A Mom's Balancing Act: MIKE AND IKE® and HOT TAMALES® Valentine’s Day Varieties Are The Perfect Candy To Share With Loved Ones! {Review}

**The product for this review was provided for free. All opinions are my own.

It's hard to believe, but Valentine's Day is just around the corner already! My hubby and I usually do something small for each other on Valentine's Day...something thoughtful and sweet. Knowing his favorite candy is Mike and Ike and hot Tamales candy, I was excited to learn about their limited-edition varieties. After all, nothing says Valentine's Day like a big box of candy!

We were sent these special edition varieties to try out. The MIKE AND IKE Passion Mix and HOT TAMALES candies both come in a 5 oz box and are the perfect addition to any Valentine's Day gift.

The kids and I LOVE the Passion mix. It is a blend that includes Paradise Punch, Strawberry, Grape and Cherry flavors. YUM!

My hubby likes the HOT TAMALES best, they are one of his favorites! It is the classic cinnamon flavor. The box even comes ready to give with a tag fully integrated into the packaging!

Knowing how much the kids and my hubby love these candies, I was happy to find that there are some tasty recipes created by Chef Jamie Geller that I can make as a surprise Valentine's Day treat for them...like the following!

BeJeweled MIKE AND IKE® Cookies

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 10 min

Ready Time: 25 min

Servings: 36

INGREDIENTS:

· 1 ½ Boxes of MIKE AND IKE® Passion Mix

· 2/3 Cup margarine – cold

· 1 Cup Sugar

· 1 Egg

· 1 teaspoon vanilla

· 2 Cups flour

· 1 teaspoon Baking Soda

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a mixer bowl, put 2/3 C Margarine, 1 C Sugar, 1 Egg and 1 teaspoon Vanilla.

3. Mix until well creamed.

4. Add in 2 C flour and 1 teaspoon Baking Soda.
5. Add in chopped up MIKE AND IKE® Passion Mix, mix into a dough (will be slightly sticky).

6. Roll into 1 inch balls. Place on cookie sheets lined with baking paper.
7. Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges are golden. Centers will be slightly soft.

8. Let cool.

HOT TAMALES® Snickerdoodles

Servings: 2 dozen

INGREDIENTS:

· 1/2 cup (4 oz) HOT TAMALES® Candies, coarsely chopped*

· 1/4 cup (2 oz) salted margarine, softened

· 1/4 cup (2 oz) shortening (I use Spectrum Organic)

· 3/4 cups (5.6 oz) granulated sugar

· 1 egg

· 1 1/2 cups (6.75 oz) all-purpose flour

· 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

· 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

· pinch of salt (increase to 1/4 tsp if using unsalted margarine)

· 4 teaspoons granulated sugar

· 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

*The candy is quite sticky so the best way to chop it is with a lightly oiled knife.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Using an electric mixer, cream together the margarine, shortening and ¾ cups sugar. Add the egg and beat until thoroughly combined.

3. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients (except the candy) into the creamed mixture and mix until just combined. Add the chopped candy and mix until the candy is evenly distributed, a few minutes more.

4. Refrigerate the dough for at least 15 minutes (this makes it easier to handle).

5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

6. Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Form dough into balls the size of small walnuts (I use a tablespoon cookie scoop). Roll the balls of cookie dough in the cinnamon sugar.

7. Place the cookies two inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake for 8 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets in the oven at the halfway point. They are done when they look puffed in the middle and slightly brown at the edges (the tops of the cookies will form cracks). Be careful not to overcook.

8. Remove cookie sheet from the oven and let cookies sit on it for another minute or so before removing to cooling rack; cookies will flatten out as they cool.

9. These cookies are best served warm, straight out of the oven, but they can be stored in an airtight container for up to two days.

Share the passion of Valentine's Day by surprising special loved ones in your life with limited-edition varieties from MIKE AND IKE and HOT TAMALES candy!