Candy Kissing Balls

{cute place card shown was part of a gift to our guests. Source: Made by Joel}

We celebrated Valentine's Day with dear lovely friends. I had a wonderful time despite the zoo-like behavior of my kids.

After reading how much Katy loves beet ravioli, I decided to give it a shot. We had cheese ravioli as well with fresh pesto or browned butter and mizithra as sauce. I used the Kneader's menu to recreate their craisin, sunflower, mozzarella, red onion, poppyseed dressing salad minus the turkey! Delicious!!!!

I had the hairbrained idea to create candy kissing balls for our heart day decor this year. I made four balls, two great, two garbage. The one pictured is my favorite.

How to: Licorice ball (shown)
Supplies:
styrafoam ball
2 yards ribbon
red spray paint
pencil/skewer
red pull and peel licorice
hot glue gun


First: spray paint ball red. It helps if you insert a pencil or bamboo skewer to hold the ball while you paint it.

Once dry (it dries REALLY fast), fasten a ribbon around the circumference of the ball and knot at the top leaving a long length of ribbon for hanging. Use a little hot glue to ensure strength.

The fun part: Peel two vines of licorice off the bundle together. Find the center of the vine and pinch to form the V at the bottom of the heart.  Roll both ends of vine in toward the center pinch mark. This will make one heart.

Attach hearts to kissing ball using a very small amount of hot glue.

Continue making hearts placing them at different angles touching existing hearts.


Hang and enjoy!