Wecipe Wednesday

I am WAY late getting this posted today.  K had a doctor's appointment this morning to see if her ear problems had cleared up.  If you know us, you know that this is a BIG deal.  You see, K had a really bad pediatrician when she was first born and a very young, trusting, naive mom.  She had her first ear infection when she was 6 weeks old.  It felt like she always had an ear infection after that.  She would get one and her ped. would put her on antibiotics for a month or more.  Finally it got to the point that her eustachian tubes wouldn't drain at all.  Basically what happened was the fluid in her ear would dry up and since her eustachian tubes were not working correctly a vacuum would be created causing her ear drum to collapse inward against the bones in her ear.  Over time this eventually caused her ear bones to deteriorate.  She has had several sets of tubes and 3-4 MAJOR reconstructive surgeries as well as surgeries to clean the infection from her mastiod (a honeycomb like bone structure behind the ear).  She currently has 50% hearing loss in one ear and can NEVER get that ear wet.  She has to wear earplugs to take a shower and pressure changes can cause her eardrum to burst.  She can't dive underwater due to pressure changes and has to keep her head above water when she swims.  She still gets an ear infection occassionally that causes her eardrum to burst.  (That is what happened this time.  Her eardrum burst while visiting her father.)  Fortunately her ear is finally again dry and clear of infection!

All of that just to tell you that I didn't get to post this when I intended to.  Sure I could have written it last night and scheduled it to go up today but we were busy watching It's Christmas, Charlie Brown and Prep and Landing last night.  Christmas specials definitely come first!  Anyway, this weeks wecipe errr recipe is a quick and easy fudge recipe.  I like to make this up and let it set up in Christmas cookie cutters that I pick up at the dollar tree.  Then, when it is done, you can just wrap the cookie cutter in some plastic wrap and tie a ribbon around it.  Instant gift!  So here is the recipe:


Quick and Easy Fudge
You will need:
1 cup sugar          
1 Tbsp light corn syrup

1/4 cup cocoa       
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup milk          
2 -2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
4 Tbsp butter        
1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

directrions:
In a 2 quart sauce pan mix the sugar and cocoa.  Add the milk, corn syrup and butter.  Bring this to a boil over medium heat stirring frequently.  Once it reaches a boil allow it to boil for 1 minute before removing from the heat.  Allow this to cool in the pan until the bottom of the pan feels lukewarm.  Depending upon the type of metal of your sauce pan this could take anywhere between 25-45 minutes.  Once it is warm stir in vanilla and nuts.  Next stir in the powdered sugar a little at a time until it becomes very stiff.  If using cookie cutters, butter the sides of the cutter and cover the bottom with foil.   Place on a hard surface.  Press small amounts of the fudge into the cutter until it is full.  Otherwise press the fudge into a buttered 9 X 5 X 3 inch pan.  Place fudge in the refrigerator until firm, at least 30 minutes.  If it is in the pan, cut and serve.  Otherwise, package the cookie cutter fudge in a cellophane treat bag or some plastic wrap for gift giving.

Hope you enjoy it!
Love,