Family Foodies

I could find out the exact recipe for a Christmas confection created by the top chef to the Queen of England and stay up all night painstakingly following every step to the letter, and it still wouldn’t turn out as good as anything my mom makes at Christmas.

I’m sure it’s psychological and has to do with pleasant memories of childhood Christmases, but there we are. Mom’s goodies are the best. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I get to eat them.

Here’s one of her best confections:

Peanut Butter Fudge

(This is exactly how she explained it to me, so I hope it’s understandable.)

2 cups sugar
3 heaping tablespoons chunk peanut butter
pinch of salt
1 small can (5oz) evaporated milk
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything together in a bowl, pour into a regular saucepan and turn on medium heat. Turn down heat when it starts to boil and continue cooking, stirring frequently. After a while, take a very small amount and drop into a glass of cold water. If it falls apart it’s not ready, if it sticks together it’s ready.

When it’s ready, remove from heat. Add 2 tbsp butter and 1 tsp vanilla and beat the heck out of it until slightly stiff, then spread in a shallow buttered dish. Refrigerate it until it well.

This is great for giving as a gift, especially when you you mix a few pieces of this with a few pieces of chocolate fudge.