Making Fudge with Baby Caston

My life has truly changed....I used to be the ultimate "multi-tasker", but with a 1 month old I've learned that there are some things that I just can't do like I used too.

Each holiday I make homemade goodies for friends and neighbors. Things like fudge, pumpkin bread, candies and cookies. So, I put Caston down for a nap today and I knew I had some time to get some baking done- he always sleeps about 20 minutes after eating. WRONG!

I began making my Baldwin Family Fudge. I was in the middle of bringing the butter, sugar and milk to a soft ball (if any of you have made fudge you will understand) when Caston starting fussing. I thought - oh no! I couldn't leave the fudge because at this point in the cooking process it needed to be stirred the entire time until it reached the soft ball form. Caston began fussing more....."Oh come on fudge hurry the heck up," I was saying.

Now my little man was officially "irate." I left the fudge, ran to Caston's room and picked him up and returned back to the fudge. At this point I was stirring the fudge, bouncing Caston and trying to keep the pacifier in his mouth- I was a sight to see I'm sure.

It wasn't working. Caston was mad. So, I put him in his car seat (he loves his car seat). I placed the car seat on the floor next to me and was rocking it with my foot, while stirring the fudge- which by the way still hadn't reached the soft ball form. Why me!

It was somewhere in the middle of all this that I wonder what the heck I was thinking trying to do my annual holiday baking with a 1 month old! I officially learned my lesson! Maybe next year will work out better...

The fudge did get made, but it was a challenge to say the least!

So, if you are one of the lucky ones that get some of my annual fudge this year you can have a little chuckle because you know the story behind this sweet treat!

If you feel like making some fudge- here's our family recipe.

Family Times and Fantasy Fudge

This weekend was almost a blur…Friday my friend Tyne and I went to Lake Ozark so she could finish up some Christmas shopping at the outlet mall, then we headed back to Jeff City because my folks were coming up for the weekend. When we got home they were already there with my husband enjoying in some wonderful Missouri wine, so Tyne and I joined in the festivities.

We had a wonderful pot roast that night and hung around the house that night talking about good ole times. My mother had brought me up a few little Christmas gifts, including some old Christmas ornaments from my childhood and an antique Betty Crocker Cookbook from the 1950’s. How fantastic, I love the smell of old cookbooks!

Tyne also opened her Christmas gifts from my husband and I…she was very excited!

Saturday, was just as hectic. The boys went fishing (which I don’t know how they could stand the cold weather and wind chill) at Lake Ozark, while mom and I headed into town to do some grocery shopping and a stop at Hobby Lobby to get some yarn for crocheting.

Saturday night I wanted to teach my mother how to make Paella, a Spanish dish. We only had time to make the quicker American version Paella though, since we had plans to go to the movies to see the movie Australia. (Which btw was wonderful. I spent time in Australia in high school and it brought back great memories and how can any movie go wrong with Nicole Kidman and Huge Jackman.)

Sunday my folks left to go back to the farm and get things ready for Christmas this week. Charlie and I also got ready for Christmas around our house, since we are hosting the McConnell family this year for Christmas. We made some Baldwin Fantasy Fudge, so it would be one last thing we had to prepare for our Christmas party later on this week.

Which brings me to today’s recipe (that I’ve been promising to post.) This is my mother’s own recipe for fudge. I’ve always had great reviews from this fudge and it’s fairly simple to make. There are two ways to make it. Some folks like rich fudge, others like a milk chocolate fudge. Therefore, I’ve show the difference in making the two versions below.

Happy Baking and Merry Christmas!

Baldwin’s Fantasy Fudge
By my mother
4 cups white sugar
1 tall can of condensed milk (12 oz)
2 sticks of butter

On medium-high and in a large pot, cook and stir constantly, until mixture forms a soft ball. Best way to do this is with a candy thermometer. But, be sure and continue to stir this all the way through the soft ball stage.

When a soft ball forms, remove from heat and add:
For milk chocolate fudge, (add 12 oz. of chocolate chips)
For richer, darker fudge, (add ¾ of a 24 oz. of chocolate chips)

40 marshmallows
2 cups of nuts of your choice (pecans are the very best though)
1 tsp. vanilla

Fold mixture, until all dissolved. Cool fudge in a buttered 13x9 dish. You can freeze the fudge as well.

Holiday Candy Makin’

Do you remember when you were a child and you watched your grandmother or maybe even mother make candy for the holidays? Fudge, peanut butter cups, peanut brittle, sugared pecans, divinity…these are the types of candy I helped my mother make in our country kitchen.

I loved to watch my mother’s hands when she was cooking. I thought they were magical and it always amazed me how she could make such sweet tasting treats.

My mother would make goodies for neighbors that lived in the Ozarks that had helped us with farm chores, like getting cattle up to be worked, pulling a calf, or rounding all the cattle up when they got out. She would also make goodies for folks that provided great services like the postal man, hairdresser, school bus drivers and even the local 4-H leader.

My mother still makes her holiday goodies each year, but now they are focused around her grandchildren (Sydnee, Hunter, Luke, Logan and Landon). She likes to make mini pumpkin breads, peanut butter cups, snowmen cookies and many other special treats for her grandbabies. Pictured to the right is Sydnee, Luke, myself and Hunter at Luke's 4th birthday party this past weekend.

One of my favorite holiday candies is brittle. I found this brittle recipe from the Martha Stewart website. BTW- there is no other site to log on to – to find the best in everything than Martha Stewart. I don’t care what you think about the lady- she is classy through and through and has helped me survived many dinners and holiday dinners.

Nut Brittle
From Martha Stewart
Makes 1 1/2 pounds

Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups mixed nuts, such as pecan halves, cashews, pistachios, coarsely chopped if large
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Spray a rimmed baking sheet and a wide metal spatula with cooking spray; set aside.

In a 2-quart glass measuring cup, combine sugar, corn syrup, and salt, stirring until sugar is moistened. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Stir in butter and nuts; return to microwave for about 5 minutes, until the sugar mixture is thick, bubbly, and very pale brown in color. Mixture is very hot; use handle when holding and pouring.

Remove from microwave, stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture may foam up). Immediately pour onto prepared baking sheet, spreading mixture as thinly as possible with the prepared spatula. Let stand 20 minutes until hardened, then lift off sheet, and break brittle into bite-size pieces.