Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge

What dessert or treat do you have to have for Christmas? For me, my dad's famous toffee reminds me of Christmas so much. Christmas caroling to friends and family especially, while sharing with them his delicious buttery toffee. My dad has simply perfected toffee making, and he recently shared his recipe and tips with me. But I was a bit intimidated, and still am in fact. I know how many years it has taken him to get this recipe just right, and I know that even with his expertise he has undercooked or overcooked the toffee.  I know that new candy thermometers and new pots changed the length of cooking time. I know that moving to California with the change in altitude changed the recipe complete.y And I'm scared to pieces to try it for myself. So, even though I really want to share this recipe with you, its not time for that yet, because I can't exactly share a recipe that I haven't made, now can I? How about I make this promise to you, I, Aimee, solemnly swear that by this time next year (sorry, that's the best I can do) I will have made my dad's toffee recipe and will share it with you. 


Another thing that has always intimidated me is fudge. I never grew up with my mom making fudge because she always complained that it wouldn't turn out. It would be too grainy, or overcooked, or who knows what else. So until this week I had only made microwave fudge, but this recipe looked way too good to pass up. And we needed something to share with our new neighbors. So I decided to try it. And it turned out perfect. I'm sorry to say that I didn't really change the recipe at all (okay, except for using crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy, milk chocolate instead of semi sweet, and a little more vanilla). But its too delicious not to share with you anyway.

Chocolate Layer
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 TBS margarine
1/3 cup evaporated milk
6 oz milk chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
3.5 oz marshmallow creme

Peanut Butter Layer
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 TBS margarine
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3.5 oz marshmallow creme

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, 6 TBS margarine and 1/3 cup evaporated milk in a medium pot, over medium high.
2. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring often.
3. Boil for about 1 minute.
4. Lower the heat to medium and continue to boil for another 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips, until melted.
6. Add half of the jar of marshmallow creme and 1 tsp vanilla.
7. Stir until well blended.
8. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan.
9. Repeat steps 1-7, replacing chocolate chips with peanut butter.
10. Spread peanut butter mixture over chocolate.
11. Cool completely, at room temperature.
12. Cut into squares and enjoy.

Do you take a Christmas treat to your friends and neighbors? What do you like to share?

chocolate caramel fudge

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 12oz bag milk chocolate chips

1  TBS butter

about 10-14 caramel chews (I probably did 20, but I had about 4oz left over)

1 TBS sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1.Put caramels, 1 TBS sweetened condensed milk and whipping cream in a pot on the stove over medium heat.

2. Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and butter in a microwave safe bowl.

3. Cook caramels for about 5 minutes, stirring almost constantly, until they look like caramel syrup.

4. Melt chocolate mixture in the microwave for about 2.5 to 3 minutes.

5. Stir chocolate mixture together.

6. Spray a bread loaf pan with Pam.

7. Pour about 1/2 of the fudge into the pan.

8. Pour the caramel on top of the fudge.

9. Top the caramel with the rest of the fudge mixture. (It might not spread super evenly on top, but the most important thing is taste)

10. Refridgerate for about 1 hour, until fudge and caramel have both hardened.

Enjoy.

As you can see, I poured more than half of the fudge out the first time, and it still turned out fine. So don't worry about measuring or anything. This mixture tastes absolutely delicious! I probably ate 1/4 of the pan, all by myself last night, and I had to restrain myself from eating more for breakfast. I love chocolate, I love caramel, what more could you want. If you don't want to buy store bought caramels, I'm sure this would also work great with a homemade caramel recipe, honestly, I just didn't want to open a second can of sweetened condensed milk.

This is definitely a recipe I'll be making again. Easy, and so tasty. I just need to learn how to make nougat and this would be a homemade milkyway. Yum!

Microwave Caramel

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (which is about 1/2 a can)
1/2 cup light corn syrup

1. All ingredients start at room temperature.
2. Poor all ingredients into a large microwave safe bowl. (needs to be pretty big, cause caramel bubbles up)
3. Put in microwave for 2 minutes.
4. Mix.
5. Microwave for 2 minutes.
6. Mix
7. Microwave for 2 minutes.
8. Mix.
9. Poor into an greased 8x8 Pyrex. (so I put waxed paper in the Pyrex and the caramel totally stuck, so I don't recommend doing that. I was still able to get some, but some was wasted because the waxed paper ripped and the caramel just stuck)

This was so easy and the caramel turned out delicious. I rolled it into little balls, and oval things and wrapped it in waxed paper (though I also pamed the waxed paper just in case).

This recipe (apparently) cannot be doubled. Cause it won't work with the timing in the microwave. Also, don't accidentally cook it one extra time (cause it makes hard hard hard caramel).

I think this would be delicious on popcorn. And, apparently if you add some whipping cream or half and half it'll make delicious caramel syrup.

This is how many it made (minus the caramel that is stuck on the waxed paper in the garbage, and the caramel I ate while I was rolling these.

Try this. You won't regret it.

3 minute fudge

Yes, believe it and it was delicious!

I needed a recipe for a treat that would be made quick. I found this recipe at V and Co. Of course I twisted it to fit me.

1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 bag peanut butter chips
3 TBS. butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Put everything into a large microwave proof bowl. Mix up slightly. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir together until everything is well mixed ( a couple of minutes maybe- when I pulled it out of the microwave I thought this is not going to work, everything is all separated the butter is sitting on top, etc. - don't worry just mix). After it is all mixed together, pour into a 9x9 pan. Place in fridge for 30 minutes to solidify and it will be soft set ready to eat, and it held its shape.

I took some to the RS luncheon today and it was raved over. So simple and delicious. I was grateful that plenty of sisters wanted to take the leftovers home so I did not have to really blow my calorie intake for today.