Do You Like Fudge?

I love fudge and last week I made 5 lbs. of it. Don't ask me why so much because I don't have a good answer. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

My love for fudge has no discernible beginning as I review memories of decades past. It's one of those low-level cravings seldom satisfied due to the prohibitive prices for fudge in stores.

Why do stores charge so much for this delicacy? It seems to me they would sell more if the prices were lower, but I shouldn't complain because my consumption of sugar is already too high.

But fudge is more than good to eat, and to experience an over-abundance is truly delightful!

As I write these thoughts, my fudge is in the kitchen, patiently waiting on the counter for me to come and appreciate its beauty. It's wrapped in clear plastic revealing its deep brown color with occasional specks of white where chunks of walnut poke through to the uneven surface.

After adding chopped walnuts to the recipe I declare my fudge to be "health food." And that reminds me of a question I read yesterday that asked, "If your grocery store has a section labeled 'Health Food' then what does that say about the food in the other sections of the store?"

Nothing will dissuade me from my health food declaration as I place another oversized chunk of fudge into my waiting mouth.

You may be surprised to learn that fudge goes well with any meal. It compliments my early morning hot chocolate and is the perfect appetizer for lunch as well as dessert for a dinner of any kind.

It even competes well with peanuts while watching sports on TV. One minute there is a piece of fudge in my hand and another a few peanuts.

Speaking of peanuts reminds me that some people prefer to make peanut butter fudge.

Please allow me to point out that I eat more peanuts than anyone I know or have ever known, but I can't get excited about mixing the two flavors. People put peanut butter on various other foods, and think it's great, but to me the traditional peanut butter sandwich or just salted peanuts is preferable.

There are probably hundreds of fudge recipes containing various other ingredients, but I'll stick with plain old vanilla and walnuts.

While you're reading this, I also know what you're thinking. You're thinking about all the weight I'm gaining. You're thinking that I'm putting on 2-3 pounds per day while overindulging during the holiday season, and I won't argue or debate the issue. I'll only say that some things in life are worth the price, and that spring is just around the corner where I'll be outside sweating and losing weight. I'll also say that during my annual physical last summer my physician told me to not lose any weight. She said I was at just the right spot with the correct ratio of body fat, even though most of it is located in one place.