I'm not picking on this recipe, which looks like a fine recipe, but the term "fudge" seems increasingly to be misused these days. Fudge, as I know it, is not semi-sweet or other chocolate. It is sugar and other ingredients cooked to soft ball stage, then beaten as it cools. Fudge may be flavored with cocoa or other ingredients, but it is not the same as the chocolate in chocolate chips. Penuche, my favorite fudge, has no chocolate at all.

I like chocolate and I like fudge. But they are two different things.

Jim

Alexa, I made that wreath or a similar one from RR a few years ago (maybe 3)and sent it by my DH, to my neighbor who has 2 young boys. I'm supposing she thought I had bought it because she asked if it was fresh. His answer was "I guess so, she just made it today". I was rather insulted until I thought about it. Had it been bought, in all likelyhood, it would not have been fresh.

jude

Sending this to my DS. Sounds like a fun project for her daughter who is starting to cook plus she loves desserts/sweets.

David

Just don't make it a "plain" candy cane shape. I was given fudge like that once as a gift and you can guess what it looked like!
Still funny after all these years!

fudge (fÃÂj) Noun: A soft candy made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream

Can't agree with you on the definition. Don't see anything that specifies softball/beating requirement in the definition of "fudge". That's a recipe variation just like there's different recipes for chili, jambalaya, pot roast, ribs or any number of other recipes.

I agree cynic - there are as many "fudge" recipes as there are chili recipes. I am not getting hung up on the "soft ball stage".

Oh and for the record, I will probably sub peanut butter chips for the butterscotch(shudder) and I HATE any non-chocolate "fudge". Penuche, Maple-anyhing and vanilla all would give me hives if I had to eat one of them. C'est la vie - the penuche is all yours Jimster.

Alexa

I was planning on making fudge this year. I have a brother-in-law who sits down with the container of fudge every Christmas. You have to pry the container out of his hands to get any! This sounds like a cute idea. I'm not to fond of those green candied cherries. So I might decorate with marachino cherries or red hots (as holly berries) and almond slices (as leaves). Just an idea.

Jim, you can share the penuche with me, one of my favorite fudges is Ann T's maple walnut, yum. Even my "quick" fudge is brought to a soft ball stage and then chips and marshmallow cream is added. I don't care for the condensed milk and chips version of candy, it's too sweet and the texture is different, mor elike truffle filling than fudge. The only flavor I really don't care much for is peanut butter fudge, although I love peanut butter, go figure.

Boo, I don't care for candied cherries at all, but are the green maraschino cherries I see the same as the red ones, or are they a different flavor?

To each their own, I know Alexa greatly enjoys cocktails, and I haven't found a liquor yet that doesn't make me gag, and she doesn't care for Sherry's spinach brownies, which I think are delicious. And I still think a martini is gin and vermouth, not all kinds of flavored concoctions, but that comes from years of owning a bar.

So, she can have Rachel Ray's fudge and I'll have all of Ann T's Maple Walnut, and never the twain shall meet. Sorry Jim, you'll have to hurry or there'll be none left to share, no matter what you call it.

Annie

Annie - you and I can agree on a lot of flavors though! I hate those flavored vodka abominations that some people call martinis. Make mine straight gin or vodka, facing France and please put an olive in it (or a twist if olives aren't available).

And you can have those awful spinach things too!

Alexa

Sorry if I hi-jacked this thread and stirred up a debate about what flavors of candy or booze are most delicious. That wasn't my intention. I was only observing that several recipes I have seen recently for fudge seem to be for a type of candy which is not fudge as I know it.

If it's not too late, let's move this discussion to it's own thread.

Jim

I think my grandmother ruined her shoulder making fudge.....and she made the best penuche....and as I was not allowed to have chocolate for whatever reason, I really loved that stuff.
the only fudge I make is sugar-ey...or else a cheater fudge with marshmallows. Can't ever seem to beat it long enough.

You don't like those spinach things??? Are we thinking of the same thing...2 packages of spinach, 8 eggs....forget what else...cheese that's for sure! Honey don't come to my house for cocktails or that's what you'll get like it or not! LOL!
Well to each his own.!

Here's a link to the new fudge thread. Have at it.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: What is Fudge?

Wow! Didn't even know there were green marachino cherries! I think if I have seen them, I just assumed they were icky and blotted them out of my mind. LOL! I'll have to pay more attention the next time I'm in the grocery store.

Personally, I like the ease of this recipe. I've made something similar (although not in a wreath shape) for years. I haven't built up the courage yet to make fudge "old school."

Boo, I saw them right next to the red maraschino cherries, in jars, I just didn't have the nerve to buy them, they were kind of a bright neon green, not the color of any cherry I've ever seen, they were kind of scary. (grin) As for old fashioned fudge, build up your biceps, there's quality time with a wooden spoon involved. Quite a lot of it...

LindaC, you weren't allowed to have chocolate? I think that's child abuse. And yes, that's the spinach and egg thing, love it. Ah well, I'll keep those and Alexa can have all the martinis. The real ones, not the weird ones, LOL.

I do agree, though, that no matter how "un-fudge like", the stuff looks quick and I don't know a kid in this world that wouldn't be happy to have a big hunk of it. I wonder if it would taste like a Chunky candy bar if peanuts and raisins were used?

Annie