Fudge, Vanilla, and Chocolate
Chocolate is the most popular sweet in the world. Most people love it and those who don’t are few and far between. It has become so prominent in our society that it’s almost synonymous of love: a grandparent may give a batch of brownies to a treasured grandchild or a young romantic may use a box of chocolates to court a desirable mate.
Even chocolate’s history is rich! The word comes from xocolatl, an Aztec drink made from the bitter seeds of a cocoa bean. The Aztecs named the drink after Xochiquetzal, their god of fertility–which shows the importance they associated with chocolate. Even the Mayans believed that chocolate had great fertility-enhancing powers. Over hundreds of years, chocolate has been the main export and form of commerce for many African nations and a major product in the world economy.
There are many types of chocolate and everyone has their favorite: ice cream, candy bars, and chocolate covered sweet. But one of the most popular forms is fudge.
Fudge is the extremely rich candy made from a mixture of sugar, butter and milk, which is often flavored with cocoa. The mixture is then beat until it looses glossiness which, after baking, gives it the creamy smooth texture which fudge is known for.
It is a misconception that all fudge is chocolate, because the first recorded fudge was supposed to be caramel-flavored. The first recorded fudge was actually a bungled (or “fudged”) batch of caramel, but the resulting treat proved to be so popular that fudge quickly became the candy staple that we know today. Besides chocolate and caramel (often referred to as “penuche” or original flavor), vanilla, peanut butter and white chocolate have become prominent flavors of fudge as well.
Fudge is a truly American invention, but it thrives most in Northern Michigan. On Mackinac Island, the candy is the community’s main industry, selling more than 10,000 pounds of fudge per day! They call it “slab fudge” because it is poured into giant marble slabs and then hand-worked by many people to accommodate the massive demand. The townsfolk are even commonly referred to as “fudgies.”
Fudge also has apparent nutritional and physical benefits when eaten in moderation. The warm feeling usually associated with eating chocolate is actually the serotonin in the candy. Serotonin is believed to have the same effect on heart rate and mental functions as kissing passionately, which fuels the notion that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. Even if chocolate can’t actually produce amorous feelings in someone, it never fails to make a fantastic gift for any love interest.
Fudge is also known for its healing properties. Because of its softness, people have been using fudge to relieve sore throats for many years. It is also considered one of the best remedies for diarrhea.
Making fudge is also extremely easy, and there are many informational sites on the Internet (including this one) that give out helpful hints and recipes on making delicious batches of the stuff. Another beauty of fudge is its versatility: practically anything from fruit to marshmallows can be added to make something truly unique.
Fudge | Vanilla | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home
Copyright © 2007