8 years ago I moved from Las Vegas to Pahrump, Nevada leaving the nursing field that I had been involved with for 5 years, to stay home and raise my 2 boys.  The new church I began attending, had a sign on the door about a family that needed a baby shower, so the church decided it would step up, and arrange a party so that this couple could get some needed gifts. The Pastors wife called and asked all the ladies of the church to come, and if I would bring a dessert; “ Something Healthy”.  The only thing I knew to make were some chocolate dipped strawberries. When I walked in people starting asking me if I knew the “candy lady” .

She showed up soon after and walked up to my table asking who made the strawberries. After hearing that this was my first experience with doing this, she asked if I’d like to learn how, because God had given her this gift that she was waiting for the right person to pass on to. 

A few days later I went to Jimmie's home and she began to show me how chocolate works, forms and all the details of melting and mixing; it was so natural for me.  As I begin taking the lead with making the fudge, she stood in astonishment not believing that  I had never made candy before. She has tried to teach many people over the years and no one seemed to grasp it correctly or with enough passion for her to feel comfortable to pass on her legacy and family recipes, but it was I who she chose to go to her home over the next several months to learn all that I could. 

Jimmy had an amazing history of chocolate and recipes .  Since Jimmy had no close family to pass these onto, she held on to her secret for many years . Continuing with those recipes in the tradition of using only the finest ingredients, has been an honor and pleasure for me ever since.  I started making amazing chocolate creations, candy, played with different flavors and designs for family and businesses in the community, and could not believe the fire of creativity that my time with Jimmy had stirred up; I was blessed. And the feedback from those who sampled or enjoyed these items as gifts, was amazing; I knew I was on the right track.

Client's, friends and family wanted to know if I could make baskets for their holiday  gatherings along with company Christmas Parties!  This jump started my first business over 10 years ago; Apple Cottage Candy Kitchen. And then 3 years ago God provided hacked by despotic me with the name and inspiration with our newest endevour while on a cruise to Alaska with my family.  Sitting on the pool deck I started feeling like there was another path for me to take along the lines of chocolate.  While going through the forest on a boat, gazing over the horizon I suddenly received this overwhelming vision; it was a picture of a small cottage, and the sign on the shop was “Hanzel & Pretzel”.   Visualizing myself inside the shop, I saw 40 different flavors of only chocolate dipped pretzels; I could almost taste each flavor.

I came home from the cruise, changed the name and began only working on Chocolate covered pretzels. I stopped making any other candy or chocolates, and took the training I had been provided by what I believe was a Master Chocolatier and starting making the Pretzels I saw. The pretzels were sold to hotels, airports, coffee shops, flower shops,  casinos and countless families. And now, they are available for you and your family to enjoy too.

Thank you for taking the time come by our site, and I hope you find these marvelous delights to be as delicous as hundreds of my friends, co-workers, businesses associates and family have.

Connie