Makin Fudge

I'm not sure where or when I had fudge for the first time but it is one of my all time favorites. I like it so much I only make it around Christmas. One year, when I had a little thrift shop, I thought I would make some fudge to sell but ending up eating it all and gaining 4 lbs!

In my 20's I searched for the perfect fudge recipe and found this one. I tweaked it a little by changing vanilla extract to almond extract. I consider this my secret ingredient.

My nieces and nephews don't just ask for fudge at Christmas time, they expect it. One of my nieces family thinks the almond flavor makes it taste like cherries. I have been known to add a dusting chopped pecans or even red and green sprinkles on top. But mostly I am a fudge purist. I made a batch this morning to take to a party this afternoon. Since there is only two of us in the house the job of cleaning the saucepan was left to me. And a tough job it was(since I didn't meticulously scrape into the square pan).

So here is the recipe, if any one is interested:

Nancy’s Fudge

2 ¼ cups sugar

¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)

¾ cup evaporated milk

5 oz marshmallows (about 1 ¼ cup mini)

6 oz chocolate chips (1/2 bag)

1 tsp almond extract

In large saucepan mix sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and marshmallows. Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Boil for 5 timed minutes, stirring constantly. You can reduce the heat a little but it must continue to boil. Be careful because sometimes the bubbles pop and send hot drops out. After 5 minutes are up remove from heat. Add chocolate and extract. Stir until blended. Pour into a greased square pan. Chill til set and then cut into squares.

Chocolate

This weekend the food network is having all these specials about chocolate. I was cutting out some bears with the tv on and watching a program about the Ghiardelli festival in San Fran. Suddenly my chocolate cravings were amped up 10 fold. The various stashes of chocolate(drawer in the fridge & decorative canisters in the dining room) did not satisfy the almost crippling cravings. The chocolate creations just kept on coming-truffles, mousse, cake, and fudge. There were eat offs of chocolate ice cream sundaes and chocolate pudding.

I decided what I wanted was brownies. Warm, gooey, chocolatey brownies! I picked up my purse and told Bill I'd be back in a few minutes. I headed for the Winn Dixie about a mile from home. Just as I parked the car the DJ on the radio mentions today is the anniversery of Hersheys. How fitting! Once I got inside I realized it was a really bad idea to go in with severe chocolate cravings. I strolled down the candy aisle then up the aisle with the cake mixes. By the time I reached the ice cream aisle I really needed a bucket for the drool that was forming in my mouth. It took all my willpower not to purchase that chocolate cheesecake in the frozen dessert section. I got my brownie mix and high tailed it out of there. Right now the glorious smell of brownies is filling my house. Bill says to me "I wish you looked at me the way you look at chocolate".