Peanut Butter Fudge

Shrug Finally Returns!

It occurred to me this morning that while I have been baking like mad, I haven't been sending recipes. This is one I ran across a couple of years ago, and tweaked to make a perfect peanut butter fudge. This is "To die for".
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Fudge isn't always easy, but once you get the hang of it, it can become a fun dish to make. One of the secrets (especially if you're too cheap to buy a candy thermometer) is to bring it to a boil and let it boil for exactly 5 minutes. That seems to be the magic number to reach what is referred to as 'soft ball stage' - which means that the goo in the pan will form a soft little ball if you drip it into cold water. This is required to get your fudge to 'set', or turn solid when it cools but not so solid it ends up hard. (Hard ball stage is what is needed for candies, brittles, etc.)

Another trick is: once it begins to boil, stir stir stir, and don't stop stirring for anything. If you stop stirring you can end up with burnt sugar chunks floating through your fudge. And while burnt sugar can be yummy, it's not really the flavor sensation you're going for here. You want your fudge to be smooth. Now along with this tip is a reminder to wear long sleeves and maybe even gloves, because boiling sugar has a tendency to burp and splatter itself up your arms. (Please, please never stir with your face too close to the pan. And keep children away from the stove during the boiling step. That stuff HURTS.)

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients

1. 2 cups packed light brown sugar
2. 2 cups white sugar
3. 4 Tablespoons butter
4. 1 cup evaporated milk
5. 1 ½ cups peanut butter
6. 2 teaspoon vanilla
7. 2 cups mini-marshmallows

Directions:

1. Using butter or margarine, grease pan (8 x 10", or larger depending on the thickness you want. 8 x 10" pans produce thick fudge.)
   
2. In a medium saucepan, combine both sugars, evaporated milk and butter.
   
3. To start, place pan on medium heat until butter is melted and all ingredients have combined.
   
4. Turn heat up to medium-high until mixture is at a rolling boil.
   
5. Boil for approximately 5 minutes, or until the mixture reaches soft ball stage (234 degrees F).
   
6. Remove from heat and immediately stir in remaining ingredients.
   
7. Stir quickly but thoroughly until all ingredients are combined (taking care not to slop hot sugar mixture over the sides of the pan).
   
8. Once peanut butter and marshmallows are completely melted and combined with sugar, pour into pre-buttered pan to cool.

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Another great candy-fudge idea. These are easy to make easy to do and great for the kids. Just remember the warning's above about wearing gloves while making it.

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Posted On: Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen

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Tags: Cooking, Baking, Recipe, Cooking Related Appliances, Humorous Stories, Ingredients, Kitchen Appliance, Parve (Meat or Milk) Recipe, Kitchen Utensils, Kosher, Meat Recipe, Milk Recipe, Kosher Home, Spices, Single Parenting, Vegetarian, Cooking Stories