A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

Softstuff

ragz wrote: »

Softstuff - about to try your fudge recipe (found your blog yesterday btw, very nice!) without the walnuts. Need to make fudge for christmas gifts and so far it has all failed in some way (not to say it was wasted of course!) so this is my last chance!

Oh my, no pressure then :rotfl:

The key really is to cook it long enough and to get the temperature high enough... but not so high you make toffee. And if you stir a lot it's granier, not unpleasantly so, but grainy nonetheless.

If you undercooked and didn't get fudge, you'd have vanilla caramel sauce for ice cream.

If you overcooked and didn't get fudge, you'd have vanilla toffee.

Win win!

ragz_2

Softstuff wrote: »

Oh my, no pressure then :rotfl:

The key really is to cook it long enough and to get the temperature high enough... but not so high you make toffee. And if you stir a lot it's granier, not unpleasantly so, but grainy nonetheless.

If you undercooked and didn't get fudge, you'd have vanilla caramel sauce for ice cream.

If you overcooked and didn't get fudge, you'd have vanilla toffee.

Win win!

OK I have been boiling it for 20+ minutes, I have a sticky cooker but very runny fudge still - what am I doing wrong? It's bubbling a LOT - I'm not stirring it, I'm typing... my others have been very grainy though - I assumed the more I stir it the smoother it would be!

kidcat

GQ - how on earth did you find my visitors cleaning plan out????

At one time or another I have employed all those methods - not always with great success. NOtably the time I didnt hoover under the sofas and a guest waited till I was getting coffee made and then rearranged my sofas!!! Oh the embarrassment - thankfully in this house the sofas cant be moved without huge upheaval so its not possible.
Candlelight masks everything - we gave adinner party in a dining room where the kids had scrawled all over the walls the day of the party, turned off all the lights lit candles and it just looked like patterned wallpaper!!

I find myself with a day of nothingness, not worth cleaning any more, everything got a deep clean at weekend and will need a quick run over on Christmas eve, no shopping needed (last few bits of milk etc will be done on Friday) kids are all off school and bored so decided on a trip out - thought to myself National Trust - they are bound to be running some Christmas stuff, nothing all closed nearby. And really cant think of anywhere else that wont cost a fortune.

kidcat

ragz wrote: »

OK I have been boiling it for 20+ minutes, I have a sticky cooker but very runny fudge still - what am I doing wrong? It's bubbling a LOT - I'm not stirring it, I'm typing...

I tried several times last year and never got past the runny stage - gave up in disgust!! Good luck.

redlady_1

From one Taurus to another, chin up girlie. On the plus side think of it as an enforced diet Take care xxx

ragz_2

kidcat wrote: »

I tried several times last year and never got past the runny stage - gave up in disgust!! Good luck.

That makes me feel better! I assume I need to boil off the water... still going! I WILL NOT give up... I refuse to be beaten. I CAN make fudge!

Kidcat - we tookt the kdis to a garden centre at the weekend. Wandered around looking at all the pretty decorations for a while. Our has reindeer and a free carousel but we took them to a park after anyway. Or you could do the library?

Softstuff

ragz wrote: »

OK I have been boiling it for 20+ minutes, I have a sticky cooker but very runny fudge still - what am I doing wrong? It's bubbling a LOT - I'm not stirring it, I'm typing... my others have been very grainy though - I assumed the more I stir it the smoother it would be!

The fudge does stay runny in the pan... I assume you don't have a candy thermometer... have you tried dropping a drop in cold water? When you drop it in cold water if it gets to the stage where you could roll the cooled bit up into a ball it's done. You then remove it from the heat (yes it'll still look runny), add the vanilla and wait 5 minutes leaving it to cool. Then you go back to it and beat it like hell... it thickens somewhat and as you beat it, the shinyness vanishes. When it looks a bit more matte, pour it onto the tray, and leave it to cool some more. When it's room temperature, put it in the fridge.

When it's on the stove though it never is anything other than liquid. It's the temperature you're looking for, not a change in consistency.

Edited to add: It's as it cools that it solidifies.... it's more like jelly than custard in that regard!

I'm sorry though, you're on your own now for 10 hours, I'm off to bed, good luck!

ragz_2

Softstuff wrote: »

The fudge does stay runny in the pan... I assume you don't have a candy thermometer... have you tried dropping a drop in cold water? When you drop it in cold water if it gets to the stage where you could roll the cooled bit up into a ball it's done. You then remove it from the heat (yes it'll still look runny), add the vanilla and wait 5 minutes leaving it to cool. Then you go back to it and beat it like hell... it thickens somewhat and as you beat it, the shinyness vanishes. When it looks a bit more matte, pour it onto the tray, and leave it to cool some more. When it's room temperature, put it in the fridge.

When it's on the stove though it never is anything other than liquid. It's the temperature you're looking for, not a change in consistency.

Edited to add: It's as it cools that it solidifies.... it's more like jelly than custard in that regard!

I'm sorry though, you're on your own now for 10 hours, I'm off to bed, good luck!

Ahhhh! OK, nearly there then, I have done the water test and it is not quite balling but nearly. I was expecting it to thicken, that's where I went wrong.
Thanks for the help, night night!

fuddle

I'm cleaning but not what I should be. I actually polished my bin. I've cleaned and dusted my recipe books and re-arranged the shelf. All very useful. :rotfl: I've been blog hopping and loving the recipes I'm coming across. Softstuff just about to indulge in yours with a cuppa. Thanks for pointing it out ragz

The only problem is they tend to be in cup measurements. I'l have to find if there's any thing that can translate into metric. Too many good ideas to miss out on!

Much to my little one's disgust I'm also watching Take That Progress tour. So funny how times change, I would have begged my mum to watch it when I was little :rotfl:

ginnyknit

Just been to local market and it was quite busy, hopefully that means it will survive into the New Year. Just bought some barmcakes and a ham shank plus a swirly black cardi for a fiver. Have been contemplating what on earth to get Mum for Christmas and want to avoid the big shops, decided in a flash of inspiration (yes I still get them occasionally!) on a voucher for a day out in Morecambe with a fish and chip lunch. That will please her no end :T

Off to the hospital again for Oh's pre-op - they say it will take 1 -2 hours so am packing a picnic as he had porridge - made properley Mardatha! - and cannot face lunch. I am really struggling to get him to eat at the mo so have to plan ahead.

Hugs to all in need