In this section:
Fudge
Averil had one fudge recipe from her Aunt Martha in her book. From the book and the mystery box, cakes and pies were more popular in the Jeffs family than candies. I've also included two recipes from Grace's box.
Vassar Fudge
Aunt Martha
Vassar is a women's college in Poughkeepsie, NY. What did rebellious women students do in the the late 19th century? — They made fudge and Welsh Rarebit on chafing dishes in their dorm rooms after lights out at 10 p.m. It was exciting and sneaky because staff patrolled the halls to enforce curfew. Some writers claim Vassar students invented fudge. Rebellion or just plain boredom? Uncle Hal's friend Mike who has worked in the town assured us that there is Nothing To Do in Poughkeepsie.
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- butter size of walnut [about 1 1/2 tablespoons]
- 2 squares Baker's chocolate
- 1/2 cup milk, flavored with little vanilla
Boil 7 minutes, take from fire and beat 3 minutes. Turn into buttered pan, mark in squares when cool.
Grace's file includes two fudge recipes. The first one, Carnation Fudge, is in her handwriting (possibly from the can label). The second one is from a friend, but we can't identify the handwriting. Except for the coconut, the recipes are pretty much the same.
Carnation Fudge
Put in a sauce pan over low heat:
- 2/3 cup Carnation Evaporated Milk
- 1 2/3 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Heat to boiling. Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add:
- 16 sliced marshmallows
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet bits
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
Stir 1 to 2 minutes, spread in buttered square pan, cool, and cut.
[Coconut] Fudge
- 2/3 cup (1 small can) evaporated milk
- 1 2/3 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)
Mix first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Heat to boiling; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients, stir until melted. Pour into buttered (or lined with waxed paper) 9-inch square pan. Cool and cut.
