said...

Following Biblical advice to eat honey is still a good idea - except for giving it to babies! I would have done the same with those purple sugarplums. I think the only resemblance to a real plum is its shape! Sure am careful with the teeth and bridgework I have. Don't want to jeopardize that!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Thanks, Ginny, for my first look at a real sugar plum! I've never seen an actual one before. Too bad they were so hard, I'd have thrown them out, too. I'd probably have broken a tooth on them!

photowannabe said...

Love your proof of sugar plums. Too bad they were impossible to enjoy.
Its always interesting how you bring in a scripture thought for the day into each post.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Sorry they weren't so good, but at least you got to try them, which is more than I can say!

Stephanie V said...

They look so pretty, Ginny. I love their color. Nice to know that they are not really an obsolete sweet.

Reena said...

I had no clue what sugar plums were ... and these certainly don't sound good to me.
Your photos are just fine!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I did not know what sugarplums looked like til you just showed me! Now I have visions of them dancing in my head:)

S. Etole said...

I've always wondered what sugarplums were ... thanks for showing us.

Marie said...

They look pretty. It's too bad you couldn't eat them. I love honey and chocolate. I've never been big on hard or chewy candy.

Anonymous said...

Pretty photos, Ginny. Particularly the header shot. Sorry I couldn't visit as I had guests and there were other things happening as well. I'll be posting soon...

Rose said...

Roger would have loved them...the chewier the better as far as he is concerned.

Lady Jane said...

Interesting about the sugar plums, thanks for the info as I too always wondered. I spread butter, peanut butter and honey on my english muffins.... OH SO GOOD!!! Hugs, LJ

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Me too ...I didn't know what sugar plums were and they do look pretty yummy. I guess looks can be deceiving. Have a great rest of the weekend Ginny

Chatty Crone said...

I had no idea what they were either. Those sure do look good. Like gumdrops. sandie

Lynn said...

Yes, they do look like gumdrops. I thought they were, just given a different name. My monitor does show them as pretty purple. So much so, they made my mouth water. Gumdrops were my grandmothers favorite candy, they were leaf shaped. They did not call them "gumdrops" but a name a two part name with "leaves" being the second part. I know as soon as I post this I will remember the name! Hmm, the name "sugarplums" makes me think of "softness" certainly not hard center. How disappointing. Blessings.
Lynn

Annie Jeffries said...

Plum tired. I'm falling over my keyboard with laughter. LOLOLOLOLOOL

Dawning Inspiration said...

Thanks for this! I'd only heard about them in that story.... never seen them!

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