Reminiscing this bright-on-the-snow cold morning about days past, when we were so energetic and eager to get to the Christmas preparations. Just about now would be the stocking-up of sugar, of chocolate chips and butterscotch and brickles, the solemn small blue jars of marshmallow creme, and a lot of butter. It WAS FUDGE TIME! We had a lot of folks in the local area, family and clients and just friends acquired over time, and we loved to surprise them with at least a pound every Christmas.
I wish today was Fudge-Making Day, so it could just BE, cooling and being cut and wrapped for delivering around town to clients, so I’m “fudging” with the posts and using this one from Christmas, sixteen years ago. Wish I still had as much energy as I did then, when I was looking after a two-year-old three days a week. She’s quite adept in the kitchen now, herself, and I’m sure she could show me a thing or two 
THESE ENLARGE WITH A CLICK
Here's the tableful of goodies for clients and friends---not nearly all of what we made, but it looks pretty, all arrayed like that. We swap the pretty cloths for an old red vinyl picnic sheet, and use a lot of Windex on the two glass tables, for candy-making is messy work.
Clockwise from One O'clock: Cappuccino Fudge, Plain Fudge, Chex Mix, Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies, Kahlua Fudge with Chocolate Coffee Beans, Rocky Road with the little cut marshmallows showing, more cookies, and a plate of Kahlua Brownies.
And I'm the candy-making Elf---Kahlua Fudge, with a couple of shots of Espresso Syrup and Kahlua:
Cappuccino Fudge, with a shot of Espresso syrup in the recipe:
Just plain Fudge, creamy and chocolatey---I love its color and shine:
Reese's Loaves---the bottom is the old-fashioned recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge, with extra-crunchy, left to sit in the pans til cool and firm, then a small pour of plain fudge on top.
One more look at the original, from whom all recipes spring---cutting those precise, sharp corners.
I wish you all a Christmas Season as sweet as these past
SWEET TIMES!!
Thank you for sharing! I used to be a fudge maker, too. I worked as a secretary for a small agricultural parts and equipment company. I was direct support to five inside salesmen and two traveling salesmen, 2-3 warehouse workers, printed maps (from mapquest, remember that?) for our truck driver, typed orders for the three servicemen and worked with the vice-president and accountant, too. 16ish coworkers? For Christmas they all got a small tin of fudge and a lottery ticket!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Miss Merry!! I love that you remembered everyone with a SWEET! Those working guys are often overlooked in the flurry of Pink and Parcels, and they certainly DO like a home-cooked gift. Thank you for taking time from your busy life to look in and comment. I've been away and out of the loop from my 18-year-old blog for years now, and scarce anyone knows I'm here. Thank you.
DeleteDarling Rachel,
ReplyDeleteWe have never made fudge and cannot remember the last time we ate any as it is a VERY long time ago. However, your post has certainly rekindled childhood memories of holidays in Cornwall when fudge was a key part of the experience.
It was advertised as Clotted Cream Fudge using the iconic Cornish clotted cream. We only remember a few varieties and nothing as splendid or exciting as your fudge creations. Fruit in one and nuts in another but the plain version was the favourite. As you say, there is something completely decadent about that melt in the mouth sweetness...no thoughts of waistlines in those days!!!
And, then there were the gifts of fudge to bring back home. Packaged in boxes with 'chocolate box cottages' images on the wrapper. Those were the days:):)
Those can "still be the days" with a simple parcel-post and a Poste Restante (if those so-Poirot niceties are still in effect). We will be in a good order of creating and preparing all this coming week, for Sweetpea (of the tiny apron since 2007) is eighteen and graduating in May, so she's bringing three senior friends and her Mom to Tea this coming Sunday. Alas, our old traditional group has faded away in my long absence from society, and we're starting afresh with new club members and a sparkling outlook.
DeleteAnd this COLD Sunday afternoon at FOUR, our sweet six-year-old neighbor and her Mama are coming to tea and a (probably extremely messy) Chocolate-dipping lesson.
Leah has made Christmas-wrap covered boxes for the take-home of her first efforts, so we're going to let her have at it with pretzels, cookies (biscuits), Oreos, and Christmas "bark," which is like those traditional charming EOD glass creations, of every colour left in the melter, marbled onto the pan and prinked up with sprinkles, nonpareils, wee chocolate chips and the best: salty roasted sunflower seeds. You could be up to your elbows in chocolate and crumbs!
Oh, wow…what a stunning array of goodies…you sure worked hard and I know it was appreciated by the recipients! I had much more energy ‘back in the day’ also…not sure what happened to it !??! Love the memories of Christmas, thanks for sharing yours! Best, Virginia
ReplyDeleteOur energy is being prodded today and next Sunday by ladies-to-tea. Today a chocolate-dipping lesson for our six-year-old neighbor and her Mom, and next Sunday for Sweetpea, several high-school friends and her Mom. Trying to get back into social (can't say whirl, more a tiny dust-spin). Gotta start somewhere.
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