Nog Your Average Fudge

No two ways about it, I love eggnog.  Nearly every year I make eggnog, cinnamon swirl scones, which are absolutely fabulous.  But this year I wanted to try something new.  The problem was I couldn’t seem to decide what it would be.  Eggnog cupcakes with nutmeg buttercream?  Eggnog pancakes with spicy syrup?  Eggnog custard pie?  They all sound amazing, I know.  In the end, though, I decided on eggnog fudge.  It was definitely the right decision.  Sweet, creamy, spicy, eggnogy, fudge. 

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 2 cups sugar
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon mace
• ¾ cup eggnog
• 2 Tablespoons corn syrup
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

The first thing you need to do is butter a glass baking dish and set it atop hot pads or a kitchen towel. 

Now pour your sugar into a large saucepan and add the spices.  I realize not everyone has mace on hand (although you should.  It’s a fabulous topping for vanilla ice cream), but you can just use ½ teaspoon nutmeg.  I highly recommend freshly grating your own, though. 

Stir that together and pour in the eggnog. 

Stir until it looks like this, then add the corn syrup.  Ordinarily I steer clear of corn syrup, but it has a more delicate flavor than brown rice syrup, so I chose it for this fudge variety.

Stir constantly until it comes to a boil, then place the lid or for 3 minutes. 

During that time, wash your spoon or get a clean one out, and get a little dish of ice cold water.  When you remove the lid it will look more like this. 

It’s time to start testing for temperature.  I don’t do candy thermometers, so just drop a little bit into the cold water. 

When the syrup has reached the right temperature, you should be able to form it into a soft ball that will mostly hold its shape but gives easily between your fingers. 

Carefully pour the hot syrup into your prepared pan.  Don’t scrape the saucepan, just allow what syrup will, to run out.   

Now it needs to cool for a while so go sit down, unless like me, your seat has been taken by someone else. 

You want the temperature to get to the point that you can comfortably hold your hand on the bottom of the pan.  Mine took about 30 minutes to get there.  During that time, butter a small pan and line it with parchment.  I used a loaf pan. 

Set that aside, and when the syrup has reached the proper temperature, it’s time to start stirring.  Oh, but first you need to add the vanilla.  I used ½ teaspoon of two different kinds.  The vanilla bean paste because it has all those little seeds which will make pretty little specks in the fudge, and the second because I really love this Mexican vanilla. 

Ok, now we’ll start the stirring.  Wooden or bamboo spatulas were made for this job.  Well, at least they were in my world.  Gently scrape the mixture in from the sides. 

Slowly, the butter and vanilla will work themselves into the mixture.  It should be nice and smooth and syrupy. 

Just keep moving it around.  Scrape, drizzle, stir, etc.  Eventually, you’ll notice it’s becoming more opaque.  It’s still very runny, though.  So keep going. 

Oh, this is looking promising.  The mixture it starting to hold its shape in the pan.  Definitely a good sign. 

You’re getting close, but it’s still running in ribbons, so you're not quite there. 

Yes!  It has successfully fudgified!!  See how the strands no longer run, they just break?  That's perfect. 

Now quickly glop it into your pan and smooth it out as best as you can.

Fudge is best after resting for at least a few hours and even better if you can manage to leave it overnight.  Then cut it into small squares because it’s very rich.  Not that it will really stop you from eating enough to make yourself sick anyway. 

What would you like to see made with eggnog? 

It's Beginning to Smell a lot like Christmas

Ahhh, the smell of cinnamon.  Nothing else makes me think more of Christmastime than that.  For a short time when Hubby and I were younger, we had a Dippin’ Dots franchise in a mall.  During the holiday season, the nut store would move in.  You know the nuts I’m talking about.  The ones you can smell for like 8 blocks.  Usually they sell cinnamon almonds, but I used to sit there all day smelling their nuts and would visit often.  That’s how I eventually figured out they made pecans too, just not as many or as often.  The almonds are pretty amazing, but the pecans… there are no words.  Now, I’m going to show you how to make them yourself at home.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 4 cups pecans
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ½ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt 

Before you get started on anything else, go ahead and preheat your oven to 250° and line a sheet pan or a large roasting pan with parchment.  (Or you can just butter it if you don’t mind washing it when you’re done.  Next up, measure your sugar, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl. 

Whisk them together until everything is evenly distributed, then set it aside. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine your egg white and vanilla.

With your mixer (or a whisk if you prefer) beat until it’s nice and frothy. 

Add the pecans.

Stir thoroughly.  It’ll take a minute or two, but you want your nuts completely coated. 

Pour on the sugar mixture.

And stir some more.  All of the sugar should be moistened and the vast majority of it stuck to your nuts. 

Pour the pecans onto your prepared pan.

Spread them out so there’s basically a single layer.

Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  When they’re done, they’ll be dry and no longer sticky. 

Allow them to cool just long enough that you won’t burn yourself and start devouring.  Wait, I mean, let them cool completely and store them in an airtight container.  (Yeah right)

What reminds you most of the holiday season?