Do you like fudge?
I love fudge and last week I made 5 lbs. of that. Don’t ask me why so much because I don’t have a good answer. It seemed the right thing to do.
My love of fudge has no discernible beginning as I revisit memories of decades past. It’s one of those low-level cravings that are rarely satisfied due to the prohibitive prices of fudge in stores.
Why do stores charge so much for this delicacy? It seems to me that they would sell more if the prices were lower, but I shouldn’t be complaining because my sugar intake is already too high.
But fudge is more than good to eat, and experiencing an overabundance is truly delicious!
As I write these thoughts, my fudge is in the kitchen, patiently waiting at the counter for me to come and appreciate its beauty. It’s wrapped in clear plastic that reveals its dark brown color with occasional white flecks where the walnut bits peek out of the uneven surface.
After adding chopped nuts to the recipe, I declare my fudge to be “health food.” And that reminds me of a question I read yesterday that said, “If your grocery store has a section labeled ‘Healthy Food,’ 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 piece of chocolate into my expectant mouth.
You will be surprised to know that fudge goes well with any food. It complements my early morning hot chocolate and is the perfect appetizer for lunch, as well as dessert for a dinner party of any kind.
It even competes well with peanuts while watching sports on TV. One minute I have a piece of fudge in my hand and another minute I have peanuts.
Speaking of peanuts, it reminds me that some people prefer to make peanut butter fudge.
Let me point out that I eat more peanuts than anyone else I know or have ever met, but I just can’t get excited about the mix of the two flavors. People put peanut butter on other foods and think it’s great, but I prefer the traditional peanut butter sandwich or just salty peanuts.
There are probably hundreds of fudge recipes that contain various other ingredients, but I stick with vanilla and nuts.
As you read this, I also know what you are thinking. You’re thinking of all the weight I’m gaining. You’re thinking that I’m gaining 2-3 pounds a day while overindulging during the holiday season, and I won’t argue or debate the subject. I’ll just say that some things in life are worth it, and spring is right around the corner where I’ll be out sweating and losing weight. I will also say that during my annual physical last summer, my doctor told me not to lose weight. He said he was in the right place with the right proportion of body fat, even though most of it is in one place.
Old age has its problems and the location of fat is near the top of the list for most of us. I don’t know when that happened, but at some point things started to settle into a place without fanfare or warning, and now it seems like I’m stuck with it.
When I look in the mirror I’m a little horrified, but the feeling quickly dissipates when I turn away and see the fudge waiting for me in the kitchen.