• Adventures in Candy Making

    by Mo • June 25, 2009 • dessert • 1 Comment

    My sweet tooth has been reigning over my cooking recently! After one failed attempt with my Aunt Janet’s chocolate fudge recipe, I swore off candy making for a while. A couple of days ago I was feeling saucy and decided to give it another go.

    This recipe is not difficult and the ingredients are common but it does take quite a bit of time to get the right consistency. Patience is the name of the game! I did have a candy thermometer handy but as I was checking on the mixture, I noticed that it seemed a little off. I opted for the ‘cold water test’ to make sure the candy was at the right sugar stage.

    Ingredients:
    2 cups white sugar
    1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    1 cup milk
    4 tablespoons butter
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    -Grease a baking pan with butter and set aside.
    -Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil stirring constantly.
    -Reduce heat to low and simmer. DO NOT STIR AGAIN! In fact, don’t even touch the pan-just let that baby bubble…


    The mixture is going to double in size (at least!) so make sure your pot is big enough to handle it!
    -Once the mixture has cooked for about 20-30 minutes, you can test the sugar stage by dropping a bit of the candy mixture into a cup of ice water. The mixture should form a soft ball-think about a tootsie roll that’s been in your pocket all day. When you’ve found the right stage, you can remove the pot from the heat.
    -Mix in your butter and vanilla and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen (few minutes). Transfer to the greased baking dish and allow to cool before devouring!

    About Mo

    The Story of Mo

    Told by Holly

    Maureen (Mo) Sullivan is one of the three crows holding down the Jamaica Plain Nest. Originally from New Jersey, she is the first person to introduce the words “yuengling” and “taylor ham” into my vocabulary. Although she still enjoys these nostalgic tastes, her culinary palette goes far beyond these items. Mo is always ready to take on the challenge of a new dish, but is equally happy reinventing the classics. When it comes to beverages, Three Philosophers, Stone, La Chouffe or any other finely crafted brew will stop this crow mid flight. Her Kitchen philosophy is simple: no meal should be created without the accompaniment of great tunes and that the best dinner parties should end with dancing.

    Living in a house filled with wonderful yet hungry roommates Mo has become a master at feeding the masses with home cooked meals. Some notable dishes include Vegetarian Chili, Vodka Sauce w/ Linguine, Baked Mac and Cheese, and who can forget all of the Pizza Plans! Mo also happens to be a member of the Crow Bake team, alongside Emily and Riane and has perfected the art of making cheesecakes. She never lets a friend’s birthday pass without whipping up a tasty treat; in return we jokingly refer to her as “Mama” Mo. It is her strong ties to family and friends as well as her inclusive nature that helps to keep us crows such a tight knit group.

    http://crowsinthekitchen.com

    One Response to Adventures in Candy Making

    1. herself
      June 25, 2009 at 12:40 pm

      CAN'T SEE THE PICTURES!

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