Thursday, February 20, 2020

My grandma's fudge

While tooling around on eBay, looking for something else entirely, I stumbled upon a seller in Elizabeth City, NC, who was parting with her collection of vintage cookbooks. One of them just so happened to be a compilation of recipes put together in 1987 to raise money for the Lutheran church my family attended. Sight unseen, I bought it for $12.00.

On pages 48 and 104, my grandmother is represented. I knew she would be. Grandma was all about that church.

The first was for pork chops. I remember her pork roast, but not her pork chops. The second is for fantasy fudge. That I remember! Whoever owned this book circled the recipes she used. Grandma would be pleased to see both of hers were circled.

So this spiral bound, musty little volume feels like a rare treasure. I'm giving it to my Aunt Joanne (Grandma's surviving child) for Mother's Day. I know she will love it.

I'm enchanted that it just so happened to fall into my life now, from 33 years ago and 941 miles away. I wish it could tell me its journey to my hands.

I close with Grandma's fudge.

FANTASY FUDGE

3 c sugar
3/4 c margarine
6 oz evaporated milk
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c marshmallow cream
1 c chopped nuts
1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar, margarine and milk. Bring to a roiling boil, stirring constantly 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate pieces; stir until melted. Add marshmallow cream, nuts and vanilla, Beat until blended. Pour into 8x8 buttered pan.