Darlene Wofford's Newsroom

My distant cousin, Willy (Wonka, that is) has nothing over on me these past few days.  He may have a chocolate factory but I have been a one-woman chocolate FUDGE-making MACHINE since the first of the week.  Ever since my good Georgia BULLDAWG-fan friend, Steve Barton, emailed a selection of various chocolate and pastry recipes I have been DYING for some good ole fudge—like my sister and I used to make years ago.  I decided to try one that sounded infallible and ‘fool-proof’ for someone like me.  But I know how I am around chocolate, much less fudge and homemade fudge with pecans, at that, so I decided to make my fudge ‘sugar-free’ enabling me to eat more and not pay the price of the conventional recipe.  I had the BRILLIANT idea to substitute the powdered sugar with artificial sweetener and WHOA, suffice it to say it was NOT the irresistible results I anticipated.  In fact, I’ve never actually EATEN dog poop, but I would imagine it couldn’t taste any worse.  So out the door went that batch and back on track with the original recipe as it was intended. 

Alas, I am happy to report the recipe really IS fool-proof, even for ME, so I’d like to pass it along to other fudge lovers.  It makes for a wonderful gift and I bought those little tin holiday canister boxes, lined them with Glad Wrap and poured in the fudge to harden.  I even took some little plastic knives and broke them off to shorten the handle and placed the knife inside atop the fudge.  (Hold the plastic knife handle over a lighter or match for a few seconds and run your finger over the edge to smooth out the jagged edge).   OR, I suppose you could always buy some shorter knives if you can find them.   Anyway, enjoy the recipe and may you have wonderful holidays and dreams where visions of sugar plums and fudge squares dance in your head.

Willena Wonka’s Infallible Fool-Proof Fudge

 (Originally from the kitchen of Erica Wilson)

Ingredients

1 pound powdered sugar

½ cup cocoa

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

¼ pound butter/margarine

1 cup chopped nuts

Directions

Mix all dry ingredients together in an 8x8 inch microwave safe pan (important to use this size pan).  Add milk and vanilla extract.  Place stick/chunk of butter/margarine in center. (use butter for better results) (Leave butter as whole—do not chop up).  Microwave on high for 2 to 2 ½ minutes until bottom of dish feels warm.  Stir vigorously and blend in chopped nuts.  (I use good ole Georgia pecans, but I would imagine walnuts would be good, too).  Pour into mold or whatever and chill for 1 hour.  After about an hour it’s hard enough to cut into bite-size squares and savor every morsel, right down to the last pecan bit picked from between your teeth.   (WARNING:  Do NOT eat this fudge while working at your computer.  Drool has been known to short out a keyboard).  Take it from one who knows.   Smile 

Until next time,

 

 

Just Call Me Dah’lin  (or  Willena Wonka)

Darlene Ford Wofford, aka ‘The Spirited Southerner’

 www.JustCallMeDahlin.com   or   www.TheSpiritedSoutherner.com

Embrace Life with Spirit and Keep Moving Forward!

 spirit (noun):  energy, courage, strength, determination, fortitude and faith