Name: Hershey's Rich Cocoa Fudge Description: In honor of the Fudge RPG discussion group, one of the Phoenyx' most active groups, here is a pretty darn good fudge recipe. This is a real fudge... not a "quick fudge" made with marshmallow creme or condensed milk. Ingredients: 3 cups sugar 2/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups milk 1/2 stick butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) Instructions: Line an 8 or 9" square pan with foil; butter foil. In heavy 4 quart saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa and salt; stir in milk. [Heavy means heavy. Thin steel pots will scorch your milk, heavy will distribute the heat more evenly.] Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. [Not just a sissy boil. Be patient.] Boil, without stirring, to 234 degrees Fahrenheit or until syrup, when dropped into very cold water, forms a soft ball which flattens when removed from water [Use a candy thermometer, it's much easier. Don't let the ther mometer touch the bottom of the pan or you'll get a false high reading.] Remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla - DO NOT STIR. [Just drop it on top and let it melt.] Cool at room temperature to 110 degrees - lukewarm. [Use that candy thermometer!] Beat with a wooden spoon until fudge thickens and loses some of its gloss. [If you haven't got a wooden spoon, plastic is better than metal.] Immediately stir in the chopped nuts, if desired. Spread quickly into prepared pan. Score while warm. When cool, cut into 36 squares. Variations: Marshmallow Fudge: Increase cocoa to 3/4 cup. Cook fudge as directed, except add 1 cup marshmallow creme with butter and vanilla. -- Karen J. Cravens (silver@phoenyx.net) ---------------------------------------------------------------- GAMERS Home Page: http://www.phoenyx.net/gamers/
