Chocolate dates back to the Mayan empire. They ground cocoa beans into a paste and mixed it with spices and chilies before adding it to water to make a variety of bittersweet drinks. They also mixed chocolate with corn and made a porridge-like food that was loaded with health giving qualities. By today’s standards, these foods would taste awful and are nothing like modern chocolate confections.
Chocolate is versatile. People drink it hot, mix it in their milk, and eat candy bars by the millions. During the holidays many people make fudge for their friends and family. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, nothing says, “I love you” better than chocolate.
Even the most inept cook can make this fudge. It really is that easy.
No Fail Microwave Fudge
3 ½ cups confectioners (powdered) sugar
½ cup cocoa (I use dark chocolate because it has more of the good-for-you stuff and I just like the taste better.)
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 cube) of butter (Do not use margarine, which has water in it and will ruin the fudge.)
¼ cup milk (I made this once and accidentally used a ½ cup. It didn’t set up as fudge, but it made the best damn hot fudge sauce for my ice cream.)
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces or nuts (This is optional and will not affect the final product.)
In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the first three ingredients and stir until well mixed.
Drop the butter into the sugar mixture. Cut it into small chunks to make melting easier. Microwave on high for one or two minutes.
Add milk and stir until smooth. Microwave on high for one minute longer.
Stir in the vanilla and candy or nuts.
Pour into a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Chill in the refrigerator until firm. Cut it into pieces and store in an air-tight container
Supposedly, This recipe makes five-dozen squares. Do not count on it.
