Mom's Easy Fudge

One more snow picture because, well, it's snow and that's my boy.  You can't go wrong, in my book.  Just to clarify I didn't mean, Ha, ha, I'm so calm about the holidays while you're out scavenging the shops for gifts.  It's just a feeling of gratitude, I think, for this particular holiday season.  Nobody is really ill after a series of years of big, bad stuff (knock on wood) and this little boy can appreciate the wonder of the season this year, thereby renewing my view of the joy of twinkly lights, the enchantment of Santa, happiness in togetherness and just all of it.  It's nice. 

Alrighty then.  We used to spend ages making a huge selection of cookies and chocolates for friends and neighbors.  We'd sweat in the tiny kitchen, have massive cookie disasters and we'd end up with a beautiful selection of goodies all wrapped up on cute, little holiday plates.  We'd deliver and then the reaction was always, "Eh... Thanks."  I don't know.  Maybe we missed something but a batch or two is fun (and super-fun when there are folks who really appreciate it and they still get some) but somewhere along the line we decided that knocking ourselves out for "Eh" wasn't the way we wanted to spend the holidays.  Plus Mom, my grandma and my mother-in-law make all of the family favorites and we get our fill plus some.  Lucky, lucky us. 

Enter: Mom's Easy Fudge.  I don't like fudge but even I can appreciate the yummy factor of this stuff.  And it's super-duper easy.  You can make a batch in, like, five minutes.  I don't know where she got the recipe (my book just says, "Mom's Easy Fudge") but it's the perfect thing to whip up, deliver and the reaction is usually, "Wow!"  The other week we bought a basket full of powdered sugar and butter after tallying up the neighbor, friend and office gift list.  I love the new Ball Mason jars (they're marketed as a more "modern" look and were just in the grocery store) so I have lots of those and holiday tins from the dollar store.  With some natural waxed paper and ribbon you'll be set.

Mom's Easy Fudge

1 pound confectioners (powdered) sugar
1/2 C cocoa
1/4 C milk (you can use soy if you want)
1/4 pound butter
1 t vanilla
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)

Spray an 8" square pan with spray butter.  Place sugar and cocoa in a non-metal mixing bowl & stir.  Add milk and butter but DON'T STIR.  Heat uncovered in the microwave for two minutes.  Add vanilla & stir rapidly until blended.  Pour quickly into pan & refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting.

* There's at least one antique bowl Mom has that doesn't work with this recipe and metal bowls are out.  Be sure to use glass or a newer ceramic mixing bowl. 

Yum!

Comments

[Avlor]

woo-hoo! A chocolate-chip-less fudge. Can't wait to try it.

[Cass]

Hi I just wondered if confectioners sugar is what we in Australia would call icing sugar? These sound great.

[Kira]

This sounds so easy ... I definitely have not had uck trying fudge before, but maybe now my luck can change ... thanks! :)

[Matroskin]

I think your neighbours must be strange in the head somehow. If you had come to us with a plateful of homemade cookies, two little gentlemen would have shouted "hooray!", eaten all in less than than a minute and followed you home in the hope for more. They would have even collected crumbs from the floor. We sometimes take cookies and muffins for the family downstairs, and they're really happy.

I loved the mitten tutorial in your earlier post and am going to try making some when I get rid off this depressing flu. I was thinking of making some for my dad, as I don't have a pressie for him yet. But how will I manage to trace his hand without him suspecting anything? Hm, luckily he takes a lot of naps.

[Barbara]

Thanks for sharing this recipe. It looks super easy for two ten years old to make on Sunday. What power (watt) is your microwave? I followed instructions on a packet to make toffee apples recently and our microwave (800w) made it too hot and ruined it!

[Beth]

Barbara- Our microwave is 780w but if you're concerned, just watch it until the butter melts enough to really stir it in easily. The only tricky part (for anyone, not just ten year olds!) is how quickly you need to stir & pour at the end (or it sticks like crazy in the bowl). Have fun!

Cass- I looked it up and it appears to be the same thing...

Matroskin- Maybe your oldest could trace everyone's hand for a "special project?!" Then nobody would be the wiser.

Thanks, Everyone!
Beth

[emily]

yum! i'll be making some this afternoon. can't wait for the yummy-ness.

[emily]

ok, i did it. and i just tasted it. and wow. thanks beth!

[Barbara]

Beth, Thanks so much for the microwave and stir fast info! Very helpful and I'll let you know how it goes. Barbara

[Hjordi]

Thank you so much for the recipe! I made 3 batches yesterday and plan to make more tonight! The bus driver and teachers are all getting fudge with some left for our family's get together! Thank you Beth!