Hello to all fellow fans of Life in Grace! I’m Richella from Imparting Grace, and I’m so glad to be part of Edie’s 12 Days of Handmade Christmas! Wife to my college sweetheart and mother to three wonderful boys, I’m a woman who is blessed beyond measure. I am passionate about making a home for my family and living a life with God, learning to receive and impart grace as I go.
I’m excited today to be able to share with you one of my favorite Christmas projects. Each year, I like to give a little something to many people: neighbors, teachers, service providers. That list can grow long, but it’s important to me to be able to share a bit of the joy of the season in some small way. Like many of you, I bake cakes, make cookies, and roast nuts. But one thing I do every year is to make fudge. Lots and lots of fudge: at least 12 pounds every year.
My fudge recipe is special, I think. My mother’s family has lived in Kansas for many generations, and I inherited a few old Kansas cookbooks. My fudge recipe comes from one of those cookbooks. The body of the cookbook is long since lost, so I don’t know the name of the book; all I have is one yellowed and tattered page. The name of the recipe is Mamie’s Fudge, and under the recipe name is this note: “She made this to woo Ike.” Yes, indeed, this recipe originated with Mamie Eisenhower. President Eisenhower was from Abilene, Kansas, and Kansans proudly claim this family as their own. Just imagine sweet young Mamie Doud making this fudge for the handsome young lieutenant.
::Mamie’s Fudge::
4 1/2 cups sugar
pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons butter
12 ounce can evaporated milk
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 ounces German sweet chocolate, broken into pieces
2 7-ounce jars marshmallow creme
2 cups chopped nuts
Butter a pan for the fudge. A 9 x 13 pan works well for thick fudge; a small sheet pan is good for slightly thinner fudge.
Place semi-sweet chocolate, German sweet chocolate, marshmallow creme, and chopped nuts into bowl. Set aside.
Combine sugar, salt, butter, and milk in heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil, continuing to stir, for six minutes. Remove from heat and pour immediately over chocolate mixture; stir until all the chocolate bits are dissolved.
The mixture will look pretty goopy for a moment, but you’ll soon be rewarded with the delectable aroma of those chocolates and the look of smooth, satiny fudge.
Pour into buttered pan. Let stand one hour before cutting.
The fudge costs me about $13 per batch, which seems like a lot, but it makes more than six pounds. Mamie’s original recipe actually says that it makes seven pounds. Six or seven, the per-pound price is pretty low.
I keep a eye out for containers for my fudge, such as pretty gift boxes, tins, or ceramics. Just last week I found this cute mitten plate at my thrift store for $1.
My favorite presentation of all is simply to put some fudge on a plate, cover it in plastic wrap, tie a bow with some pretty ribbon, and attach an ornament.
::Peppernuts::This yummy little treat is of German origin and they are so wonderfully addictive! This makes a huge batch but they ‘keep’ forever—like months! Steve’s mom made these with the girls when she was here and then we made them again on Reformation Day.2 1/2 c. butter (marg or shortening also work)
1 1/2 c. molasses
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. milk
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. black pepper
2 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. cloves
1 t. allspice
1 t. salt
9 c. all purpose flour
1 qt ground walnutsThe dough should be stiff but not overly dry so add the last 1/2 c. of flour slowly to make sure the dough isn’t too dry.Roll the dough into thin ropes, using a little flour to keep them from sticking to your surface. {the ropes should be about the size of your first finger—unless you have unusually large fingers} Apparently little Elea is unsure of this process—but I can tell you from experience that she loves these little cookies.Then freeze the ‘ropes’ so that they cut easily. It takes less than an hour for them to harden.We took one tray out of the freezer at a time and cooked those—then proceeded to the next tray.Then slice them into little coin size pieces and bake at 350 until they no longer ‘give’ when you press them (in my oven–about 12-15 min). The longer you cook them, the crunchier they’ll be and my family likes them crunchy. I prefer them on the less crunchy side but you’ll have to experiment.Then, wrap them up neat and pretty and Merry Christmas! Or Happy Reformation Day!
And Nancy from Basketmaster’s Weavings has a great tutorial on her blog for how to make a Christmas basket, along with many YouTube tutorials on the different steps of weaving. She lists directions for where to buy the stakes and what kind you’ll need. This would be so much fun to learn how to do with my girls—-and we love a good YouTube video. That cute little basket would be a great handmade gift all by itelf—or you could fill it with fudge and peppernuts.
This looks really yummy and suprisingly easy…may give this one a try!
This looks so yummy! We called my husbands gma Mamie, and she died just about 2 years ago, and she made the best pies, bread, and desserts! I will have to give this a whirl!
Once again, thanks ever so much for the ideas and the inspiration!
I all looks so yummy. I will definitely have to try this. Thanks. Hugs, Marty
Edie,
Thanks for mentioning my site. The fudge looks so yummy!
Nancy
I love the "Christ is born" ornament. Any word on where it came from??
I usually do my family's recipe for scottish shortbread every year, but now i'm dreaming of fudge and peppernuts…
Very cool! We always have peppernuts at Christmas, being from good German stock! But I hardly ever know anyone who has even heard of them before. And fudge can never be wrong!
Hi Edie,
I found your blog recently through Darby and I am loving this series. I always try to make gifts for the special people in my life because it is much more meaningful. Thanks for the ideas.
What an AWESOME blog! Before I die I want to live in the mountains of East Tennessee – really, it's on my bucket list. We vacation there every year (Pigeon Forge). You are beautiful – inside and out!
Go enter my giveaway!
Kim
Goodness Edie, you cannot possibly stop at 12 days, these are great ideas! I want MORE, MORE, MORE!
Thanks!
i would probably make it and eat all 6-7 pounds! not give 1 pound away! mmmm…can't wait to try this. there are so many things i want to make and cook and do!
LOVE fudge. Love. It. Thank you for sharing all of the amazing-ness over the last few days!
Not often that a recipe tempts me to enter the kitchen to cook. š I will be making those German cookies seeing that I'm German and all. It sure beats my grandmother's fruitcake recipe. š
Saw your project for the tiles over at Just a girl (love them). I am going to have my girl scout troop make them for their moms. I think they will be a hit.
This fudge recipe looks really yummy.
ok, that fudge looks so delicious and easy i wish had the ingredients here- i'd go whip up a batch right now!
YUM!! Both of these look very "do-able" even with my 2 little ones helping. Thanks for yet another day of great Christmas present ideas!
YUM!! Both of these look very "do-able" even with my 2 little ones helping. Thanks for yet another day of great Christmas present ideas!
YUMMMM-O!
I LOVE fudge. I cannot make it correctly to save my life, but I love it. Will have to try Richella's recipe. š
Yum! Love the step by step picture tutorial.
Michelle
http://www.TrashToTreasureDecorating.com
Oh, yum! Richella, I think even I could make this š And I love the story behind it~Mamie's from Kansas! Great series, Edie!
Okay, we're doin' this peppernut thing! Thnks for shaing! C
I am Portuguese and have never heard of Peppernuts. They look great. I love all the different traditions from countries around the world.
Fudge looks super yummy! What a great gift. Homemade is best.
Ruth
So you don't even bake it? Who knew? MInes on the counter now…Went to the dollar store today and got several cute things to put these in-
You def have to cook and stir it for 6 mins! I got lazy and only did a minute or so and then took it off- Did not set up right, too soft!
We make these too every year. The kids LOVE to make them – and eat them. We give them as gifts too. Our recipe doesn't have walnuts – but it does have coffee in the recipe.
I'll have to try your recipe and compare them.
Blessings,
Lisa
Is that ornament on the fudge gift homemade? I’d love to make those.
Good day I am so thrilled I found your blog, I really found
you by error, while I was looking on Aol for something else, Regardless I am here now and would
just like to say kudos for a incredible post and a all round entertaining blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the great job.