Treat Your Tastebuds

As promised...it's time to step into the kitchen and stir up a little chocolatey goodness. Yes, I'm two days late and without a video demonstration. Not that I didn't film the process, but honestly, it's tricky to film while you stir and talk. These are skills best done with ample thought, time and perhaps an assistant. What I got for my efforts in that department are probably best saved for a blooper reel some day in the future. 

See the pretty blue cups all in a row in the background here? They were a Goodwill find two weeks ago. I really had no where to store them, so they got lined up on top of the stove and have brightened things up nicely. The space above them is still waiting for me to create a weathered sign and hang it there. 

I'm working on it...

Meanwhile, it's getting hot out there. It's getting even hotter in here. It's been climbing toward the muggy mid to upper 80's, and I'm holding out on using the airconditioner - yes, I'm working on maintaining a low electric bill for one more month. The stoic in me just knows we can make it without it AC until the end of May. The wimp and the whiner in me says other things, but so far The Stoic is winning.

This weather means ice cream is in the forecast. No, I don't care if it is beach weather (it's almost always beach weather here) I am not wearing a bathing suit ever again anyway, so I'd like to have a bowl of ice cream now and again, thank you.

Lately my preference has been vanilla with hot fudge sauce. I'm not too worried about having a little ice cream now and again because I'm not that big of an ice cream eater, but on the occasional evening, especially if it's hot out, sometimes it's just the thing, and especially if there is hot fudge.


Around here, Publix is one of the few brands that still give you a half a gallon of ice cream. The others have all been gypping us and have made their containers smaller while they raise the price. Tricky little devils.

So, Im thinking it's time to get some hot fudge sauce made so I can enjoy this frosty goodness.

Why not just buy jar sauce, you ask? 

Excuse me?

I. Don't. Think. So. 

Bite that tongue of yours and listen up. We do not eat hot fudge out of a jar, unless we made it and poured it in that jar ourselves. Got it? There are some prepackaged foods (fake foods) that are absolutely unacceptable in this house, except under dire circumstances.

• Hot Fudge
• Whipped cream
• Frosting - definitely no store bought frosting. I can't even think of a situation dire enough in this life in which we will ever again stoop to store bought frosting. Might as well hook yourself up to a chemical pump and inject it straightaway into your taste buds as to feed yourself store bought. For me, it's pure butter all the way.

And I ask you, why be unkind to perfectly obliging taste buds! They've been such an entertaining part of your life. Sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, sometimes spicing things up and making the party happen! You owe 'em.

Still worried about a few calories, some fat or carbs or whatever dietary demons it is that lurk there in hot fudge sauce? Well, I ask you, "how short is this life?" Too short not to make some gooey homemade goodness once in a while. If you haven't reached the age whereby you understand the fleeting nature of these moments called life, give yourself a decade. Come back and tell us the tales of how just about every moment has dwindled to half the length it used to be. It will happen. You'll see time morph in ways you never knew possible. Loosen up and live it up once in a while!

So, now that you know you need Hot Fudge Sauce to make your life complete, here's the 3 ingredient recipe my mom made when we were growing up. We often made other homemade goodies and candy after church on Sunday afternoons. My mom had a sweet tooth, as I remember her telling me...and I willingly followed suit. Boy, those were the days. If we weren't making fudge, we were making penuche or pulling toffee. The glory days. Then again, today can be a glory day too. It's up to you.

There is no special trick to this recipe, and it's an especially nice treat for a party or as a gift at Christmas or to give a hostess or whatever the occasion. Pour it in one of the smaller mason jars. Tie it up with twine or colored ribbon of your choice to reflect your style or the style of the recipient, add a tag or other embellishment if you are so inclined. It will be a hit! You can quote me on that.

Hot Fudge Sauce

2 squares of unsweetened chocolate
1 can of Evaporated Milk
1 cup of sugar

If you don't have these ingredients, go get them. I'll wait. You should also consider keeping these items always on hand in case the need for a hot fudge fix overwhelms you. Your family will thank you. Well, I would if I was your family.



Begin by melting the squares of chocolate over medium low heat in a small amount of the milk, stirring constantly with a whisk so that the chocolate blends smoothly with the milk and doesn't burn or clump.



Continue to add milk gradually, mixing it with the chocolate as more of it melts, making sure to whisk and stir away the little chocolate flecks and lumps that will try to form. It doesn't really alter the flavor if they are there, but the appearance will be much more appealing and smooth without them.



Once all of the chocolate is melted and blended creamily in with the milk, add the sugar and continue to stir. Raise the heat to about medium or a bit higher and continue to stir until you reach a boil. Turn down the heat a bit to maybe medium low to medium to maintain a low to medium boil.



Pull up a chair, barstool or whatever and CONTINUE TO STIR while the fudge boils for 15 to 20 minutes. 20 minutes is preferable in my estimation as the fudge will get thicker. If you like it a bit thinner, cook and stir for 15 minutes. If you don't have stirring stamina, call in the kids to do their duty to the sugar fix. If there are no willing hands available and you do not have one of those Jetsonesque robot stirrer thingies, bring your computer in (if you have a laptop) and set it on the counter so you have something to read while you stir. The time flies right by reading all your lovely blogs.



In 20 minutes time, the fudge sauce will be getting thick, and it will smell divine. There is no need for a soft ball test or a thermometer. Just watch as it thickens.

Soon husbands and children and even you, yourself, will be happy as clams with this delight melting in your mouth and making your taste buds glad they are your own and that you cared enough to treat them to the very best.



I pour the finished product into a Ball jar or whatever container has a good tight seal and store it in the fridge once it has cooled. (Ever try to pour fudge from a pan into a small jar with your non-dominant hand and take a picture with a huge camera in the other hand at the same time? Oh, you haven't? Nevermind then. I'm just telling ya, it takes skill. You can see by the jar that I have not yet mastered that skill.)



If you intend to enjoy this right away, let it cool uncovered until it is warm enough not to melt your ice cream, and pour it on. If you don't care if it melts your ice cream, just go ahead and dig in!

Make your family and friends happy, and splurge this week. After all...

Life is short. 


Treat your tastebuds!

Tempting

More tempting...any questions?

Ready.

Okay, it was in the mid 80's out when I tried to get photos of the hot fudge on the ice cream. Despite keeping the ice cream in the freezer until the moment I wanted to take a photo, in under 30 seconds, the ice cream turned to mush. The hot fudge just slid off. Not exactly the presentation I had hoped for. Product shots sure are tricky. It was also nearly dark and I didn't get one clear shot of the sauce on the ice cream in my rush to beat the "melt". So it goes. Use your imagination. You are creative people. I trust you.

Just remember this simple recipe:

2 Squares of Unsweetened Chocolate
1 can of evaporated milk
1 cup of sugar

Blend til smooth and stir, stir, stir for 15 to 20 minutes.

Thanks for reading!

Liz

I'll be sharing this recipe with:

I Gotta Try That

Debbie-Doos Newbie Party

Motivate me Monday at Crafts Keep Me Sane

I Should be Mopping the Floor

Twigg Studios Sunday Show Off

Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special

Homemaker in Heels' Weekend Craft Soiree

Doodles and Stitches Fabulous Friday

Rooted in Thyme's Sweet and Simple Friday

At The Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday

My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday

The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home Party

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and nonsense

Delightful Order's Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party

Time Travel Thursday at the Brambleberry Cottage

Open House Thursdays at No Minimalist Here

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Your Whims Wednesday at My Girlish Whims

Cure for the Common Monday

Cedar Hill Ranch's Cowgirl Up Party

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia's Tuesday's Treasures

Sugarbeecrafts' Take a Look Tuesday

The Winthrop Chronicles' Share It party