These are the most precious lollipops in the history of the world, and I'll tell you why.
Because it took me three hours to get them. Three hours. To get lollipop sticks.
I'll explain. I saw this on Bakerella a few weeks back, so when Julie of Someone's in the Kitchen made the choice for Flaky Apple Turnovers, I wanted to try them. Hence, I wanted to take a trip to Michael's to get Lollipop sticks. The closest Michael's location to my apartment was in Clifton, NJ. For those of you who don't know where that is, that is by the Meadowlands, AKA Giants/Jets Stadium/aka I-still-don't-know-how-to-get-there. All I know is that it was only 15 miles away from NYC, yet the proposed travel time was 40 minutes.
Now you must ask me, "Did another supermarket/some sort of store have lollipop sticks?"
I'm glad you asked. Yes. Probably. In fact, I'm sure of it. But I decided to drive to Michael's.
Now let me tell you another thing about driving through the beautiful state that is Joisy (Jersey). Say you're driving down scenic Route 3 highway and you realize, "Oh, crap, I just drove past the store! Let me turn around."
It's not so easy, my friends. Not so easy at all. You see, once upon a time, in a land far far away (Joisy) someone decided they don't want people to turn around. NO. Pay attention or PAY THE PRICE. And the price is that you have to keep driving, sometimes for what seems like days, until you reach the famed "jughandle".
Wikipedia defines the jughandle as a type of ramp or slip road that changes the way traffic turns left (when driving on the right). Instead of a standard left turn being made from the left lane, left-turning traffic uses a ramp on the right side of the road.
I am aware every state/area seems to have its idiosyncrasies when it comes to road planning. At least every state/area where I have lived. DC has the wretched State streets that are determined to confuse you every few blocks, or the horrific traffic circles designed after Parisian streets, except with non-synchronized traffic lights every 5 feet. Long Island has the LIE where you can sit in traffic from May to August. Seriously. You'll live in your car for 4 months. Pack light. And Syracuse, where I went to college, is either under 15' of snow or under a constant deluge of rain.
Manhattan, however, is perfect.
Whilst heading to Clifton NJ, I passed the store FOUR TIMES. Which means I had to wait for a jughandle FOUR TIMES. Sadly, while looking for a jughandle, I accidentally got on State Highway 21. And guess what? I COULDN'T TURN AROUND. So I drove some more. Finally, three jughandles, a Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla Coffee and a Egg White Flatbread sandwich, and a large headache later, I arrived at Michael's.
I thought I would be in and out. Lollipop sticks. How hard could that be? Well... I just had to get a new icing spatula. And, oh! I needed some cardboard cutouts to put under my 8" cakes. Oh and those Halloween decorations! I just needed to get some mummy candy molds, a skull-shaped cupcake holder, some candy melts (for the molds, obviously), black icing dye, edible writing pens, cupcake tins, frosting stencils, and edible spray paint coloring before they sold out! And what if I wanted to learn how to make frosting roses? Well, just in case I do I the near future, I totally HAD to buy the piece that you hold to mold the roses that I don't know the name of.
I mean, it just took me an hour and a half to get there. Who knew when I would be back? This could be the last time I ever go to Michaels.
So what was supposed to be a 1 1/2 round trip, all to spend $2.00 turned into a $60, 3-hour trip.
But it was worth it, because these were some damn good popsicles. Super cute, SO easy to make (seriously, Dorie, you are a genius). The dough, composed of flour, salt, butter, sugar, and sour cream came together in minutes and I fortunately did not have any problems with a crumbly dough as many TWDers had. The crust was incredibly flaky, the filling, delicious. The filling also inspired me for a new healthy snack that is so simple I feel like a stupid idiot for not thinking of it myself. I now will always eat my apple slices sprinkled with nutmeg and cinnamon.
But not on lollipop sticks. These are far too valuable to go to waste.
Click on Julie of Someone's in the Kitchen for this super easy recipe. And check out the rest of TWD for some more apple turnovers!
You're effing kidding me. Lollipops? That is so over the top COOL. I would have never ever thought of that and yet, I am not surprised that you would.
FANTASTICAL!!!!
I was not happy when I saw TB's season finale. All that horrible acting meshed together with tiny snippets of Eric was very disappointing. I guess I have to wait for Dexter now.
Posted by: Sugar B | September 15, 2009 at 03:51 AM
Hahaha, these are so cute. So hilarious - in a good way!
I don't understand what a jughandle is...
Posted by: Hilary | September 15, 2009 at 05:52 AM
So Cutie ! Thank you for sharing. Cheers !
Posted by: sizzlechef | September 15, 2009 at 07:37 AM
These are so cute! What a great idea! I'll definitely save the recipe...
Posted by: Andrea@WellnessNotes | September 15, 2009 at 08:37 AM
pie pops--so cute!! your trip to clifton sounds exactly like every experience my husband and i have had going to jersey to visit his dad. even with GPS we are hopeless! someone at work told me there's a michels in queens...i'd get lost in queens, too, though, i'm sure!
Posted by: steph (whisk/spoon) | September 15, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Sorry you had to go through such an ordeal to make these, but they look like they're worth it to me! So cute! Very nice job.
Posted by: ValleyWriter | September 15, 2009 at 08:57 AM
LOL I knew you had just taken a break of that creativity to enjoy and take advantage of the summer sun! ...But as Fall knocks on your door... you're back with pastry lollipops! I knew it! LOL
Great for you... they're super cute!
Posted by: vibi | September 15, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Beautiful!! Ah...the jug-handle. Gotta love 'em! Seriously gorgeous job on this one, Teanna. And it sounds like that trip to Micheal's was a complete success.
Posted by: pamela | September 15, 2009 at 09:14 AM
oh these are so adorable and yummy!
you spoke like a true new yorker, I do not know NJ at all. It would have taken me at least an hour or more to get to where ever I was go to.
That has happened to us when we were driving upstate to Saratoga Springs, ny and we had to drive through NJ to get there. Well let me tell you encountered those stupid jughandles just to go to dunkin donuts for lunch on the way there.
Posted by: Jessie | September 15, 2009 at 09:20 AM
Cute! At least after all that effort trying to get popsicle sticks, the trip was well worth it!
Posted by: Alta | September 15, 2009 at 09:20 AM
Your turnover lollipops were well worth that 3 hour trip! Gorgeous and a very creative job!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | September 15, 2009 at 09:38 AM
Teanna!! Sounds like an adventure, but next time go to the Cake and Baking Supply Store on 22nd btwn 5th & 6th!! Its my favorite place in the world! The people who work there constantly yell and me and give me dirty looks, but I know its a sign of love! :) The pops look AMAAAAZING!!!
Posted by: Lauryn | September 15, 2009 at 09:40 AM
what an ordeal, but what a worthy cause—these little pops o’ lolly are magnificent! of course apple pastries are wonderful in their own right, but piercing ‘em with a stick seems to magically make them even better!
Posted by: grace | September 15, 2009 at 10:08 AM
LOL on the NJ trip - jughandles are evil and the essence of stupidity. I used to work in the Meadowlands area, they "claimed" it was just across the bridge from NY. NOT!
The apple turnovers look brilliant, even smarter to make them into lollipos.
Posted by: Ann | September 15, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Great story, adorable turnovers and delicious too. Beautifully done!
Posted by: Clivia | September 15, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Those are adorable! Driving through Jersey gives me headaches...and I've never even gotten off the highway. Beautifully done though!
Posted by: Charli | September 15, 2009 at 11:32 AM
I've been living in NJ for 3 years now and I"m still not used to not making a real left hand turn. I hate it. Otherwise, I love Jersey and I love those turnover lollipops!
Posted by: Michele | September 15, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Oh my goodness you really went to some extra effort on these. Your little pops are darling and Im glad you enjoyed them. I got lazy towards the end and made a giant turnover. Im glad I made this recipe cus it's wonderful!
Posted by: Michelle | September 15, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Great post. Love the lollipops. I think it was worth the trip. The coffee and egg white sandwich sound yummy too.
Posted by: Kim | September 15, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Seriously Teanna, did you REALLY think you were going to ONLY get those lolipop sticks? I don't even kid myself anymore. :)
Those are adorable and wish I could snatch a few to snack on while I wait for my turn to go to lunch.
~ingrid
Posted by: ingrid | September 15, 2009 at 12:24 PM