‘Fudge’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Five Minute Fudge {Wreath}

January 4, 2018 · Narrative

A fudge recipe that is delicious AND doesn’t require the use of a candy thermometer is pretty much the only kind of fudge recipe I make.

A million years ago (thirteen to be exact!), I was in a Supper Club. We would rotate houses and meet once a month over a potluck meal. Sometimes there was a theme, and sometimes it centered around a particular cookbook or cook. I first discovered this recipe for a Five Minute Fudge Wreath when someone brought it to one of our supper club gatherings, and I’ve been making it ever since. In fact, I even taught how to make it in one of my December kids cooking classes.

Although the traditional recipe is for a wreath form and shape, you are certainly not obligated to make it that way. Because why should you miss out on this deliciousness the other eleven months of the year?! Just put it in an 8×8 square pan and it’s all good.

My oldest kid still loves to lick the dregs from a can of sweetened condensed milk, so the fact that this recipe uses it is a bonus! Just a few other ingredients, mix it up, pour it into the pan, decorate, and let it sit.

If you use just the red cherries to decorate it, it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, and a sweet treat to cut up and distribute to neighbors, teachers, bus drivers, and the like.

Are you familiar with Chunky bars? I swear I lived on them during my teen years, and this recipe reminds me of the taste of Chunky Bars.

So good!

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Visit: Chocolate Monkey {Tennessee}

August 21, 2014 · Narrative

Need to satisfy a sweet tooth while in Tennessee? The Chocolate Monkey is just the place.

When I was compiling a list of things to do, see, or eat for our Spring Break trip to Tennessee, a few people suggested that we visited the Chocolate Monkey, billed as the #1 chocolate shop in the Smokies. And since my six-year-old is our resident chocoholic, it was a given that stopping here was pretty high on her list.

During our week long stay in Tennessee, it felt like we saw Chocolate Monkey locations everywhere we went, which stands to reason since they happen to have five locations in the areas that we were visiting. We ended up visiting the Sevierville location, which happened to be near one of our hotels, and chose this one because of its cute outdoor area that resembled something out of the 1950s, complete with a canopy and picnic tables.

When you walk into the store, it is definitely sensory overload. There are bright colors, sweet smells, and, well, monkeys everywhere. Fun, but dangerously teetering into that too much category.

Originally started as a candy and fudge shop only five years ago, it has expanded to include a wide selection of creamy and delicious ice cream as well. And those candy apples were something else. Huge.

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Recipe: To-Die-For Fudge Brownies {Kid-Approved Snacks}

June 6, 2012 · Narrative

First things first. I completely spaced in last night’s post and neglected to include the LINK to the new pop up shop. Duh. You can visit the shop right here (new listings went up tonight!). Nick was sick yesterday and today, so I’m blaming it on being a spaced out mom. Or a mom that was focused on dispensing chicken noodle soup and blankets and not selling napkin rings.

Now, today’s recipe. I went back and forth about sharing this one. But after making it four times in only three weeks, I decided to forge ahead. Regular readers know our ongoing quest for the perfect, stop-the-search, fudgy brownie. A recent online search brought me to this one, from the folks at Woman’s Day magazine. I first made it a few weeks ago. Sent half home with Mystic for his kids. Gave my kids a few in their lunch boxes. And then it was gone.

In less than 24 hours.

Mystic’s oldest son said it tasted like fudge. And inhaled it. So after a few recent hard days for him, I made the second batch and declared it only his.

The third batch was because I had to even the score. And Madeline’s frequent request these days are “brownies. the chocolate ones.”

And who am I to say no to that?

And the fourth batch? ‘Twas just because.

So now you might be wondering if I made it four times in three weeks, why am I hesitant about sharing it?

Because it doesn’t cut neatly. And that’s one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to brownies. (Don’t mind the crumbs in the dish. It’s not quite as bad as that picture would indicate. That’s just from little hands in the dish.)

It might seem like something small and insignificant, but it bugs me. I want to be able to cut the kids a nice rectangular piece of brownie. Without all the jagged edges and crumbs falling on the floor. I want to be able to plate up perfectly neat squares when friends drop by.

This brownie is not that.

But that being said, the taste is really good. Like really really good. Slightly dense. Very definitely fudgy. And the answer to a chocoholics dream. Beyond that, it’s ridiculously simple to make.

Which is a bonus in anyone’s book, if you ask me.

So for those moments when you need a sweet little treat. And are able to let go of the brownie’s (and life’s) little imperfections.

This is that.

Tomorrow? Pure randomness.

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Recipe: Mackinac Island Fudge

January 26, 2012 · Narrative

Yesterday threw a few challenges my way. In fact, I think I may have gotten more than my fair share. Did you accidentally send me yours?

Mystic texted me “How are YOU?”

And my answer was loud and clear. “I am just a little spent, and more than ready to pull the plug on today.”

A challenging afternoon led way to a restless night and little sleep, and getting the kids ready this morning, I was seriously dragging. I knew some of the challenges would be spilling over today, so I put on a little sparkle. Because despite the doom and gloom of the wet, rainy weather, and despite the muck of the day ahead, sequined shoes surely make everything better, right?

A very observant friend caught me taking a picture of my shoes on her way home tonight.

Yesterday, three of our town’s finest were leaving our home. (We are all fine, swear.) One of them paused at our front door when he saw one of our hanging prints.

“Wow, that’s great!”

Oh, thank you. He called one of his partners back inside to show him.

He asked me where I got it and although I could have directed him to the Etsy shop, I had a feeling that interest in an artisan marketplace wasn’t going to happen.

“Why don’t you take a picture of it?” his partner suggested.

He looked at me. “Do you mind?”

No, of course not. Please.

He grabbed his cell phone and snapped a quick shot of it.

“That’s really awesome. So motivating.”

Thank you. I thought it was the perfect thing to see right before we head out the door in the morning.

He nodded. Smiling big. And it’s now his screensaver.

This morning as I left the house with the kids, grabbing exactly 46 things I needed during the day, I gave the print a quick glance.

Sometimes that really IS all you need to quickly get you out of your funk. A glance at one of my favorite prints as we start our day. Some sequined shoes to finish off your outfit. An inspirational quote (and if you follow me on Twitter, you know I love a lot of them). Twisting your daughter’s hair into a new, funky hairstyle. Mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch (xoxo to the friend who needed that). Or a small piece of chocolate mid-day.

But let’s be honest. Sometimes your trials can’t be cured by a motivational quote or a piece of indulgent sea salt flavored chocolate from Lindt. But I am all for the days when it can.

It was a day that called for chocolate. For the office and the five kids (!) I have under my care tonight, it’s giant chocolate chip cookies. For Mystic (and leftovers for the office), it’s another round of fudge. Once I get on the kick of a new food, I want to find the best recipe possible for it. And then I move on. Well, most of the time I do. Recently, I shared the Three Minute Three Ingredient Fudge. Delicious stuff and totally worth making. Especially if you like fudge. Or mint. And definitely if you like both combined. But then last night, I came across this recipe for Mackinac Island Fudge.

Let me preface the recipe by saying this.

I am super picky about fudge.

And about sweets in general.

There are only a few kinds of fudge I like.

And even fewer that I’ll make.

And chocolate is not any of them.

In fact, in nearly seven years of writing here, there are only a handful of fudge recipes that I have made more than once. Butter Pecan. Peanut Butter. That’s it.

But I tasted some of this Mackinac Island Fudge yesterday.

You know, quality control and all that.

I mean, I don’t want to poison my kids.

Or Mystic.

And omg, is it ever good.

Make it if you like fudge.

And especially if you like chocolate fudge.

And if you like chocolate fudge and had a challenge-filled day or two.

Or just because you feel like indulging.

Or need to fill that 20% margin for error.

Find your reason and make it.

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Recipe: Giada De Laurentiis’ Nutella Fudge

July 2, 2011 · Narrative, Sweets

One of my co-workers mentioned that she stopped reading my web site months ago when I “started cooking healthy.” Jill, this one’s for you.

Fudgy. Sinfully sweet. Nutella. Giada De Laurentiis. How can you go wrong?

This recipe is super simple to make and will take care of your sweet craving very nicely. Especially if you happen to have a jar of Nutella taking up real estate in your pantry. I was first introduced to Nutella when I was a kid and we lived in England for a few years. To this day, my favorite way to eat it is from the jar with a swipe of my finger a spoon. Which is precisely why I hide the jar in the back of the baking cabinet. So I don’t get tempted by it. If you’re not a purist, after making this fudge, these self-frosting cupcakes are another good way to indulge in your Nutella fantasies.

Surprise Saturday post – happy weekend!

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