The Gabby Gourmand » holiday treats http://thegabbygourmand.com Just another Porch Swing Media Blog Network weblog Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:04:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Aunt Wilma’s Million Dollar Fudge http://thegabbygourmand.com/2009/12/24/aunt-wilmas-million-dollar-fudge/ http://thegabbygourmand.com/2009/12/24/aunt-wilmas-million-dollar-fudge/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:31:18 +0000 Gabby http://jacqui.porchswingmedia.com/?p=161 It’s the holidays, which means it is time to make sweet delicacies. My Aunt Wilma is an amazing cook, and my mom has been making this for years for folks. Everyone loves this because it doesn’t have a gritty or sugary consistency, and it freezes well. It also makes a fine gift. A word to the wise: use the brand names that my mom insisted I type in all caps. It’s as “serious as a heart attack” to get the right brands.

Aunt Wilma’s Million Dollar Fudge

Ingredients:

4 ½ cups white granulated sugar
one 12 oz. Can PET evaporated milk
2 sticks of PARKAY margarine
3 cups or 18 oz. of HERSHEY’S milk chocolate chips
one teaspoon vanilla
2 cups of pecans (optional, but really GOOOOOD)

What to do:

  • Cook on low –medium heat:

4 ½ cups white granulated sugar
one 12 oz. Can PET evaporated milk

  • Stir to keep from sticking. Bring to a boil and BOIL for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. <This part is VERY important. Do not walk away for a second. If you don’t get this mixture to the appropriate consistency, it will never set. I made this several times, and the 10-12 minutes is approximate on the low end. It will probably take longer. Or it may be that my stove is not as good as yours. It just needs to get to that “candy consistency” phase before you add the chocolate below.>
  • Add the following:

2 sticks of PARKAY margarine
3 cups or 18 oz. of HERSHEY’S milk chocolate chips

  • Stir till smooth and creamy. Add one teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups of pecans. Pour into a lightly greased (PARKAY) pan and let cool.
]]> http://thegabbygourmand.com/2009/12/24/aunt-wilmas-million-dollar-fudge/feed/ 0 Holiday Hot Toddy Du Jour: Hot Buttered Rum http://thegabbygourmand.com/2009/12/21/holiday-hot-toddy-du-jour-hot-buttered-rum/ http://thegabbygourmand.com/2009/12/21/holiday-hot-toddy-du-jour-hot-buttered-rum/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:22:55 +0000 Gabby http://jacqui.porchswingmedia.com/?p=158 As we watch the New Mexico Bowl game and Jack, Joe’s brother, hopes for a Wyoming win (it’s some competition they play with the college bowl games at Christmas), I look forward to the hot buttered rum I will be enjoying after dinner. Beverages are pretty important around here at Christmas time. The fire is glowing in the fireplace, Joe and Jack are discussing beer choices of Nashville and Austin, and we girls are reading and half participating in the discussion topics. The dogs are lounging in front of the fire while we enjoy the vintage tradition inspired tree and await dinner time. The friendly family rivalry is a staple of the holidays. Delights are made in talking trash. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum

In a mug, combine:

2 tbsp dark rum
4 or 5 tbsp of frozen awesomeness (or more of this tasty mixture if you prefer sweeter)
½ cup boiling water poured over the above ingredients

Frozen Awesomeness

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 pint of good quality vanilla ice cream, softened

Mix all but ice cream in blender or food processor. Stir in ice cream and freeze.

]]> http://thegabbygourmand.com/2009/12/21/holiday-hot-toddy-du-jour-hot-buttered-rum/feed/ 0