May 12 National Nutty Fudge Day #NationalNuttyFudgeDay and I wish David was home this evening because I would go to Walmart to purchase the ingredients to make Fudge for Charlie because this is his favorite dessert. I would not only make Nutty Fudge with Walnuts and Pecans but plain Fudge so Charlie would have a choice and have enough Fudge to share with David and I.
Would you like to join us in Charlie’s Homeschool Cooking Class on Tuesday after we have the opportunity to go Grocery Shopping which is a Homeschool Field Trip and allows us to walk which is exercise and will work for Charlie’s PE Class and cooking is also good for math, reading and science so all of our classes will be done through making Fudge.
Join us for a taste of Nutty Fudge on National Nutty Fudge Day May 12th. Every piece of Fudge tastes a little bit better with Nuts on top, doesn’t it? Although I like to put Nuts in my Fudge when it’s cooking. What about you? No, matter which flavor of Fudge you prefer from Chocolate, Vanilla, or even exotic flavors.
There’s a bit of back and forth about who first came up with Fudge, or even why it is called ‘Fudge’. Fudge is thought to be an American invention, its origins are as yet unclear. Multiple stories attribute the invention of Fudge to a letter written by Vassar College student Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, about either her cousin or a schoolmate’s cousin, from Baltimore, Maryland. This letter referred to Fudge the other girl had made and sold for 40 cents per pound. Hartridge got this recipe and proceeded to make 30 pounds of the recipe for the Vassar College senior auction.
Another story revolves around a young apprentice Caramel maker who was tasked with stirring the pot of Caramel while his boss was out front serving the customers. Unfortunately, this pot of Caramel was too grainy to serve by the time the boss returned. As the story goes, to avoid wasting the ‘failed Caramel’ they let the customers have it. The customers were so in love with this Caramel, they named it after the apprentice who accidentally created it. Yet another story credits a lecture as being the inspiration behind Fudge’s creation which was said that a Virginia college lecture on making Coffee resulted in the students creating Fudge by accident.
The history of the word ‘Fudge’ itself has evolved over the Centuries. First used as a version of the now obsolete ‘Fadge’ which means ‘to make suitable’ or ‘to fit’, the word was initially used as a verb, to mean ‘turn out as expected’ or to ‘merge together’. In later usage ‘Fudge’ was still used as a verb but instead meant ‘to put together clumsily or dishonestly.’ This led to the exclamation ‘Fudge!’ and then finally to the word as we know it. Whatever the cause behind Fudge and the delicious treat, we are very glad to have it in our lives.
LET”S CELEBRATE NATIONAL NUTTY FUDGE DAY
What better way to celebrate a food holiday than to create the very dish said the holiday is named after? Get out your favorite recipe and go Nuts! Multiple famous recipes of Fudge include Pecans and Walnuts but, of course, you can choose to add any Nut your family likes.
Once you’ve mastered the art of making Nutty Fudge, make a batch to share with friends and family because Homemade Fudge makes for a much more personal and delicious gift. Your creation will last longer and, of course, tastes awesome.
Get your friends together for a special Fudge-themed party and you can organize games like ‘identify the Fudge flavor,’ or even encourage attendees to bring a batch of their favorite Fudge along for a ‘Fudge swap.’ Remember to include a recipe card with each package.
FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL NUTTY FUDGE DAY
1. ‘Fudge’ is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
2. European Fudge recipes usually just contain Sugar, Cream, and Butter, while American-style Fudge recipes also add Chocolate. 3. The largest fudge in the world was created in Ontario, Canada, this Fudge weighed in at a whopping 2.61 metric tons, 5,760 pounds, took over a week to create, and used more than 300 gallons of condensed Milk.
4. Traditional fudge can be stored for a week or two in an airtight container at room temperature, in a refrigerator for two or three weeks, and in a freezer for several months without losing its taste.
5. American composer Cole Porter loved Fudge so much, he would ship nine pounds of it to himself each month from his hometown.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL NUTTY FUDGE DAY
Because the Holiday celebrates Fudge
It’s hard to imagine a world without Fudge, isn’t it?
If the stories are true, a twist of fate was the only thing standing between us and a Fudge-free world. This is why we absolutely need to show our love for this little dessert by making and eating it. Plus, Fudge is traditionally American so, if you are too, you can feel very patriotic while celebrating Nutty Fudge Day.
Recipe for Nutty Fudge:
Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Additional Time: 1 hour 35 mins Total Time: 2 hours Servings: 36 Yield: 1 – 8×8 inch dish
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups white sugar
- 5 ounces evaporated milk
- 10 large marshmallows
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
- Butter an 8×8 inch dish.
- Place butter, chocolate chips and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, milk and marshmallows. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and cook 6 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
- Pour marshmallow mixture over contents of mixing bowl. Beat entire mixture until it thickens and loses its gloss. Quickly fold in nuts and pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate several hours until firm.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
