OOOOH! They gave me chocolate!
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Three chocolate bars,
Two sparkling gems,
And a flamingo in a tutu.
I used to bake cookies and do all the other special holiday things that many do every year but lately I've scaled back and am making batches of only one thing.FUDGE
Surprise, surprise. My fave and that of my hubby so he's usually the one who buys the ingredients.
I do the boiling of the sugar and butter and milk to the "hot ball" stage but then he helps me mix it quickly into the chips and stir before it sets up on the spoon.
I decided, since this was so appropos, I'd share the whole recipe. It's not foolproof but hey, even if you goof, it makes great chocolate sauce to put over ice cream. (If you like to eat a lot!)
VAL'S CHRISTMAS FUDGE
4 1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1 1/2 sticks butter (works better than margarine)
3 C. chocolate chips (this equals 3 small bags)
7 or 8 oz. marshmallow creme
nuts - optional
First, lay out a large sheet of aluminum foil and butter it so the candy will release. If you don't do this before you start to cook, you won't have time. this stuff sets up FAST.
Boil the sugar, milk and butter to the soft ball stage (about 10 min. of hard boiling) I keep a cup of cold water next to the stove and check several times. Better to cook it too long than not enough.
Pour the hot mixture over the other ingredients and stir like mad (that's actually what I wrote down after my mother-in-law showed me)
Pour the candy onto the foil and spread it around to the proper thickness. If you're having trouble moving it at this stage, you did it right.
Let it set, then cut it in place, taking care not to slice up your table, and you're all done.
I don't have a picture of the fudge because I haven't made it yet this year but I do have a pic of our first Christmas tree when we moved out to this old farm and began to renovate, so I'll include that. As you can see, I'm not a fancy person. What you see is what you get, which is probably why my rural stories and historicals ring true.
Okay, this is how it is, my friends, I can't find the picture but I can't find the way to add it, either, so it doesn't matter. LOL! I belong in the country, in maybe 1850? Talk to you later. Have a wonderful holiday season and a blessed Christmas, and may your fudge always set!!!!
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Three chocolate bars,
Two sparkling gems,
And a flamingo in a tutu.
I used to bake cookies and do all the other special holiday things that many do every year but lately I've scaled back and am making batches of only one thing.FUDGE
Surprise, surprise. My fave and that of my hubby so he's usually the one who buys the ingredients.
I do the boiling of the sugar and butter and milk to the "hot ball" stage but then he helps me mix it quickly into the chips and stir before it sets up on the spoon.
I decided, since this was so appropos, I'd share the whole recipe. It's not foolproof but hey, even if you goof, it makes great chocolate sauce to put over ice cream. (If you like to eat a lot!)
VAL'S CHRISTMAS FUDGE
4 1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1 1/2 sticks butter (works better than margarine)
3 C. chocolate chips (this equals 3 small bags)
7 or 8 oz. marshmallow creme
nuts - optional
First, lay out a large sheet of aluminum foil and butter it so the candy will release. If you don't do this before you start to cook, you won't have time. this stuff sets up FAST.
Boil the sugar, milk and butter to the soft ball stage (about 10 min. of hard boiling) I keep a cup of cold water next to the stove and check several times. Better to cook it too long than not enough.
Pour the hot mixture over the other ingredients and stir like mad (that's actually what I wrote down after my mother-in-law showed me)
Pour the candy onto the foil and spread it around to the proper thickness. If you're having trouble moving it at this stage, you did it right.
Let it set, then cut it in place, taking care not to slice up your table, and you're all done.
I don't have a picture of the fudge because I haven't made it yet this year but I do have a pic of our first Christmas tree when we moved out to this old farm and began to renovate, so I'll include that. As you can see, I'm not a fancy person. What you see is what you get, which is probably why my rural stories and historicals ring true.
Okay, this is how it is, my friends, I can't find the picture but I can't find the way to add it, either, so it doesn't matter. LOL! I belong in the country, in maybe 1850? Talk to you later. Have a wonderful holiday season and a blessed Christmas, and may your fudge always set!!!!
FOUND IT!!!!!!! GOD IS GOOD
Val
Posts
Maybe I should apologize for that tree but I promise you, I never had any other that pleased me as much. We went out into our own forest and cut that little cedar that was being squeezed out by the bigger trees, anyway, brought it into the house and decorated it when we had barely managed to finish moving in. The only heat in the house at that time was from a wood stove and since we'd just arrived and it was a snowy December, we also had to go out into the show and forage for firewood daily. Ah, those were the good old days. Not. So, the little tree was special and brings back warm memories.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Val
I love the photo, Val! I'm glad you were able to figure out how to post it. :)
ReplyDeleteYummy recipe! I've never made fudge. But now I think maybe I'm feeling adventurous. Will have to add the ingredients to my shopping list!
Missy
Thanks for the post and the fudge Val! I'm having a craving now :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the recipe I've used. Very good.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
I love fudge and you just made me hungry. No way can I make fudge, no matter what the recipe, but the I never learned to bake anything either. However I do remember a couple of years when we went out and cut down our own Christmas tree and made our own decorations. This was when I had my first teaching job and was living with a roommate. We cut down a small tree because neither of us was very strong.
ReplyDeleteWe went one time to cut down a tree at a farm here in Georgia, but then I saw all the "imported" Frazier Firs. I had grown up with them and had to have one! :)
ReplyDeleteMissy
Great post and photo. Your recipe sounds delish. I have never tried to make fudge although I do love it on occasion.
ReplyDeleteHey Val, you should never apologize for something that you like.
ReplyDeleteAnd, there are lots of things that we like about you that you like and I think that tree is cute.
I've been looking for a fudge recipe that doesn't take too long and is easy to set up without using the condensed milk cans.
Thank you.
OH NO. last year I wanted to make fudge but couldn't find a recipe I could use. I also wanted to make gingerbread when I dont even like it but I did.
ReplyDeletenow I want to make fudge. What is a stick of butter? and what is Marshmellow creme?
yes we have butter but not sure how much a stick is. but I am not sure what Marshmellow creme is and is granulated sugar normal sugar?
It looks easy to make so I may try it.
Its the weather for it. here in South Australia it should be summer and we have just had more rain in a single 24 hour period than we have in over 12 months. more than the past 3 months of spring combined and its chilly again so good fudge weather.
and 3 chocolate bars sounds great
Ah, these friends know you so well. I think they gave you chocolate HOPING you would share your recipe for fudge.
ReplyDeleteAs always, you made me smile! Blessings! Kelly
Hmmm, I want to make the fudge but I don't like marshmellos. Can I use butterscotch or caramel instead?
ReplyDeleteHi, Jenny! Boy, we sure could use your rain!
ReplyDeleteI can jump in on a couple of your questions. Granulated sugar is just regular sugar (as opposed to confectioners or powdered sugar).
Our sticks of butter = 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup = 1/4 pound.
And marshmallow cream comes in a jar. It's white and fluffy yet gooey and yummy (like pure sugar!).
Pamela, I don't like marshmallows either. But I love marshmallow cream! You should try it. :) And I bet it only makes the fudge creamy. It probably wouldn't taste at all like plain marshmallows.
Missy--who's supposed to be getting ready for my son's birthday party!
Pamela, I've made this fudge and you don't taste the marshmello cream. It is used to make the fudge creamy and smooth.
ReplyDeleteBUT I can't believe you don't like marshmello cream I buy it by it and eat it straight out of the jar--I keep it in the refigerator between snacks :D
Did I forget to mention that I'm crazy about sugar!
Jenny if you don't have marshmellow cream you are missing out on such a treat. Kraft makes it. Another really good no fail fudge recipe is Racheal Rae's and it doesn't require the m. cream. You can get it off of the Food Network website--just look it up in the recipes. I made it last year instead of this one and it was equally good...only I didn't get to snack on the marshmellow cream :(
Valerie,
ReplyDeleteYour cute little tree made me smile. And being a fudge afficionado, I am definitely going to whip up a pan of this recipe. Thank you
Oh, Val, I love your Christmas tree. And the fudge -- yum, yum!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe. I love fudge or fudge sauce for ice cream, so it is a win-win situation however it comes out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. I understand the butter its half one of our blocks.
ReplyDeleteWe dont have marshmallow creme and we dont have corn starch here either.
I ended up making white christmas which is an aussie recipe I think.
rice crispies, mixed fruit, copha, powdered milk, icing sugar and coconut. no bake just set in the fridge. we have a sunday school break up today so im taking it.
Missy the rain has eased to isolated showers.
Val, I had to try it. I just finished making it for a party at church and it turned out perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I so much agree with you that if the fudge doesn't set up, it CAN be used for sauce. It goes great over pancakes if you don't want to use ice cream all the time to use it up. Tried and tested since my fudge has taken it's turn at not setting up. I actually think, since I am a rationing person, the fudge lasts longer if you have to eat it by the spoonful instead of cut pieces. Hmmm... who says we HAVE to strive for it to set up??
ReplyDeletePam Williams
cepjwms at yahoo dot com
I love chocolate but have never made fudge! I'll have to try your recipe :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and post! I LOVE fudge.
ReplyDeleteCheryl