We have waited an entire year for this day!
Don't you love Fudge?
Elves are so addicted to this chocolate
treat.
WE all know how to make it. It is part of
Elf training..You have to know how.
I think we learn fast because we get to
eat what we make..
No easy fudge for the North Pole. It
is the old fashioned from scratch kind,
the
one where your arms fall off beating it
to just right.
Santa is the Master Fudge maker...He says
he doesn't use any magic to make fudge.
We kind of believe him because we know we
can make it
without magic too.
1-1/3 cups milk or evaporated milk
4 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 cup margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla
Get out a large sauce pan, 3 or 4-quart
sized. In it combine the milk and sugar.
Start heating the mixture over medium heat.
Stir in the cocoa, salt and corn syrup.
Mix very well to dissolve the cocoa. We
like to use a wooden spoon.
Bring the mixture to a boil and allow it
to cook until it reaches the Soft Ball stage
when a small amount is dropped into a bowl
of cold water, or 234° on a candy thermometer.
(We have to learn
to do the cold water test as well as use a thermometer)
When it does, remove the pan from the heat
and place it on a dish towel or cake rack to cool down.
Add the margarine and vanilla, but
don't stir. Remember, Don't Stir it yet. Just let it sit by itself in a
corner, almost forgotten.
Here at the North Pole we set it out the
back kitchen door in the snowbank.
Let it cool until the bottom of the pan
is barely warm to the touch, or about 110°.
This may take as long as an hour, so be
patient. When the fudge has cooled down, start beating it with a spoon
or whisk.
Very quickly , a minute or 2, it will start
to loose it's glossy, shine.
When it just begins to look dull pour it
into a pan greased with butter.
Spread it out with a spoon or a knife. Allow
it to cool and harden,
and then cut it into pieces.You can use
a 9" pan or an 8" pan. Square or round is good. Sometimes we butter a platter
and pour it into the platter.
THe first thing an elf learns is DO
NOT scrape the sides of the pan when making your fudge,cooling it or beating
it...
The sugar on the sides of the pan will
make you fudge grainy . It tastes good but You won't pass your elf test
with grainy fudge!
This recipe makes about 2-1/4 pounds of fudge,
I hope you will try it your self..then you will be an
honorary elf!! You might win the elf prize!!!
