All that glitters isn’t gold

A piece of fudge, one for me and one for you!

Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. 

This one arrived in September!

The best kind cannot be valued, they are priceless. Love gently wraps all of our most beautiful gifts – and LIFE becomes richer for their presence.

When you wish upon a star! 

I’ve resisted and willed myself to approach this Christmas with deep calm, though my excitement can no longer be quenched by thoughts alone, so here I go, I’m sharing with you my first of several lovely gifts to make for the ones you love! AND for those who may need an extra bit of TLC too. For me, that is what makes this time of year special, the sense of giving, the carols, the smells, the memories of times past re-kindled and the acceptance that nothing remains the same. Each year brings new gifts and treasured times live on in our hearts, ALWAYS.

Love heals

I first tasted fudge in Cornwall, aged nine. Discovering these butterscotch flavoured nuggets of soft sweetness was one of my very own Christopher Columbus moments. It was on a school trip and with my pocket money I bought a box for my family. The brown paper bag never made the journey back to London, I accidentally left it on the train and some lucky person hopefully had a sweet treat instead.

Give a gift, give FUDGE!

"The softest things in the world

overcome the hardest things in the world."

Lao-Tzu

Those who read this blog know that I opt for healthy choices and sugar is rarely featured, however there is a time and a place for fudge, and that time is approaching! I’m a believer in balance and few absolutes. Feasts are made such by enjoying foods that are special and not eaten everyday, think caviar, think truffles, think FUDGE. I read an interesting article in the New York Times,  the jury is undecided on whether sugar is toxic or not, the key is to be informed, to make the right choice for you and your family. I’m sticking to, in a toffee like fashion; most things are OK in moderation and that means - save the sweets for treats and lovely seasonal fruits and nuts for everyday delights. Forbidden fruits become tempting for all of the wrong reasons, I'd plum for an apple over fudge on most days, why because it feels good and tastes fresh. On special occasions however I make an exception. 

Satin like or silk like?

When making fudge the transformation from ribbon caramel silk, to crumbly melt in the mouth sweet is hypnotic. Good music has a similar charm; it whisks one into another world, lulling us along and dee dum, dee dum, dee dum, the heart goes, ahhhh, and a feeling of whatever the music insights echoes. Making fudge is a visual treat and one lovely way to give special gifts to those close to you. It’s also fun to make with children and whoever cleans up gets to lick the spoon, other little helpers share the bowl!

Ribbons of vanilla

For an extra special touch sprinkle over some edible gold dust, wrap in tissue and put in little gift boxes or present in cellophane bags with your favourite coloured ribbon. Gifts, like these take precious little time to make, though go a very long way in thoughtfulness and will keep for up to a month, so getting ahead is easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Always follow the rainbow and know YOU'RE gold

Isn’t time one of our most valued commodities these days? Those you spend it with are very lucky indeed!

Cherish special times

Here’s to calm Christmas preparations, to family and friends!

Love,

FFX

White chocolate and cranberry fudge

Beautiful fudge!

White chocolate, 350g broken into cubes

Condensed milk, 1 350g tin

Vanilla extract, 1 tsp

Dried cranberries, 75g

Gold dust, (optional) a pinch to sprinkle on top

LINE a 15cmx23cm roasting tin with baking paper.

PLACE a heatproof bowl over a suitably sized saucepan with gently boiling water.

SCATTER in the white chocolate.

POUR in the condensed milk and stir occasionally until silky smooth.

ADD vanilla essence and enjoy the sweet aroma.

POUR divine mixture into lined roasting tin.

SPRINKLE over cranberries, pressing in gently.

DAZZLE with some gold dust.

COVER and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs.

SLICE into bite size pieces and share with the ones you love.